I was stopped at a light the other day, and there was a gym on the corner. It appeared to be independently owned, as I did not recognize the name. The font on the sign was flowing, and the color was bright. Also, in a couple windows, they had placed banners that said the following:
Yes, men train here.
Now, if the sign had just said, “Men train here,” I would have thought:
1. Real men train here.
2. Tough men train here.
3. If I want to be a real tough man, I should train here.
4. I’m being challenged to train here.
5. Sign me up.
But…
Yes, men train here.
The addition of that “Yes” sounds like an answer to a question. I didn’t ask a question, but now I am.
1. Why are you trying to convince me that men train here?
2. Do men not train here?
3. Why don’t men train here?
3. Are the weights too light?
4. Is the music all TSwift all the time?
5. What’s really going on that you feel the need to tell me men train here?
6. I don’t think I want to train here.
Maybe it lands differently for you, but for me, the addition of that one word makes me suspicious, not curious.
How do you see it?
Let me know in the comments.
Peace.
Patrick Day 