Equivocal Language

A friend of mine just got a new hair style and color last week which I think looks terrible!  Her cousin is going through cosmetology school and my friend Tina was her guinea pig for a new cut and color.  Her hair was blonde and now is purple-black and really washes her fair complexion out, and the cut looks choppy and uneven.  Tina asked my opinion of her new hair style, I simply said "It's really different and its good to change your style if you're bored with your look.  I really wanted to say, Oh my God! what did you do to your hair!  "Equivocal language consists of statements that have more than one commonly accepted definition.  It helps people get along by avoiding the kind of honesty and clarity that can embarrass both the speaker and listener."  I have now learned through past experiences in my life that being totally honest is not always the best policy.  I have hurt a lot of people's feelings by being to straight forward, I know that pain all to well.  I bought a new outfit that I loved and  asked my husband's opinion, he told me it made me look "fat" OUCH!  It's best to have an understanding of everyone's feelings because no one wants to feel like they don't belong or fit in.

References: Looking Out Looking In Chapter 5