The Most Exciting Post Ever Written*

December 17, 2009 in Life with 11 Comments

exciting

I was at my alma mater recently, taking in a men’s basketball game with a friend. After the good guys won, we hopped in our car and headed back home.

While listening to the post-game run down on a local radio station, an adverisement came on that sounded something like this:

Nothing comes close to the thrill of watching UNI Panther basketball!

“Really?” I thought to myself. “Nothing comes close to watching a college basketball game?”

Obviously this isn’t true. There are plenty of experiences that match (and fully surpass) the “thrill” of watching a basketball game: Dinner with my wife, a good cup of coffee, watching my son grow up. Is this something we realize, though? Or are we so saturated by words (what Henri Nouwen calls the “wordy world”) that we can no longer discern what is truly “thrilling”?

This where our language betrays us. Do we even stop to think about the words that we use in our everyday lives? I’m sure some intern at the radio station wrote the copy for the ad I heard, not giving the verbiage he or she used a second thought. “Whatever sells!” seems to be the motto anymore–”by hook or by crook!” Exaggeration comes with a cost.

I want my words to mean something–however measured or far between they may be. Don’t you?

*This, in fact, is not the most amazing post ever written. Probably not even close. Hyperbole is my friend.

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11 Responses to “The Most Exciting Post Ever Written*”

  1. Mark Bogen December 17, 2009 at 10:15 am #

    It got me to read your post.

  2. Matt Crummy December 17, 2009 at 11:02 am #

    I really like these thoughts! Great post. (Nothing comes close to the quality of this blog post. Nothing.)

  3. @kylelreed December 17, 2009 at 11:29 am #

    I have heard people talk about how we have lost the meaning of the word amazing.
    After hearing people say this is the best or an amazing blog post everyday you start to really dilute the words and settle for mediocre instead of actual best post out there.

  4. John Vaughan December 17, 2009 at 11:55 am #

    Mmmmm — a good cup of coffee …… mmmmmm

  5. Justin Wise December 17, 2009 at 1:53 pm #

    My diabolical plan is working!

  6. Justin Wise December 17, 2009 at 1:54 pm #

    It is pretty great. Not gonna lie.

  7. Justin Wise December 17, 2009 at 1:54 pm #

    Save the words!

  8. citygates December 18, 2009 at 5:02 pm #

    I'm totally with you, but I doubt the original copywriter was trying to compare the 'thrill' of your daily coffee with a basketball game. Right? Regardless of the OED version, thrill is usually referring to an intense point of excitement.

    Oh, and I love your nod to the world's best-selling book, btw. :)

  9. Justin Wise December 18, 2009 at 7:20 pm #

    I think for me, it was the fact that “nothing can compare” to the thrill of watching a college basketball game. No doubt whoever wrote it wasn't thinking through their copy to the very end. Good points, though.

  10. Mikes Sumondong December 26, 2009 at 7:39 pm #

    hmm a good sleep would be the best! Nothing comes close!

  11. Mikes Sumondong December 27, 2009 at 1:39 am #

    hmm a good sleep would be the best! Nothing comes close!