I suppose I am the only one who has this problem with certain words or/and phrases, but I keep thinking there must be others of my ilk.
When you are watching television, or listening to the radio, does it ever bother you when you hear a word that drives you up the wall? That literally make you cringe? It happens to me all the time. One, is one of the seven deadly sins, "Pride". This is one that all I can say when I hear it is, pride, with an edge of sarcasm.To my chagrin, every time I hear it, I recall that before I got saved, I had a terrible temper. My husband at the time, and I were having an argument, while I was brushing my hair. I cannot for the life of me dredge up exactly what the subject of conversation was about, or precisely what it was he said to me that set me off, but the next thing I knew, I was off, beating him mercilessly with that hairbrush. However. The last thing I remember hearing was, "You have no pride!" Bruised and bowed,he apologized, and we made up. I didn't leave him broken and bleeding, but he was careful not to say that to me again.Even though he swears he never said those words.It maddens me still to recall it, because I have always worked hard on my personal grooming, and he knew it.
Then, there is the favorite catch phrase of talk shows, "self-esteem." Number one, the one thing that any person who would go on television does NOT lack is self-esteem.They must, contrarily, think VERY highly of themselves to go on national television, and pour out their sad story.Their spouse may have robbed them of confidence,and beaten them down emotionally, but that is not lack of you-know-what. To lack that, one must be humble. I have seen these same individuals, once they have sobbed their way through the story, then get up and berate whoever it was that did this to them, in the worst language one can muster on network television."Blabble,bleep! blabble,bleep,bleeep, bleep!" So much for lack of you -know-what!
Another phrase that makes me cringe is one that I hear, misused all the time, and by people that should know better. Even other writers are guilty of this one, and that really sets me off. It is,"I could care less." when it is obvious to all that what the person THINKS they are saying is how little they care.But they are not! What they are saying is, "I care so much, I could care less." What they THINK they are saying is" I care so LITTLE, I couldn't care less!" ARGGG! Do you get the distinction? I certainly hope so.I can't help it. It upsets me when supposedly intelligent people misspeak themselves on a daily basis, and then have the nerve to be upset when you correct the imperfections in their speech. Now, I am not perfect, by a long shot, nor am I invulnerable. I make mistakes like anyone else. But, when I do, and someone points it out to me, I don't get all huffy, and swear that what I said was correct when it was not. I love the English language, and I am enchanted when I come across those who speak clearly and distinctly, and use words as an artist uses their paints.It seduces me.But on the other hand, I cannot abide a sloppy attitude.This complacency where they flip the hand about in the air and say, well,hell, you know what I mean. Yes, I am afraid I do! Is my response. Do you?
Less specifically, and far more general,are the dreadful cussing"buzzwords" of the day. Some are more offensive, such as name calling.We have all heard them, and I detest them all, and those that use them in everyday language.There is just no excuse for the constant use of these denigrating epithets. I for one, will not allow anyone, no matter how dear to me, or how important they think they are, to get by with such language in my presence, without calling them on it, and most certainly, not in my house. Through the years, my children have brought friends and acquaintances to my house, and invariably warned them in advance what I do not allow.With out exception, these individuals will swear to watch their language, and without exception, each and every one will try my patience,once they feel comfortable, and think I have taken a liking to them.Once again, I try to be gracious, and treat my guests with the utmost respect, until they give me a reason not to.I offer them a seat, a cold drink,listen to their rambling tales, and even try to indulge them in allowing them to regale me with their jokes,and listen to whatever suggestions they might have on writing.But one thing I won't ever allow them to do is presume too much on too little acquaintance.The first foul word that proceeds out of their mouths is corrected. Usually,they cover that mouth, and say they are sorry.I forgive them. The next time it happens, I am sorry too, because it is the last chance they will ever have to make such a blunder.If they are properly contrite, I will give them yet another chance,but usually, that is a mistake. Some people, men especially, never learn, and cannot seem to control themselves.Now, don't get me wrong, I love men, but they do seem to have a sub-culture that depends very heavily upon speaking, um, in a macho,or frank, way. I am sorry to say that I have the same problem, in response. I feel control slipping away once my patience is tried too far, and I find myself ordering them out of my house, in the nicest way possible. I have to admit, however, that in my younger days, even that was not taken as seriously as it should have been, and some brave, more aggressive individuals thought to placate me with compliments and groveling, and realized, too late, just how serious I was when I said, it is time for you to leave! I gave you an opportunity to behave well, and you didn't take it, so I want you out!
By this time, of course, my child who brought them in would say, she's serious, don't push it, it is time to go,now! Unfortunately, some few didn't move fast enough, and found themselves being bodily ejected from my domicile,and one or two even had a chair thrown after them, and all because they couldn't stop running off at the mouth, even while they were being told to shut up and leave! I will never understand some people. Why don't they get it? My house, I make up the rules.You can't abide by my rules, get out.It is simple, straight forward, and clear.Why would anybody want to stay and argue over such a thing? It used to be, that everyone understood what to say and not to say, in polite society.Now, with all bets off in movies, and current types of music, this language is creeping in everywhere, until even so called gentlemen use vulgar, filthy, obscene words to express that which could just as easily be conveyed in more acceptable terms. I have even read some blogs which used such miserable terminology, and I cringe, and hastily make my retreat. (sigh)You may well ask,why does this sort of thing disturb me so? It is very simple. Out of the fullness of the heart, the mouth speaks.Or, to put it more siccinctly, garbage in, garbage out. Frankly, I don't care to be around anyone whose stream of consciousness is foul, and filled with manure.
Why should it be so? Aren't there enough decent words available in the English language for you to make yourself understood, without using crude,low, base, gutter terms? See, I know the truth of it is, most bloggers are smart. They see what gets attention,and so they go with the lowest common verbage, for shock value. Like a couple of very witty, highly intelligent comics I could mention,one of which touts a certain internet sevice, whom I will not name, but whose initials are D.M.(the man, not the service) They are very funny, and I admire them for their brains, but I am saddened by them too. I consider that kind of behavior prostituting their talent. Oh, and by the way. One last gripe. I've heard parents tell their children to behave? Everyone behaves. The question is, do they behave well, or badly?
OUI?
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