Less Subjective than Woefully Subjective

In an ABC News interview, Elizabeth Vargas asked OFFAL about the government response to Hurricane Katrina and a congressional report that describes the nation as “woefully unprepared” for another natural catastrophe or terrorist attack.

OFFAL‘s response?

“I think the U.S. is better prepared than woefully unprepared.”

Of course, the following can also be said with equal conviction:

• Your Montag is more attractive than woefully unattractive. (But I still have bad breath, an enormous head and a unibrow.)
• A person living just above the poverty line is less poor than woefully poor. (Though they may not be able to afford health care, have a retirement account, or own a home.)
• The average American is more informed about national political issues than woefully uninformed. (But they are likely getting their information exclusively from corporate television news media.)
• Iraq is less involved in a civil war than woefully involved in a civil war. (Though there is a disparity in the amount of available resources between geographical regions inhabited by different religious sects, the central government is relatively powerless compared to regional and religious leaders vying to gain power, and thousands are dying in sectarian violence.)

“Woefully” is a subjective term. So, Dear Reader, is the glass half full, or woefully empty? Is my attitude woefully defeatist?

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