(Make sure to read the) Fine Print
By: Brad Odilo
Tags: Fine Print, Sexism, Wisdom, Cyclops, Misogyny

(Make sure to read the) Fine Print

[Painting by Linda Plaisted]

I stumbled upon an article outlining the difference between sexism and misogyny. Simply put, it posed that sexism is the ideology of belittling women whereas misogyny is the socio-structural expression of that ideology. In other words, sexism is an attitude whilst misogyny is a behaviour. I found that intriguing. Differences between things amuse me. In many ways, I have a mild obsession understanding why something is unlike the other and what the fundamental deviations are.

If the devil is in the detail then the angel must be in the generalisation. Isn’t it?



My weird hypothesis, then becomes: the places where you find the devil indicate that there is something there to hide – so you ought to pay more attention therein. But, the cumbersome fine prints of the numerous terms of agreements that I have never read, only serve to prove the point. There is definitely a reason why certain things are exaggerated over other things; why certain things are emphasized over other things. Obviously, there is some wit in presenting certain things in bigger fonts over others – it’s the art of swaying. If I can magnify something over the other, then what I have magnified deserves, subconsciously, your higher focus than the thing that is being shrouded. In a subtle manner, it must fuel the manipulation of our human naivety.

“All that glitters is not gold” or better yet as J.R.R Tolkien stated, “All that is gold does not glitter…” The difference in those two aphorisms must be the in-between pocket of substance that we call wisdom. Mike Murdock states that, “Wisdom is the ability to discern difference.” King Solomon wrote in the Book of Proverbs, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” What do you say wisdom is? I dare state: wisdom, inter alia, is the intentionality to read and act on the fine print!

Physiologically, there is an invaluable reason why we were made to have two eyes. Greek mythology with its one-eyed giant creatures – Cyclopes – only reiterates that we are better with two eyes than one. Two eyes offer not just better resolution but depth perception – the ability to visualise in 3D. And, natural 3D perception is hugely important and necessary, so that in the animalistic sense of things, we are able to focus, aim and strike as predators for prey. We must needs act as predators because we co-exist with the animal kingdom. Not to mention, some even say that we are just but a higher species of animals. Therefore, we need to survive against all the other elements that threaten our very own existence. Subsequently, reading fine prints aids us in just that.

Nature is awash with examples and scenarios of reading fine prints; it just is not labelled in letters, symbols and words – nature is illiterate but it is highly communicative and sophisticated. Colour matching, self-decoration, mimesis (appearing to be a different object) and all sorts, are just some of the workings of fine printing that nature uses. Chameleons, octopuses, crocodile fish etc. are some of the creatures on this long list of fine printers! Yet fine printing is not necessarily wrong – it is for survival – though deceptive.

Us, people, we are fine printers too! We are masters at it actually and have become quite complex with it. Every time that you say a half-truth and exaggerate something, you are intentionally fine printing. At times, we fine print unintentionally, unknowingly covering and concealing what we mean from the understanding of those reading our stories. Social media must be the leader platform that we use to fine print and being gullible does not help, for you read everything as truth. Navigating between what people say, don’t say, mean and intend is a curveball on its own. It’s a daily sport to be able to pinpoint the precise signal being sent out by someone in their truest motive. On a personal level, it’s also deceptive to assume that you are a clear communicator always.

So, do the work to read the uninteresting fine print, it is important. Also, be diligent to be clear and straightforward in your writing as people read you.

Ultimately, be a reader and be discerning!