Being simple can be tough at times. If one tries to explain a concept in a simple way, one might think they are simple minded when it could also be the reverse. Harriet Meth is the co-founder of Core Ideas Communications and a full time blogger on Messagedtothedeaft.blogspot.com. Recently, she was asked by a media training client for help with "dumbing down" a intricate idea he wanted to explain in a t.v. interview. Apparently, the reporter and audience were not intelligent enough in the media training clients mind. The client felt it important to say that it must be specifically "dumbed down" a bit. The implication of this is that the client thinks that her audience is stupid which is no way to approach any business decision when it involves potential customers. Insulting one's clientele is an easy way to go out of business and approaching any task with this idea about your clientele gets you going in that direction. A good way of putting it would be to simplify the idea. You can eliminate wordiness and extra fluff by simplifying an idea to it's main core. One can still get their point across by simplifying an idea. "Dumbing down" an idea, or being simplistic, risks insulting the audience and stripping the idea of it's main elements which make it what it is. It can be tough to be simple, but it will pay off in the end. It will also keep respect for your organization if you respect your clientele. - Victor
I feel like there is a happy medium between 'dumbing down' or simplifying a message and explaining things in detail or intricately. Recently, I did a blog post for my communications company on the importance of eliminating jargon. Basically, say what you need to say in lamens terms, but without forgetting to structure your message and being detailed. In all, clients might be upset if they feel you are dumbing your converstion with them down, but I'm sure anyone will appreciate a simple message. In today's society there is so much that is already dumbed down, with the ' i need it asap' mentality and less narrative structure to our writing styles, I feel our generation especially needs to re learn how to articulate and get out of 'facebook' talk.
ReplyDeleteI agree with AliCSkiVail. This generation is very dumbed down. I believe this comes from this like texting and social networks. Majority of the things in the media that we hear and see are dumbed down, and many do not notice because of that 'i need it asap' mentality. It is a shame that as technology has evolved, minds have gotten lazy. I just hope in the future more people will realize this dumbed down mentailty and try to fight this laziness.
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