Weasel Words and Commitment on Adventure

350 words, 2 minutes

Adventures teach us to thrive in ambiguity. 

Adapting to new situations and dancing with uncertainty is part of the fun of being on an adventure. Being flexible creates new opportunities and space to avoid dangerous situations. The freedom of flexibility is addicting. 

Adventures also teach us the importance of commitment. 

To commit means to join together, to intertwine our lives with something beyond ourselves. Committing to a cause or a person is how we build meaning and trust. Would we rather have an adventure buddy who says they will be there or one that says they will probably be there? 

Probably is a type of weasel word¹. Weasel words are vague words that weaken the meaning of other words. For example, “It is definitely a possibility that I can likely meet you at 8:00 am.” What does that mean? 

Weasel words give others the impression that we are saying something meaningful, without saying anything at all. There is no commitment. Instead, these words create an empty shell of plausible deniability and leave room for flexible interpretations. 

When we try to avoid commitment, weasel words sneak into our vocabulary. We become poor communicators, aimless wanderers, and lousy friends. So how do we square this circle? How do we balance flexibility and commitment?

Notice weasel words as a signal to evaluate an idea more carefully. A healthy skepticism that reduces our confidence, causes us to ask questions and encourages us to seek new perspectives is valuable.   

Avoid using weasel words in relationships. This doesn’t mean we should commit to every idea or every relationship. But, when we commit to another person, it means we are in it together. Whether it’s at the end of a belay or agreeing to give someone a lift to the airport, no one wants to hear probably. There is no room for probably when we rely on each other. On belay? Probably! Uh, nope.

Commitment to a bad idea doesn’t make a bad idea better. Misleading ourselves or others doesn’t help anything. Instead, let’s commit to people and cherish flexibility in how we reach our goals together. 

¹The origin of the phrase weasel words comes from the belief that weasels suck out the inside of eggs. One minor problem is that weasels don’t suck eggs. The phrase sucking eggs refers to removing the good and leaving behind something that looks like the original that is actually empty. Nothing grows from a hollow egg or hollow words.