In Class
"You have a strong need for other people to like you and for them to admire you. At times you are extroverted, affable, and sociable, while at other times you are introverted, wary, and reserved. You have a great deal of unused energy, which you have not turned to you advantage. While you have some personality weaknesses, you are generally able to compensate for them. You prefer a certain amount of change and variety and become dissatisfied when hemmed in by restrictions and limitation. You pride yourself on being an independent thinker and do not accept other opinions without satisfactory proof. You have a tendency to be critical of yourself. Some of your aspirations tend to be pretty unrealistic."
This was what Ms. Jackson chose specifically for me, or so I thought :) Ms. Jackson gave the whole class the same "prediction" that was said to describe each of us. It was funny to see when some of us were very shocked when Ms. Jackson revealed that actually everyone received the same "fortune". Some of them said, "But it sounds exactly like me!" Hahaha~
The trick to writing this kind of prediction is the ambiguity in the language. Among the things mentioned, such as extrovert/introvert, passive/active, change/tradition, etc. most of us are rarely absolute on each of the aspects. Usually we are sometimes A and sometimes B. Hence, that is how the general description is written.
I think it's ironic how language can be both vague and specific. Language is used to communicate, but because of ambiguity or vagueness, the intended message may not be fully conveyed. On the other hand, when one is trying to conceal a piece of information, one can be as vague as possible and avoid the specific details. Hence, the knowledge issue is that is language really the best way communicate when it can be both vague and specific? How can one decide the best way of communication? How can one know that he or she is using the best way possible to communicate?
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