Thanks for sharing
So I was especially pleased to see the following sentiment placed in the mouth of a character in John Lawton's novella Bentinck's Agent:
"‘You have anything else you want to share with me?’I like that because it's funny, because it vents spleen at an insipid expression, and because it explains its own disdain ("Oh you fucking hippies.") I look forward to similar scorn for the even worse "reaching out," which lacks even the redeeming touch of self-mockery that "Thank you for sharing" is said once to have had.
"`Share? Share! Oh you fucking hippies. Yes, I’ll “share”’ (both hands went up to frame the word in speech marks)...'"
What expressions drive you nuts? Why?
==================
John Lawton will be part of my "World War II and Sons" panel at Bouchercon 2013 in Albany, N.Y., on Thursday, Sept. 19, at 4:00 p.m.© Peter Rozovsky 2013
Labels: Bouchercon, Bouchercon 2013, conventions, miscellaneous, things that drive me nuts
posted by Peter Rozovsky at 1:57 AM
18 Comments:
"Share" is one of mine. I work with someone who is otherwise a wonderful person; I've worked with her and liked her for years. She's into asking if we have anything to share a meeting, and when she does that what I'd like to share most are my hands round her throat.
"Reach out to" also gets me. ("if you get a chance, will you reach out to Eddie for us?") Just say, "Ask Eddie." Period.
I used to like "at the end of the day," but it's been overused and misused so much I think we're at the end of its day.
I can guess at the origin of and reason for "reach out." (A 1979 advertising slogan, and overvaluation of honesty and emotion.) But I have no idea why "the end of the day" became so popular or when.
I think I have mostly heard "Thanks for sharing" used sarcastically.
I have heard it used sarcastically, but also read it used apparently straightforwardly, particularly on blogs.
I may even have done it myself, God help me.
If you have, I am confident you did so with commendable sarcasm.
I used to work with ex-cons in a halfway house, and we had a hippie therapist who did weekly group counseling sessions I had to sit in on. That's the first place I ever really encountered "sharing" as a synonym for just plain old saying stuff. I still associate it with that feeling of everyone having the fuzzy-wuzzies while I sat there with the heebie-jeebies. (And yes, it always ended with the dreaded group hug.)
"Group hug" is, happily, always a joke.
And I think the fuzzy-wuzzies and the heebie-jeebies should merge, take advantage of their natural synergies, and become the fuzzy-jeebies and the heebie-wuzzies, each connoting a degree of giddy dread.
My verification word is what you are if you get your prescriptions electronically: e-drugged
If my first novel is called The Fuzzy Jeebies, you'll be in the acknowledgments.
I'll want to see the cover illustration for that one.
I dislike the expression "whatever." "Back in the day" used by 20 somethings get on my nerves as well.
Ha! I never much liked "back in the day," but in reference to, say, 2008, it's even worse.
And, don't take this personally, but I have never much liked "XXXXtysomethings" in formal writing, a distinction that has largely broken down.
In blog comments, it is OK, of course.
I dislike whatever too, except when I'm using it, when it tends to feel extremely satisfying to say it.
You could always say, "Why, when I was your age ..." instead.
Nonie, I just now heard a kid in his twenties say: "I used to work there. Back in the day." What the hell does he think that means? And how long ago is "back in the day" to him? 2010?
I cringe when I hear someone say they're doing something "for the planet". News flash: "the planet" doesn't give two shits whether or not you turn your bathroom light out.
John Lawton has a character display suitable disdain for "Thanks for sharing." He is also one of the best and wittiest authors I know--no coincidence, I suspect.
Post a Comment
<< Home