A Precise Definition of Vagueness

If you’ll recall from March 2005, I’m quite fond of anonymous posts. I see them as a broader response of the world than the particular opinions of one individual.

I don’t know, however, if I’ve ever written about vague comments (no, no I haven’t). Vagueness can be a form of tact, help conceal a lie, confuse, pique one’s interest, or just annoy (screw Aristotle and Hegel. I divide all of my categories into five! I’m the original quintchotomist).

I often use vagueness in my day to day life (hopefully to peak people’s interests and lie, but I’m told I’m just as often plain confusing and annoying). Sometimes I’m not vague enough (in the case of tact). So for me to say that I do not like vagueness would be hypocrisy in its greatest form: the form that has me at the center.

Hell, any form that has me at the center would be the greatest form.

However, there are times when vagueness should be avoided. If you pique someone’s interest and plan on telling them, then you’re a damn good story teller. If, however, you never tell them, you’re just mean and somewhat annoying.
If you confuse when you mean to be clear, you had a momentary problem of communication, no biggie. If, however, you confuse and mean to confuse for the sake of confusion, you’re a conversational typhoon.
If you annoy accidentally, you need to work it, if you annoy purposefully, get out of my sight (unless, of course, it’s funny, in which case, stick around).
Tact and concealing lies cannot be done accidentally (by definition), though they are not necessarily good or bad either.

Some say vagueness can be qualified into purposeful and accidental. I disagree, but I won’t tell you why (hee hee). Accidental vagueness can be just as blameworthy as purposeful and vice versa. In the end, the intention of the vagueness isn’t the defining characteristic of it, it’s equally important how the other person receives it. In the end, vagueness is a failure of communication (in any case except for when you do it purposefully and they realize you did it purposefully), which I enjoy in the abstract.
Vagueness should only be used for story/joke telling purposes. All other uses are abominations, though that doesn’t mean that they aren’t necessary and useful (as in the case of tact and concealing lies).

As for the catalyst for this post:
“I was simultaneously very disappointedly and interested in this post. For me to explain, would take time and effort. So I leave all in peace.”

I think this comment is vague in every truthful way possible, but I wouldn’t know unless I knew the author’s intentions. This particular case is different because I infer that I know this person (which is about 50/50 right now), so I worry that I just revealed something about the world that people didn’t know I thought about. But whatever. Meh. Sucks to that. This is me, should the world not like it, I apologize, but I’m not going to change. Either deal or don’t.

If you’ll recall from March 2005, I’m quite fond of anonymous posts. I see them as a broader response of the world than the particular opinions of one individual. I don’t know, however, if I’ve ever written about vague comments (no, no I haven’t). Vagueness can be a form of tact, help conceal a lie,…