Everyday Canvas

Clichés

Prompt:
Which one of these cliche comments annoys you the most and why--
1.“Back in my day…” 2, “You’re so lucky you don’t have to work.” 3, “Oh, you’re still doing that?” 4, “We never did things that way.” 5, “Are you sure you want to eat that?” 6. “That’s not how we raised our children.” 7. “I just want what’s best for you.” 8, “I was just joking!”

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Number 7, for sure. “I just want what’s best for you.” I grew up hearing that! And obviously, only I can know (after God) what's best for me.

People who kept saying or meaning that, in fact, meant "I mean me, me, me, me. I'm only doing this for me." To begin with, someone who does something for anyone won't even mention it, unless they have to.

Anyhow, I've grown old now and if a meaningless comment, cliché or not, happens to show up my way, I just shrug it off or laugh at it.

Clichés, especially when overused, can be detrimental to relationships and communication for they show a lack of originality, plus the meaning and clarity in them are reduced over time. When directed at a person, me as a child--for example, they imply emotional disconnection and an uncaring attitude. In addition, they are neither believable nor persuasive.

People who use clichés all the time and for everything show that they lack creative thinking and expression and they bore the listeners, even if the listeners are in a lower status than them, the users of clichés. Moreover, when used frequently and haphazardly clichés erode the speaker's credibility.

Good communication needs the usage of language that is clear, original, and specifically tailored to the incident or occasion, so it can lead to better understanding and emotional connection. Although I picked number 7--due to my own experience with it--over the given clichés above, all known and overused clichés come across as unoriginal and uninspired.

Having said that, I don't mind someone using a cliché expression, maybe rarely or maybe once or twice, if it fits the topic of a conversation. Especially, in direct talk, a cliché expression used only once can be helpful to clear a meaning or to add a lighter tone. As long as they fit the situation and point to a specific action or idea...and they are not used for manipulation.