Encouraging False Hope
Leading someone to believe that an impossible outcome still has a chance of happening, usually by using wishy-washy language like "maybe someday" or "never say never" instead of just dropping the hard truth.
Definition & Usage
The Vibe: Refusing to let a dead dream stay dead.
The Cause: Usually done by corporate marketers recycling nostalgic footage to keep engagement high, or by people who are too uncomfortable to deliver a straight "no."
The Result: Dragging out someone's denial instead of letting them reach emotional closure.
Definition & Usage
The Vibe: Refusing to let a dead dream stay dead.
The Cause: Usually done by corporate marketers recycling nostalgic footage to keep engagement high, or by people who are too uncomfortable to deliver a straight "no."
The Result: Dragging out someone's denial instead of letting them reach emotional closure.
Example in a sentence: "Stop telling people Toys 'R' Us might return to Times Square; you're just encouraging false hope when the rent economics mean it's officially cooked."
Encouraging False Hope by WMH01 November 4, 2026
