Doctor: "Mr. Smith, your cancer is less bad than it was."
Mr. Smith: "Is that good?"
Doctor: "Of course it is! Less bad is good!"
Mr. Smith: "Does that mean I'm getting better?"
Doctor: "Um, I said your cancer was less bad."
Mr. Smith: "Yes. And you said less bad was good, so that means I'm getting better!"
Doctor: "Well, err...no. You still have cancer. It's still killing you and nothing we've done has really stopped it."
Mr. Smith: "How is that 'less bad'?"