Quote:
Originally posted by ltl/fb
"It is my understanding that . . ." -- my contribution to the lawyer talky thingamajig.
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True, true. "It is my understanding that" is the kissing cousin of "indicated." It's the way you get to say whatever you want about what the other side said, and the burden shifts to them to show how their actual words --- which you're not, of course, responsible to remember --- could not have "indicated" that meaning or created that "understanding" on your part. If we had any balls we'd say "you said," not "you indicated"; if we had any balls we'd say "I thought," not "it was my understanding that."
Using the passive voice is just gravy --- it's a way to remove the blame for any faux misunderstanding from you and to project it on the circumstances, of which you are always a mere victim. It's also a passive-aggressive form of conflict avoidance, by making it look like you're not saying the other guy lied, when in fact that's the impression you're trying to create.
