The Over-Exaggeration Epidemic: Where Hyperbole Meets Hyperbole

It's a disease, really. A pandemic of over-the-top descriptions, of 'best-ever' claims, of 'once-in-a-lifetime' experiences. We're not talking about just any old epidemic, nope. This one's a doozy. It starts with a simple phrase: "This is the biggest, most fantastic, most extraordinary thing I've ever seen!"

Symptoms:

• Exaggerated language
• Over-the-top comparisons
• Unbridled hyperbole
• Unrelenting optimism
• Occasional, completely justified pessimism

A Brief History:

It started innocently enough: just a few folks, a handful of enthusiasts who couldn't help but embellish. But soon it spread, like wildfire through the land of salespeople, social media, and self-aggrandizers. Now, it's a full-blown epidemic. People are dying for a taste of the 'greatest' this or that, and those who resist are cast as outcasts.

Causes:

Causes are many, but the most pressing ones are:

• The human condition
• The need to be liked
• The fear of being boring
• The desperation for validation

What to Do:

There is no cure, per se. But if you find yourself caught up in the Over-Exaggeration Epidemic, here's a few things you can do:

• Try not to be too late to the party
• Don't be afraid to say "no"
• Take a long, hard look at the facts

Or, you know, just join the party. We hear it's a real blast. Read our treatment plan for more on how to live with the disease.

Learn more about the underlying conditions that lead to the Over-Exaggeration Epidemic