The second part explains why we can’t be direct, even if we wanted to. PART I: WHY WE WON’T SAY WHAT WE MEAN The Metamessage of Rapport Cynthia told Greg she was hurt because he fixed himself a snack without offering her any. So he offered her the snack he had just fixed. She turned it down. He asked why. Because he hadn’t prepared it for her. Greg was exasperated: Was she hungry or not?

