Wherever you go, there you are
It is time — past time, really — to retire a certain catchphrase that is heard in every phase of our lives, from sports to business to government and beyond. A phrase that is meaningless, explains nothing, adds no value to any discussion and yet is uttered almost as often as the word “like,” most often by someone just trying to fill the silence or attempting to baffle the audience with their self-perceived educated elocution. Which catchphrase is blathered entirely too often?
“It is what it is.”
Let’s briefly examine this redundant pearl of wisdom a bit further. If, for example, it isn’t what it is, then what is it? Why not enlighten the masses with the corollary, “It’s not what it’s not”? Perhaps we could get philosophical: It is what it is, unless it is what it’s not, and then it is what it’s not. We could go on forever. Instead, let’s vow to never utter this idiocy again. Like, you know, dude — whatever!
Jim Waechter, Highlands Ranch
I've heard of that phrase but have never heard people use it.That is beside the point.
Mr.Waechter wants to tell people what they can and cannot say.He has proclaimed himself the Ruler and King of phrases people should and shouldn't be allowed to use anymore.
Last time I checked we still had freedom of speech in this country. The phrases he doesn't like to hear or don't make sense are alot better than listening to ,just for an example,NAMBLA proclaim,( using their free speech rights )that it's okay to rape little boys because they like it.
I'd rather hear the few stupid phrases that Mr.Waechter doesn't like ,than listen to the vile stuff coming out of people's mouths exercising their right to free speech.
I suggest Mr. Waechter get a hobby or something,he has too much time on his hands.
Posted by Wherever you go, There you are on March 19, 2007 07:36 AMJim: I appreciate your well-intentioned humor; using the words "common sense" is an irritant to me, as is, "are you kidding," or, "are you okay," or "are you sure," et al, but: "common sense" is the worst because it is only a collection of your bias and prejudice. Too many times in this forum the same fact pattern takes on opposite meaning due to someone's "common sense." r22037yahoo
Posted by Richard Grimes on March 19, 2007 09:51 AMWow, poor Wherever You Go really got his feelings hurt. Jim offers his opinion about the use of hackneyed phrases and Wherever is fearful that Jim is trying to take over the world. Paranoid, Wherever?
Posted by on March 19, 2007 12:00 PMJim didn't say he wants to take over the world or control what people say, but I do.
Posted by Rhaab on March 19, 2007 05:03 PMRhaab: "Jim didn't say he wants to take over the world or control what people say, but I do."
Sorry, I've already got debs on it.
Posted by on March 19, 2007 07:10 PMI empathize with Jim Waechter’s frustration over the phrase “it is what it is,” as what he claims is a meaningless statement, the only thing more absurd is that someone will have to come along and define what “is” is. However the true frustration is not in its utterance, but in the fact that it is needed at all.
On a Diane Sawyer interview a few years back a group of professional women who were in their forties finally decided it was time for them to have children, but were upset at the unfairness of their biological clock having failed them. They claimed it was so unfair.
This is outrageous, because it isn’t an issue of fair or unfair, it’s just the rules to life. There is a set time period when a woman is most fertile, it’s nature, and, forgive me, “it is what it is,” not an issue of discrimination.
I can’t jump tall buildings in a single bound, and I am not faster than a speeding bullet. I also cannot be in two places at the same time; it’s not a matter of fairness, it simply is what it is.
Mr. Waehter’s frustration shouldn’t be over the phrase, but the fact that we have to use it at all to underscore the obvious facts.
David DiBello
440 West 41st Street
New York, NY 10036
646-275-7534
Wherever you go, there you are
Monday, March 19 at 12:00 AM
It is time — past time, really — to retire a certain catchphrase that is heard in every phase of our lives, from sports to business to government and beyond. A phrase that is meaningless, explains nothing, adds no value to any discussion and yet is uttered almost as often as the word “like,” most often by someone just trying to fill the silence or attempting to baffle the audience with their self-perceived educated elocution. Which catchphrase is blathered entirely too often?
“It is what it is.”
Let’s briefly examine this redundant pearl of wisdom a bit further. If, for example, it isn’t what it is, then what is it? Why not enlighten the masses with the corollary, “It’s not what it’s not”? Perhaps we could get philosophical: It is what it is, unless it is what it’s not, and then it is what it’s not. We could go on forever. Instead, let’s vow to never utter this idiocy again. Like, you know, dude — whatever!
Jim Waechter, Highlands Ranch