Distortion in Written Communication
There is ample opportunity for distortion in the complicated process of sending, receiving, and responding to mes- sages, as demonstrated by the following correspondence between a plumber and an official of the National Bureau of Standards (Donaldson & Scannell, 1979).
Bureau of Standards Washington, D.C. Gentlemen:
I have been in the plumbing business for over 11 years and have found that hydrochloric acid works real fine for cleaning drains. Could you tell me if it’s harmless?
Sincerely, Tom Brown, Plumber
Mr. Tom Brown, Plumber Yourtown, U.S.A. Dear Mr. Brown:
The efficacy of hydrochloric acid is indisputable, but the chlorine residue is incompatible with metallic permanence!
Sincerely, Bureau of Standards