Examples are the Key to Successful Communication, and How It Finally Hit Me

The necessity of the examples is obvious because astrophysics is a difficult thing. But for many people, economics, entrepreneurship, law, and marketing are akin to astrophysics.

During the holidays I`ve been watching the cycle “Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman.” These are films about space ☄️ and astrophysics. There are explained how the Universe works, what dark matter is, and many other exciting things (I’m generally a couch astrophysicist in my spare time). Scientists talk about complex processes that are difficult for ordinary people to comprehend, and sometimes even imagine, given the scale of the described phenomena.

But these films are more exciting than celebrity’s divorces. Why?

I was surprised at how often scientists draw analogies and give simple examples. They simplify each thesis masterfully. For example, in the last series, a scientist told how you may travel at a speed higher than the speed of light, changing space with the help of negative energy. It sounds obscene, of course. But after the statement, he immediately switched to an example.

He puts the sugar bowl on the table and says that it can move on the table itself, or may with the help of the tablecloth. At the same time, the scientist under the table moves the tablecloth and the sugar bowl starts moving. So I quickly understand how the ship will move in space, according to his hypothesis. Cool!

And this is how each statement is explained. The scientists explain the complexity starting from what is already easy for me to understand and familiar. I know how the tablecloth moves — so I understand how the sugar bowl will move on it, and why. So I am getting a sensory experience. And now I will not forget what I learned.

What’s especially cool: American scientists are adept at the art of accessible examples. Thanks to that, astrophysics, is interesting to such humanities as me. I want to learn more, read books, and complicate my knowledge base.

So, with the help of examples, I did not just find out that there is some kind of dark matter and some kind of hypothesis, I figured it out. I feel smart and fine😎. I will tell all my friends about these experiments because I figured it out.

Scientists successfully conveyed to me what they`d wanted. Communication was successful. If there were no examples, I would have listened, nodded, and probably dozed off🛏. .

Here we feel the necessity of the examples is obvious because astrophysics is a difficult thing. But for many people, economics, entrepreneurship, law, and marketing are akin to astrophysics. And even if not, an example is still useful, it helps to feel the phenomenon. to obtain some sensory experience.

Now I understand why should I add examples to the articles — to each point, to each thesis. It makes communication effective.