OKAY I HAVE A THEORY. We’ve been speaking to one another face to face for years. Long enough for social evolution to teach us to wait a hot minute before opening our mouths. We teach this to our children as they develop self-control: you probably shouldn’t say everything you think.

Sometimes we think things that aren’t true — or that we aren’t sure are true. Sometimes we think things that are true, but aren’t helpful or necessary (“I told you so,” anyone?). Sometimes we think things that aren’t kind. When we’re little, we might blurt all of these things out. But as we grow, we learn to be better at communicating effectively.

KIND OF.    (more…)