A quality future bosses and politicians display from early childhood onwards. They are partial to
longwinded and obscure explanations for the simple and the direct. When asked in pre school if they've cleaned behind the ears they tend to lapse into a long, shiny monologue on the merits of discontinuing plastic bags and
collaring pet hamsters.
Vagueness therefore is a noble and useful habit of committing to nothing, of never confronting the hostile other party and always letting the object person think what he's heard is probably what he wanted to hear, not realizing he couldn't be farther from the truth.
billy: 'I did the
Sucksville Project which brought in handsome revenues to the firm. I expect suitable compensation and the
corner office with the sea-view, and the tall secretary with the finely weighted boobs.'
boss:' d-uh? Collect tickets to the Sunday Game on your way out from my PA. And don't forget, we are full up to our necks with work. Yeah, i vaguely recall the project you speak of- I remember
getting a raise for it last week. The system has high expectations of you, and we value this association. If you're free the next weekend i'd like you to stay back in office and fill in for me, and show us that commitment you've been talking of. Did you say something about a tall girl, I'm looking for a change myself.'