Have a bit of fun: ask them to explain the nuances of those structured notes stuffed in your portfolio.

FORBES: Protect Yourself from Your Private Bankers

My gut sense is that if you take ten of your Facebook friends and ask them to explain how the News Feed works, seven of them will end up sputtering incoherently and looking at their shoes.

FORBES: Feature creep at Facebook

"They're not going to ask the right questions if science doesn't explain to them what's going on in the most honest and objective way, " said Alda, 77.

WSJ: Alan Alda wants scientists to cut out the jargon

If you and your child are facing difficulty making student loan payments, call the lender, explain the situation and ask them to ease the terms.

FORBES: Parents' Tough Choices For Repaying Student Loans

Energy, Enterprise and Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing said he would write to the UK Treasury to invite them to explain why assistance dogs' food did not have a zero rate of VAT, to ask the about a 5% rate as an alternative and to invite them to do so "as quickly as possible".

BBC: Assistance Dogs are Working Dogs Too debate

If co-workers still don't get it, Ms. Hand recommends taking them aside for a walk or a lunch to explain further and ask for their support.

WSJ: Colleagues Who Can Make You Fat