Uh, because I'm using casual conversation vernacular? You mean to tell me you've never been involved in a conversation with 1 or more people about something and someone said "I guarantee you, blah blah blah" ? It's usually just understood that that person is not being literal. Otherwise that would lead to "Really? You actually guarantee it? Do you know something? How can you guarantee it?" But that never happens because everyone knows what they really mean, which is it's just their opinion but they feel very strongly about it.
I think that's just you having the training wheels on, but not realizing they're there.
So you grow up with your parents, and they know pretty much how you think, so when you say imprecise things, they interpret what you really mean. And usually don't say a word about your lack of accuracy, esp. since you inherited some favorite phrases from them.
Then, you start hanging out with friends, and you're all a bunch of little dweebs together, all just vaguely saying something roughly approximating what you really mean, so you're all constantly making the connection between what each other said and what they meant.
But then you get to college, and jobs, and life beyond, where mature adult relationships and conversations take place, and people aren't going to fill in for your errors because they're not your parents...and they don't share your imprecision of language because they learned how to say what they mean...and suddenly you're being called to task for your words. If what you say seems wrong, or dumb, or nuts, folks are pretty likely to say hey, that sounds wrong, or dumb, or nuts.
...
You think it's okay because you're using "casual conversation vernacular," when in reality you've had "conversational training wheels" on this whole time but didn't know it. And now they're off.
Heh, I'm partially just busting your chops, Brave, you're a good dude. But seriously, your words are the ONLY thing we have here with which to interpret your thoughts. So represent your thoughts well: use the words that mean what you are trying to say. If you want to guarantee it, say "I guarantee...." If you want to make a bet with someone, say, "I'll bet...." If you can't guarantee it, or don't want to make a bet about it, maybe choose some other phrase such as, "I think it is likely..." or "Seems possible...."
Words. They are the
only currency of vn.com.
