self-negating descriptions

[metaphortunate]

brownbetty asks if there is a name for things you cannot say about yourself without inherently conveying the idea that they are not true. For example, "I'm a classy guy" = you are not a classy guy.

I find this sort of thing endlessly fascinating, as I am fascinated by things which cannot be communicated by saying them! Another example is "Please only do [x] if it is absolutely vital." If you say that, everyone who wants to do [x] will decide it is important enough and will do [x]. If you want people to only do [x] if it is absolutely vital, say "No one can do [x]." People for whom it is vital will do it anyway, because they have no choice.

Comments

[brooksmoses]

Indeed.

Does, "Don't think of a pink elephant in toe shoes" count as an example?

[metaphortunate]

Interesting! Different class, for sure.

[vera_l]

"I am very suave."

[dr_memory]

"I'm color-blind!" :-b

[dr_memory]

(Er, when said in re race issues. I am willing to allow, grudgingly, that red-green colorblindness does actually exist. :)

[metaphortunate]

Of course, that does make me think of the people I have met who are genuinely terrible at figuring out what race someone is. I've been asked if I'm Southeast Asian, for example. (LOL no.)

[zond7]

Not quite the same either, but I enjoy statements that mean the exact opposite when used, such as "With all due respect", and "Without wanting to be rude".

When anyone uses ROFL I also always imagine them just slightly snorting while wearing the Dead Eyes of The Person In Front of A Screen. It's weirdly even more endearing than ... I dunno, them having the seizure that they are apparently vouching for.