Look before you leap - think before you speak
By Bill Kasman
@BillKasman1 (49)
Edinburgh, Scotland
January 31, 2016 3:04pm CST
You wouldn't jump over a wall without looking first, would you? But so many people seem to forget to think before they open their mouths and lay down the law on something or give an opinion or advice to someone. I have had many years practice in avoiding pitfalls such as this but even so I get it wrong at times and can occasionally be found trying to extract my foot from my mouth without anyone noticing! I often wonder what direction my life would have taken if I hadn't said something stupid at the wrong moment! Surely I can't be the only one like this?
16 people like this
15 responses
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
1 Feb 16
@BillKasman1 Well if they do that, then they give you an opportunity to apologise. I think most of us worry more when people haven't told us that we stepped out of line.
@Missmwngi (12915)
• Nairobi, Kenya
31 Jan 16
You are not alone. I have also had moments like that when my tongue just slip but i always take care not to talk aimlessly
2 people like this
@BillKasman1 (49)
• Edinburgh, Scotland
31 Jan 16
Thank goodness - I thought I was the only one!
2 people like this
@Missmwngi (12915)
• Nairobi, Kenya
31 Jan 16
@BillKasman1 I am sure everyone at one time has said something regretable
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
1 Feb 16
God no! I have made a career of it and paid the various prices along the way.
2 people like this
@LindaCPearson (2240)
• United States
1 Feb 16
You definitely are not the only one suffering foot in mouth disease!. Mildred the Cat and I are both guilty of this on more than one occasion.
1 person likes this
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
1 Feb 16
As they say-To err is human, to forgive divine. Yes, I've said things I immediately wished I hadn't!
1 person likes this
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
31 Jan 16
I am not a great ponderer but can't think of any major incidents
@ganesh24 (46)
• Kolkata, India
1 Feb 16
There is a proverb in English, Look before you leap, which not many people either remember or try to remember. The funny thing is this that when a discussion proceeds on a particular subject , there is often lateral intervention by others showing them as persona erudite. It is really embarrassment to the knowledgeable persons. When to say or to abstain need basic training from the days of infant training- misled offspring hardly follow the rules of ethics. Nothing doing.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (117146)
• Anniston, Alabama
22 Feb 16
over the years I have applied think before speaking, but sometimes it just comes out.
@allknowing (137812)
• India
3 Feb 16
It took me a while to realise how easily I used to give advice to all and sundry. That has now stopped unless I am specifically asked to give my opinion or advice but I hardly find anyone interested in what I want to say (lol)