The Signals are Out to Get You

Watch out for the signals. Some signals are benign, such as when Bernanke signals that the Fed will continue to raise interest rates at a measured pace. But most signals cause great harm. The worst kind of signal is called a "mixed message." For example, Bush might attend a hybrid motor show to signal that we should care about the environment. But Bush also lets his Washington staff drive SUVs, and the clear message is that it is OK to pollute. Should we be polluting the environment or should we be taking care of it? These kinds of mixed messages are devastatingly signalificant.

Watch out! You might send signals without realizing it. When you wear a tie to work, you send a signal to the rest of the world that you think you deserve a big salary. This makes you vulnerable if someone discovers that you're just a regular guy. And next time you get the urge to steal something out of Walmart, remember that this would send multiple signals suggesting that you're a bad person. You're a bad person if you want something from Walmart, and you're a bad person if you are so poor that you can't afford to just pay for whatever it is you wanted to steal. So just do your best to not send signals. If you receive signals, ignore them.