@jacob @TechConnectify @lukechannings

Let's say a pilot in an airliner gets on the PA and says "the rudder is not on fire"[^]. Each and every passenger was pretty sure that was true before the pilot said it, so _if the message conveys only its literal meaning_ the passengers should basically ignore it. And yet, I would expect this to be a significant message for the passengers: the pilot choosing to make such an announcement is very surprising and thus brings lots of information.

IMO this example supports the statement that sadly, unless we are in some context where there are strong social norms about being explicit about each and every part of the message one wants to convey, one cannot assume others will read only the literal meaning of the sentences that are published. The only situations in which I've seen such strong norms is working together on a problem that requires precision and correctness.

[^] h/t to John Cleese et al, whose "How to Irritate People" is the source of the example