Foolish Phrases VII
"People are weird."
There are many variations of the above phrase, including but not limited to, "People are crazy," "People are strange," "People are fake," etc. What makes all of these phrases foolish? The truth is that all of these phrases are inherently subjective. We just those around us based upon our own prejudices and limited information, and come to grand conclusions such as, "people are weird". So, while you are telling me that "people are weird", just know that I am listening to you, smiling, and thinking, "Wow, what a weird person." And of course, someone else is looking at me and thinking the exact same thing. So judge not, lest ye be judged.
Showing posts with label Foolish Phrases. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Foolish Phrases. Show all posts
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Thoughtful Thursday
Foolish Phrases VI
"It ain't over 'til it's over."
Really? Do I really have to say anything about this one? C'mon people. Of course it isn't over until it's over. But guess what? 90% of the time that people say this, it really is over. Give up already. Or at least be gracious and admit that you've lost.
Alternatives:
"I think we can stage a comeback."
"We've lost."
"I can't think of anything else to say that's motivational."
"I am clueless."
"It ain't over 'til it's over."
Really? Do I really have to say anything about this one? C'mon people. Of course it isn't over until it's over. But guess what? 90% of the time that people say this, it really is over. Give up already. Or at least be gracious and admit that you've lost.
Alternatives:
"I think we can stage a comeback."
"We've lost."
"I can't think of anything else to say that's motivational."
"I am clueless."
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Thoughtful Thursday
Foolish Phrases V
"You gotta do what you gotta do..."
As far as I can tell, this foolish phrase means something along the lines of "Even though you don't like it, you still have to fulfill your responsibility." Alternatively, it could mean, "I know I'm being a selfish jerk, but I'm going to do what's best for me."
As you can see, this is a double euphemism; not only does it conceal socially deficient intentions by attaching a tone of obligation but it also conceals any meaning at all by actually having no meaning in itself. It's like putting a clown in a clown suit. Please, everyone, don't use this phrase.
Alternatives:
see above
"You gotta do what you gotta do..."
As far as I can tell, this foolish phrase means something along the lines of "Even though you don't like it, you still have to fulfill your responsibility." Alternatively, it could mean, "I know I'm being a selfish jerk, but I'm going to do what's best for me."
As you can see, this is a double euphemism; not only does it conceal socially deficient intentions by attaching a tone of obligation but it also conceals any meaning at all by actually having no meaning in itself. It's like putting a clown in a clown suit. Please, everyone, don't use this phrase.
Alternatives:
see above
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Thoughtful Thursday
Foolish Phrases IV
"In this day and age..."
Unfortunately, I often hear this phrase followed by something along the lines of how people are so wicked and sinful today, as if at some time in the past the average person was somehow more virtuous. Have you people read your Bibles??? (triple question mark!)
Let's briefly examine the book of Genesis. Hypothetically, the earliest people should be the ones who abstain from the "wicked deeds of today". But what does Genesis say?
(Sin) - Chapter:Verse
Shame - 3:10
Blame - 3:12
Anger - 4:5
Murder - 4:8
Lies - 4:9
Sarcasm - 4:9
Incest - 5
Wickedness - 6:5
Corruption - 6:12
Drunkenness - 9:21
Peeping - 9:22
Dishonor - 9:22
War - 14:2
Adultery - 16:3
Homosexuality - 19:5
Rape - 19:5
Disregard for One's Children - 19:8
Deceit - 27:24
Betrayal - 37:18
False Testimony - 39:19
This is some of the variety of sins found in just the first book of the Bible! Check out all the rest of the debauchery throughout the Bible; and before you criticize the people of today, remember that these sins have been committed for thousands of years.
Instead, remember the words of Solomon:
"That which has been is that which will be,
And that which has been done is that which will be done.
So there is nothing new under the sun."
(Ecclesiastes 1:9)
Does this mean that we are without hope? Will things ever change? On the contrary, they certainly can, but we must stop looking underneath the sun for change and instead look to the heavens.
"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
(2 Corinthians 5:17)
(NASB)
"In this day and age..."
Unfortunately, I often hear this phrase followed by something along the lines of how people are so wicked and sinful today, as if at some time in the past the average person was somehow more virtuous. Have you people read your Bibles??? (triple question mark!)
Let's briefly examine the book of Genesis. Hypothetically, the earliest people should be the ones who abstain from the "wicked deeds of today". But what does Genesis say?
(Sin) - Chapter:Verse
Shame - 3:10
Blame - 3:12
Anger - 4:5
Murder - 4:8
Lies - 4:9
Sarcasm - 4:9
Incest - 5
Wickedness - 6:5
Corruption - 6:12
Drunkenness - 9:21
Peeping - 9:22
Dishonor - 9:22
War - 14:2
Adultery - 16:3
Homosexuality - 19:5
Rape - 19:5
Disregard for One's Children - 19:8
Deceit - 27:24
Betrayal - 37:18
False Testimony - 39:19
This is some of the variety of sins found in just the first book of the Bible! Check out all the rest of the debauchery throughout the Bible; and before you criticize the people of today, remember that these sins have been committed for thousands of years.
