In today’s world, there is an ever-continuing search for an easier, quicker way to do everything. Nothing wrong with that, as long as we don’t get too lazy in the process. There are good shortcuts, and there are shortcuts that have unintended consequences. At one point in our collective history, communication was considered artful exercise of the spoken word. Now, it thrives on shortcuts. The quicker, the better, and electronic interpersonal communication is all about finding the shortest of all shortcuts. If you are over a certain age, and you get an email or text that contains the following symbols: btw, omg, afaic, hth, wth or brb, you may be in trouble. Your 1956 Roy Rogers secret de-coder ring won’t help you now. You’re better off just grabbing a grandchild or a niece, nephew, or the kid down the street to translate for you.
Those little three-letter acronyms are bad enough, but the worst communication shortcuts by far are the tiresome, worn-out old phrases that should have been outlawed years ago but are still out there hanging around. Near the top of the list of most-hated expressions in the English language would be “My Bad!” That’s the excuse a dog would use for digging up the yard. Next comes “It is what it is.” That's what your CPA tells you when he nervously hands you your tax return and starts backing away. Coming in at number 2 on the list is “I feel your pain,” said by the tow truck driver that just pulled your car out of the pond. But the number one, all time winner of the most-hated, finger nails on the chalkboard shortcut expression is just one word. “Whatever!” Nothing else has the dismissive, sour tone of aloofness and apathy as that simple, overworked word. It is dangerous. In effect, that one word represents an attitude that seems to say, “I just don’t really care about taking the time for anything except myself .” It's an idea that reeks of selfishness, disengagement, and defeatism, and judging by the prevalence of that condition in our general culture, it seems to be getting much more and more popular. It is an insidious trend that can be found to some degree in almost every aspect of life today. In disturbing contrast, the intensity, spirit and willingness to counter the "whatever" attitude seems to be less and less evident. You might find yourself wondering from time to time where are the rallies and demonstrations and media support for the longstanding norms and customs of our ordered society? Where is middle America? Is it just hibernating or has it permanently withdrawn in the face of the change and the cancel culture and wokeness of the past decade and a half? The strength and the principles of our country insure that there will always be a forum for new thought and expression, but that promise only exists because of an unchanging foundation that has been chisled through 247 years of good times and bad. There are no shortcuts to the best ideas. They have endured and will continue to endure as long as they are sustained by the allegiance, loyalty and untiring support of the people who still understand that some things require a little more commitment than just "whatever".
