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lbeaumont commented on the word disunderstanding
The word “misunderstanding” refers to a failure to understand correctly; a mistake. It is benign and unintentional. But often a deliberate and disingenuous interpretation is given for the evidence. The facts are spun; misunderstanding is feigned but remains plausibly deniable.
I suggest the new word “disunderstanding” to describe this deliberate and misleading storytelling. I have looked through synonyms for “misinterpretation” and don’t see an existing word that conveys this meaning. If you think of an existing word, please let us know.
Because a disunderstanding is a deliberate deception it is disrespectful and manipulative. It creates a barrier to authentic expression.
October 20, 2010
bilby commented on the word disunderstanding
What you mean by dis?
October 20, 2010
Haides commented on the word disunderstanding
I could have accepted disunderstanding as spurious incomprehension and misunderstanding forged mostly consciously, due to one's indifference in combination with unwillingness to help or even to understand importance of matter itself. Such disunderstanding tends to create obstacles in one's way.
Example 1: Many people have a dislike for bureaucracy, because of bureaucrats' tendency to show disunderstanding.
Example2: wall of disunderstanding
Meaning of prefix "dis-" in this case matches most of its possible meanings: 1) expressing negation, 2) denoting reversal or absence of an action or state, 3) expressing completeness or intensification of an unpleasant or unattractive action.
Concept has deception, disrespect, manipulation and misleadingness included.
But I am not sure if there is any actual need to coin such a word.
December 22, 2011