On the common use of "to be"

Here is another short one. It is along the same lines as the previous post. About how we phrase things some times. The one for today is on the use of the verb "be".

Have you noticed how easy it is to argue with most when they say "That movie _is_ good." I like come back with something like: "No, it _is_ not!" And round, and round you go. Notice how much more difficult it seems to be to argue against "I thought that movie was great!" Do you see the point I'm trying to make?

I hear opinions being phrased as facts every day! You might be thinking: "Come on dude, just do the conversion in your head." And I do. The problem starts when you *might* be talking about facts and not just opinions. How can I unequivocally tell them apart if they are being phrased the same way? Context is not always enough for me.

Do you have some examples that you can think of? Conversation with a boss? An employee? A sermon? A friend? A mate?

You *are* ugly. Today *is* hot. The world *is* round :)

What does it take to be able to use the "be" verb correctly? Expertise in the area you are talking about? Facts and data? Reference points? (As in, today *is* hot, as compared to yesterday)

Anyway.

... and another one

Don't phrase as a command when a suggestion will do.

I had a hard time with the "suggestion", I wanted to use "invitation", or "request". Oh well. Bottom line, I really dislike it when people try to boss me around. I see it even in church! "Sit down!", "Stand up!". Just rubs me the wrong way. I could say much more about this, but I think you get the point.

Quote me...

Here is an original from moi:

Love will hurt you, but the lack of it will kill you.

Wonder where that one came from :)

Ciao Mondo!

Nothing more than a brief introduction to this niche in cyberspace.

Given my background, I just had to say: "Hello world!"