Reader question: Please explain this sentence: “We don’t have to twist their arms to get them to come here. They want to come, unlike some events that are mandatory.” Why “twist there arms”? My comments: We don’t know exactly what even this is, but fortunately the lack of detail won’t hinder our overall understanding of the situation. First, paraphrase: We don’t have to work too hard at persuading people to come. They want to come to our event. Ours is actually a voluntary event for a change, unlike many that are mandatory, which is to say they have to come. And of course, whenever something is mandatory, which means compulsory or obligatory or in other words it must be done, the joy of doing it kills off right away. If your company, for example, is to pay you for a trip to the mountains in the suburb every weekend, in order for you breath a bit of fresh air and be rejuvenated for work on Monday, I know what you’re going to say. “You’re day dreaming,” you’ll say. “My company will never do a thing like that.” I know. That’s why I am saying this as an example – just as an example, so there’s no need to get worked up like that. Anyways, suppose your company were doing it and it is voluntary. That is to say it’s up to you. If you feel like going this weekend then you can go, at the company’s travel expense. If you don’t feel like going the next weekend, that’s fine too. You all will be happy to go, I’m sure. |