Rusty Saber: Not-so-subtle hidden meta-messages revealed

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Joe McAdoo is former chairman of the communication department at Drury University.|ret||ret||tab|

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What we say isn't always what we mean. It's true people may say one thing, but mean another. When I was a practicing university communication professor, the message within the message was called the "meta-message." Relax, this is as close to academic theory as the Rusty Saber will today. Some messages mean what they seem to mean, but many others require contemplation regarding the actual meaning.|ret||ret||tab|

When a mother says to a child: "No more back talk from you; you get yourself in bed, and you do it right now!" The child knows "now" is the time to go to bed. However, if Mom said, "OK, it's beddie-bye time," precious knows beddie-bye time won't come for another 30 minutes or so.|ret||ret||tab|

The receptionist at a doctor's office announces: "The doctor is running a few minutes late; he will get to you as soon as possible." The meaning: "I hope you brought your lunch, this may take all day." |ret||ret||tab|

Rusty Saber readers are clever enough to have figured out the gist of this column: The original statement followed by the actual meaning the meta-message.|ret||ret||tab|

When a radio station proclaims, "We play the golden oldies," it means: "Practically none of today's music is worth listening to."|ret||ret||tab|

In political advertising, "Big-spending professional politicians" can be defined as any members of the opposition party. In a political ad where a candidate says, Tell my opponent to stop telling lies about me," he means his opponent is running ahead of him in the polls. |ret||ret||tab|

The owner of a professional sports team publicly expresses complete faith in the team manager or coach. "His job is safe." The owner is actually saying to the manager/coach: "Don't buy any green bananas, you will be out of here before they ripen." |ret||ret||tab|

The giant newspaper ad proclaims: "Storewide sale on selected items." What is unsaid: "We hope you believe we really have a storewide sale, but this one is on stuff we haven't been able to sell at regular prices." |ret||ret||tab|

A TV offer ends with, "Allow six to eight weeks for delivery." The meta-message: "We won't manufacture this thing until we know how many have been ordered; meanwhile, we have interest-free use of your money for six to eight weeks." |ret||ret||tab|

"If you have questions call our toll-free number," likely means: "Go ahead and try our toll-free number; good luck in your quest to talk to a live human being." Call the toll-free number and hear: "All of our customer assistance representatives are busy at the moment; your call is important to us , please hold." Meaning: "The fact that our customer assistance representatives are all busy should give you a clue about the quality of our products. Your call is so important to us that we are going to keep you on hold until you hang up." |ret||ret||tab|

Anytime a place of business announces that something is required "for your convenience," you can bet the deed to the family farm that it is for the convenience of the business, not yours. |ret||ret||tab|

I believe I will end at this point. The meta-message: If I don't, the editor will end it for me.|ret||ret||tab|

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