I know you have heard someone’s business or technical application skills being complimented by saying that the person “gets it.” That’s an easy way to vaguely describe a feeling that can’t really be put into quantifiable terms. I’m fine with this approach. Typically, the people discussing the person who gets it already understand and agree on the other person’s abilities.

Technology innovators, business gurus, and especially people who have found a way to make money through an online effort are often said to get it.

To say that someone gets it is high praise. But what about the people who don’t get it?

I had a discussion with someone the other day about an online app. I have thoroughly researched the app, and it was suggested that I should implement this app for a project. The person pushing the app believes in it fully. I did not. (The app was one way to accomplish a task. I already use another method, which works just as well — actually, I think mine works better. The discussion came down to a difference of opinion.)

It was obvious I wasn’t going to budge, nor was my counterpart. The final suggestion to me was that I should talk to another person “who gets it.” Oh, I see; this third person agrees with the person I’m talking to, so the third person gets it. In other words, I don’t get it.

The situation seemed strange. I’m so used to hearing that someone gets it as a compliment to that person. In this case, it was a slam on me. The use of “getting it” was being used to justify using the app in the first place. Instead of comparing the two methods on their own merits, a summary “he gets it” was applied to justify one method.

I don’t get it.