#EmptyCans #conversations #talk #interactions
“Empty cans make the most noise.”
So says the mother of Monica Pearson, retired WSB-TV news anchor in Atlanta, who now works for the station’s sister publication, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
She quoted her mother several times in a column published April 7, 2024, in the newspaper.
The reference raises the image of empty cans tied to the rear bumper of a car carrying newlyweds, signifying they are just married. They are supposed to be noisy in celebration.
But Pearson was discussing how people with character react in certain situations.
Do those who talk the most have the least to say? Or, do those who talk the most have little worthwhile to say? Or, do those who talk the most know least about what they are talking?
It’s a lot to think about.
If you talk about someone, are you saying things you would not say to their faces?
If you talk to someone, are you telling them the truth to the best of your knowledge? If you don’t know the actual truth, do you keep it to yourself until you are certain it is true?
Sometimes, we hear or read things from sources that are not reliable. We think they are reliable, but we later find out they are not. If what you later find out is false hurts someone, do you apologize?
Then, we sometimes say things we wish were true, but are not.
Most of us don’t set out to lie. But, then again, some people do.
Most of us don’t talk for the sake of hearing our own voices. Then, again, some people do.
Talking about something can take time away of doing the things talked about. Hence, we have the adage “all talk and no action.”
The lesson from the empty cans is if you are going to say something, make it constructive or helpful. Don’t say to others what you would not say to the person about whom you are talking.
There are situations when it’s best to say nothing at all. In those cases, if you are in conversation, find a different subject, something less harmful, to discuss.
In today’s world, one should stay away from certain topics when talking to people that you either don’t know well, or know that such topics may lead to an unwanted argument.
Even among friends and family, not every subject should be on the table.
We all desire openness in conversation. Openness can be valuable to a person who is, say, trying to work through a problem and needs advice.
Openness is always better than deceit, but there are times when conversational parameters are in order.
So, speak with clarity, not obfuscation. Choose your words carefully, but don’t choose a lot of words that say nothing.
Be a helpful, full can to all with whom you interact.
Peter