# What message is being sent **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 1, 2019, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-message-is-being-sent/833311 "2019-05-01T09:47:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LiveFree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@LiveFree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveFree)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-message-is-being-sent/833311/1 "2019-05-01T09:47:53Z")
I had a falling out with a female friend. We resonated real well with each other (just as friends, I’m male). She became judgemental and I had to back off. We haven’t spoken in about 7 months. I need to break the ice slowly in order to start talking again. I want to send her a text on her birthday with this particular photo, saying happy birthday. By the picture, wondering how many people will see the message I’m sending. [![](http://tinypic.com/images/goodbye.jpg) ](http://tinypic.com/images/goodbye.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-message-is-being-sent/833311/2 "2019-05-01T10:32:36Z")
I get it, but the fruit could look ambiguous - indeed, I did a double take and had to think for a moment. The foliage alone might work better. Or add a dove. Or pimiento. ---
**Author:** ![jonesj2205](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecc23a/32.png) [@jonesj2205](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jonesj2205)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-message-is-being-sent/833311/3 "2019-05-01T11:24:03Z")
I got it, but wouldn’t have without the context. I agree a dove would help. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-message-is-being-sent/833311/4 "2019-05-01T11:24:26Z")
I think if you remove the olives, it looks like a laurel, and obscures the intended message even more. Adding a dove might disambiguate it a bit more, though. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-message-is-being-sent/833311/5 "2019-05-01T11:34:37Z")
Nope, didn’t see it. I’m a bit dense though. ---
**Author:** ![DB\_Coopa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@DB\_Coopa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DB_Coopa)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-message-is-being-sent/833311/6 "2019-05-01T11:39:40Z")
Maybe life is too short for cryptic games when it comes to matters of the heart. Just a thought. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-message-is-being-sent/833311/7 "2019-05-01T12:12:45Z")
Yeah, I saw it. I’m of average intelligence. Is she? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-message-is-being-sent/833311/8 "2019-05-01T13:43:14Z")
Uh… I guess I see it. I can pick up on it’s a laurel, but perhaps because people have said that. I feel that straight forward approaches usually are best - ‘I miss our friendship’ I would not expect them to read any special message in the image. These messages can easily be lost. If they ‘get it’ great. Still may not make a difference. If they don’t, well you said Happy Birthday and showed that you would like to open up communication. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-message-is-being-sent/833311/9 "2019-05-01T13:52:06Z")
I think it’s too subtle. [Two doves, one offering olive branch to another,](https://www.gettyimages.ae/detail/photo/two-doves-one-holding-olive-branch-high-res-stock-photography/200522335-001) might work better. Without “Getty images” across the front. You should be able to find a pictures. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-message-is-being-sent/833311/10 "2019-05-01T13:59:08Z")
I got it right away, but I am S-M-R-T. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-message-is-being-sent/833311/11 "2019-05-01T14:04:38Z")
Singapore Mass Rapid Transit?😕 ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-message-is-being-sent/833311/12 "2019-05-01T14:07:55Z")
Too subtle by far. If you want to send a message, simply say it. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-message-is-being-sent/833311/13 "2019-05-01T14:13:13Z")
(Without reading any posts beyond the original): If the message consists of the repetition of “alamy” in the background, I see it. If you meant something else, I’m stumped. EDIT: After reading the rest of the thread, obviously I missed the intent. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-message-is-being-sent/833311/14 "2019-05-01T15:10:47Z")
Here’s what I think: [sleeping dog - Bing](https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&id=85CAADBD2D3A010D980D7C553D459F33CCD29C83&thid=OIP.CEY3tvLBgpQ3jms3xgsYSwHaE8&mediaurl=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fd%2Fde%2FSleeping_dog_98a.jpg&exph=1878&expw=2817&q=sleeping+dog&selectedindex=1&ajaxhist=0&vt=0&eim=1,2,6) ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-message-is-being-sent/833311/15 "2019-05-01T15:19:42Z")
Oh, maybe I get it now. Extending an olive branch? But my motto is “say it with words”. If you want to make sure she gets it, call or write her and say “I’ve missed your friendship, can we try again.” Or something like that. But if you want her reaction to be “Maybe LiveFree is trying to mend our friendship, but maybe he just thought it was a pretty picture”, this is the tactic for you. It sounds to me like you want to be friends again, but you are somehow attached to the idea of her making the first move. Lose that and call her already. ---
**Author:** ![Covfefe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Covfefe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covfefe)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-message-is-being-sent/833311/16 "2019-05-01T15:27:57Z")
Olive branch? That’s a wreath. ---
**Author:** ![LiveFree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@LiveFree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveFree)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-message-is-being-sent/833311/17 "2019-05-01T16:12:51Z")
This one is probably better. [https://www.google.com/search?q=Olive+branch+birthday&prmd=sinv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjE8tnogvnhAhWFwMQHHUlYBhkQ\_AUoAnoECAwQAg&biw=360&bih=640&dpr=3&gws\_rd=ssl#gws\_rd=ssl&imgrc=kpvyRliutUuMOM:](https://www.google.com/search?q=Olive+branch+birthday&prmd=sinv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjE8tnogvnhAhWFwMQHHUlYBhkQ_AUoAnoECAwQAg&biw=360&bih=640&dpr=3&gws_rd=ssl#gws_rd=ssl&imgrc=kpvyRliutUuMOM:) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-message-is-being-sent/833311/18 "2019-05-01T16:21:55Z")
Are you trying to give her a laurel and hearty handshake? > [@DB\_Coopa](#): > > Maybe life is too short for cryptic games when it comes to matters of the heart. Just a thought. This. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-message-is-being-sent/833311/19 "2019-05-01T18:01:10Z")
_Tap-tap_ Is this thing on? The wreath by itself is too subtle. > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I think it’s too subtle. [Two doves, one offering olive branch to another,](https://www.gettyimages.ae/detail/photo/two-doves-one-holding-olive-branch-high-res-stock-photography/200522335-001) might work better. Without “Getty images” across the front. You should be able to find a pictures. Carry on. I’m outta here. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-message-is-being-sent/833311/20 "2019-05-01T18:03:55Z")
Regardless of the content, I’d use an image host like [Imgur.com](http://Imgur.com) and link directly to the image rather than including all the site’s junk with it. All that junk on TinyPic is too distracting IMO. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-message-is-being-sent/833311.md?page=2)