Instead, remember the words of Solomon:
"That which has been is that which will be,
And that which has been done is that which will be done.
So there is nothing new under the sun."
(Ecclesiastes 1:9)
Does this mean that we are without hope? Will things ever change? On the contrary, they certainly can, but we must stop looking underneath the sun for change and instead look to the heavens.
"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
(2 Corinthians 5:17)
(NASB)
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Foolish Phrases (Part III)
“Studies have shown…”
Really? What kind of studies? More importantly, can you show me where to find these studies so that I can read them? This sort of thing (showing your readers or listeners where you got your information from) is called a reference. References are useful in demonstrating that you are not just making up whatever you are talking about. Unfortunately, in many instances where this phrase is used the speaker has no references and doesn’t know what he/she is talking about. Instead, they read or heard a “studies have shown…” and are merely repeating what they have heard because of confirmation bias. So, this particular phrase is especially dangerous because it actually propagates itself. It’s like a virus. Beware.
Alternate solutions:
- Use a footnote or endnote
- Include a link (if you found your information on the internet (which is another issue))
- “As you will find in this particular study in this particular year…”
- “Mr. Authority On The Subject Says…”
Really? What kind of studies? More importantly, can you show me where to find these studies so that I can read them? This sort of thing (showing your readers or listeners where you got your information from) is called a reference. References are useful in demonstrating that you are not just making up whatever you are talking about. Unfortunately, in many instances where this phrase is used the speaker has no references and doesn’t know what he/she is talking about. Instead, they read or heard a “studies have shown…” and are merely repeating what they have heard because of confirmation bias. So, this particular phrase is especially dangerous because it actually propagates itself. It’s like a virus. Beware.
Alternate solutions:
- Use a footnote or endnote
- Include a link (if you found your information on the internet (which is another issue))
- “As you will find in this particular study in this particular year…”
- “Mr. Authority On The Subject Says…”
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Foolish Phrases (part II)
2. "Neither here nor there"
What in the world? Idioms are fine. In fact, I estimate that more than half of my colloquial speech is comprised of idioms. However, this one takes it a little too far because in itself it has no meaning. How can something be neither here nor there? Everything has to be somewhere. If it is neither here nor there, where is it? Somewhere else?
Alternative options:
- "That's not important."
- "Right. Anyways..."
- "Moving on..."
- "I question the relevance of your statement."
What in the world? Idioms are fine. In fact, I estimate that more than half of my colloquial speech is comprised of idioms. However, this one takes it a little too far because in itself it has no meaning. How can something be neither here nor there? Everything has to be somewhere. If it is neither here nor there, where is it? Somewhere else?
Alternative options:
- "That's not important."
- "Right. Anyways..."
- "Moving on..."
- "I question the relevance of your statement."
Monday, October 27, 2008
Foolish Phrases (part I)
There are certain phrases in the English language that frustrate me. I am sure there are many examples of these kinds of phrases in other languages, but alas, I am only fluent in English, so I will examine some English phrases in order to show their futility.
1. "It is what it is."
What an utterly meaningless statement. Yes, I know the message it conveys, but the actual words that comprise this commonly uttered sentence are truly pointless when composed in this combination. "it is what it is" ... No, really? It would take a serious sophist many moons to convince me that there is at least one thing that is not what it is. Everything that is, is what it is. So please, everyone, stop saying this. Here are some alternatives:
- "that's just the way it is"
- "that is indeed what it is" (notice how the simple addition of "indeed" makes the sentence meaningful by adding emphasis, rather than the utterly blank statement that I have been talking about)
- ""don't worry, here is the bright side of the current situation" (wow! Positive language! Oh, how I long for thee)
Perhaps the best way to illustrate how useless this sentence is by translating it.
Spanish: "Es que es." or "Que es lo que es."
Italian: "è ciò che è."
and my favorite, German: "Es ist was es ist."
1. "It is what it is."
What an utterly meaningless statement. Yes, I know the message it conveys, but the actual words that comprise this commonly uttered sentence are truly pointless when composed in this combination. "it is what it is" ... No, really? It would take a serious sophist many moons to convince me that there is at least one thing that is not what it is. Everything that is, is what it is. So please, everyone, stop saying this. Here are some alternatives:
- "that's just the way it is"
- "that is indeed what it is" (notice how the simple addition of "indeed" makes the sentence meaningful by adding emphasis, rather than the utterly blank statement that I have been talking about)
- ""don't worry, here is the bright side of the current situation" (wow! Positive language! Oh, how I long for thee)
Perhaps the best way to illustrate how useless this sentence is by translating it.
Spanish: "Es que es." or "Que es lo que es."
Italian: "è ciò che è."
and my favorite, German: "Es ist was es ist."
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