Pet Peeve
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Advertisers often will use the exuberant expression: "Up to 30% off, and more". I've never figured out what "up to . . . and more" is actually supposed to mean, except that it actually means nothing at all in logical terms.
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein
"As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert
"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010
Of course. It means exactly nothing. It's just something to put on a sign to get people who are driving around looking to spend money to pull in.
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Advertisers often will use the exuberant expression: "Up to 30% off, and more". I've never figured out what "up to . . . and more" is actually supposed to mean, except that it actually means nothing at all in logical terms.
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein
"As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert
"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010
I like the phrase "up to half-price off selected items". It sounds like "this will cost you half the regular price or less", but it actually means "this will cost you at least half the regular price". :~
"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined." - Homer
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Advertisers often will use the exuberant expression: "Up to 30% off, and more". I've never figured out what "up to . . . and more" is actually supposed to mean, except that it actually means nothing at all in logical terms.
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein
"As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert
"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010
How about the well-used phrasing: "Nothing does X better!" People interpret this to mean that the product does X better than everything else, but it REALLY means that the product does X the same as every other product. For example: "Nothing relieves headaches better!" means that the product relieves headaches only as well as other products.
The difficult we do right away... ...the impossible takes slightly longer.
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How about the well-used phrasing: "Nothing does X better!" People interpret this to mean that the product does X better than everything else, but it REALLY means that the product does X the same as every other product. For example: "Nothing relieves headaches better!" means that the product relieves headaches only as well as other products.
The difficult we do right away... ...the impossible takes slightly longer.
I always mentally rewrite that to add a "so take nothing" to the end. After all, if "nothing" > "product", why would you pay for the inferior option? :-\
"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined." - Homer
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Advertisers often will use the exuberant expression: "Up to 30% off, and more". I've never figured out what "up to . . . and more" is actually supposed to mean, except that it actually means nothing at all in logical terms.
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein
"As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert
"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010
On a more "serious" note ... sorry ... it's to do with the way people read/listen & remember. If you look at it quickly and do not notice the contradiction, you'll probably only remember the "or more". And even if you've got a good memory the 30% will stick in your mind. But the "up to" your mind might just throw away as if it's an "Uh" at the start of a sentence. Obviously not everybody - you're one of the exceptions, but enough so this type of thing tends to work. So simple answer: to catch as many customers while still being able to say that the ad isn't lying. Read that sentence carefully, take special note of the comma before "and more". It turns it into an open-ended statement which could mean everything and/or nothing, depending on how they want to spin their situation.
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On a more "serious" note ... sorry ... it's to do with the way people read/listen & remember. If you look at it quickly and do not notice the contradiction, you'll probably only remember the "or more". And even if you've got a good memory the 30% will stick in your mind. But the "up to" your mind might just throw away as if it's an "Uh" at the start of a sentence. Obviously not everybody - you're one of the exceptions, but enough so this type of thing tends to work. So simple answer: to catch as many customers while still being able to say that the ad isn't lying. Read that sentence carefully, take special note of the comma before "and more". It turns it into an open-ended statement which could mean everything and/or nothing, depending on how they want to spin their situation.
Many many many years ago, my first year in college, I was made to take English Composition, a required core course for Freshman. Along with various style of writing, we were, more importantly, taught to read, and by proxy, listen. What was really said? Political speeches, at least good ones, mean all things positive to all people, even when the listeners actually disagree. Advertising and other such actions designed to get you to buy something by implication, innuendo, and, of course, idiocy, are actually the parent concept of the political speech. Meanwhile, for me, some good mentors during my chemistry days, reinforced that to analysis upon claims and proofs (particularly those popular in the broadcast media). Wherever you may be, by now you must have heard me screaming in outrage and disbelief whilst in front of the idiot-box. After all, "More CP readers recommend my posts!"
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein
"As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert
"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010
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Many many many years ago, my first year in college, I was made to take English Composition, a required core course for Freshman. Along with various style of writing, we were, more importantly, taught to read, and by proxy, listen. What was really said? Political speeches, at least good ones, mean all things positive to all people, even when the listeners actually disagree. Advertising and other such actions designed to get you to buy something by implication, innuendo, and, of course, idiocy, are actually the parent concept of the political speech. Meanwhile, for me, some good mentors during my chemistry days, reinforced that to analysis upon claims and proofs (particularly those popular in the broadcast media). Wherever you may be, by now you must have heard me screaming in outrage and disbelief whilst in front of the idiot-box. After all, "More CP readers recommend my posts!"
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein
"As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert
"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010
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Advertisers often will use the exuberant expression: "Up to 30% off, and more". I've never figured out what "up to . . . and more" is actually supposed to mean, except that it actually means nothing at all in logical terms.
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein
"As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert
"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010
The one that really annoys me is when a supermarket has some really dumb product selling with a special offer of "3 for £2" then right next to it is the product you want that has a special offer of "3 for 2" - I have been caught out, a couple of times, on that one :sigh:
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
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Advertisers often will use the exuberant expression: "Up to 30% off, and more". I've never figured out what "up to . . . and more" is actually supposed to mean, except that it actually means nothing at all in logical terms.
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein
"As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert
"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010
Or when someone says that something is twice as slow. I know how to measure fastnes, but not sure about slowness, maybe the reciprocal of fastness??
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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How about the well-used phrasing: "Nothing does X better!" People interpret this to mean that the product does X better than everything else, but it REALLY means that the product does X the same as every other product. For example: "Nothing relieves headaches better!" means that the product relieves headaches only as well as other products.
The difficult we do right away... ...the impossible takes slightly longer.
No, what it really means is don't buy any of that company's products to do X or Y or Z or Q.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
