Minding Your Language.

We often hear some people say, “I don’t take myself too seriously…”

This is in a bid to appear liberal or casual about their self-perception. This is absolutely fine for those who really know what they are talking about.

The only exception however lies with those who, in a bid to use platitudes for the sake of it, will state rather ignorantly thus; “I don’t take myself seriously…”

Now, there is a big difference between the two statements whenever the word, “too” is omitted between “myself” and “seriously”.

What the speakers of the second statement don’t realize they are saying is that, as individuals, they are not to be taken seriously on any issues. And if they don’t take themselves seriously, why will anyone take them seriously?