Thursday, March 24, 2011

Empty Messages

"Stay strong."  Two words that when put one behind the other have no meaning.  Sort of like "I'm sorry", another phrase that is so overused that it no longer carries any real sentiment, just a set of words spoken out of habit in an empty attempt to comfort the listener.  The words become vestigial over time, degenerating to the point where the original meaning is lost.  What is it even supposed to mean?  "Stay strong."  As if a suitable alternative is available other than its opposite, "give up."  The irony of course is that when this phrase is spoken, it is when the receiver is at a low point in their life, perhaps even suicidal; strength is what is lacking so the advice comes across as condescending.  It is the missing component to their well being so how is it possible to remain in a state that you are not currently in?  It would seem that the overuse of such phrases which are meant to make us feel better and imply a brighter future may be around the corner actually make little to no sense at all.  Words that once brought hope and comfort now bring resentment and confusion when one sits down to think about what the words really mean.

Advice is something that is meant to make you feel better however these days so much of it sounds like recycled impersonal nonsense that not even the most desperate of people can take seriously.  What ever happened to listening, what ever happened to actually giving a damn about someone other than yourself?  What ever happened to giving advice to suit the individual instead of advice that comes out in short two to four word phrases which fail to accomplish anything other than a feeling of complete isolation?  No one is ever taken seriously until they're gone.  Then that over recycled advice you gave turns into the most putrid few words to have ever come out of your mouth. 

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