Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

The person who picks the adjectives have the power.

I heard an idea. Is it a good idea? Is it a bad idea?

The difference between “good” and “bad” is which adjective is attached to the noun. The person who chooses which adjective has the power. That person interpreted the idea in light of the current situation. That person put the idea in one corner or other of the room.

This falls into the Interpretation past of the Satir Model of Interaction (one description of this model is here.) Weinberg called it Meaning and Significance.

Whatever phase of whatever model you might prefer, the person who picks the adjective has the power. That person also has the first opportunity to be wrong.

With great power comes, well, you know, the chance to judge poorly.