Insignificance

Friday, March 7

let's talk about that infamous term, 'So?'

yea, I know you're reading this entry now, SO...?

If u dare say u did not just felt a sensational burning urge to punch me right on the face and despise me after reading the above title, you're lying or you're simply really really insensitive.

But really, isn't it amazing how it evokes our emotions, not to mention our mental well-being just by including it in our everyday dialogs? Just thinking about the word itself infuriates me. That word is EVIL I tell you, EVIL. Dictionary.com yielded 31 definitions to the infamous term "so" that we all simply recall by the two-lettered alphabet, "S" and "O" here and pronounced it as "sow".

I really hate to say this but "so" has literally (literally) evolved into a known medium for verbal abuse and a demoralizing way of communication with another human being. Sadly, I do have to say this, Malaysia and Singapore are most notorious for it's deliberate verbal use to indicate nuisance, threat, and disapproval or to demote, undermine or verbally attack a person. I, as I am to any other person too had my time in expressing "so" with the worst intentions ever. We owe it all to our branched out variation of the evolving English language our nation proudly labeled as "Manglish" (a mix of Malaysia and English) or Singapore's "Singlish" (u guessed it, Singapore and English). It gives the word "So" a whole new meaning and frankly I'm getting kinda sick of it, not to mention irritated.

However, now I've come to terms with the word "So" and have accepted the fact that it has and always will be the worst and the shortest word in the English language to be included in our everyday conversations, especially when being used as a response to a statement being said. I do realize somehow that some people that are naive or unaware of it's adverse effects on the recipient, will incorporate this term whenever they converse in English, especially those that are weak in mastering the English language (like myself). But what we all have to know is that the real culprit at fault are not them, but rather all of us, we are to be blamed for letting this trend spread it's wings, spawn it's underlings and be accepted as a norm in our nation.

Instead of using "So?" to respond to a statement with the worst unsaid intentions, why not respond with simple neutral terms like "I think that..." , "really?" , "but..." , "I don't really think..." or "you think so?" with the best unsaid intentions?

I quote this from Grenville Kleiser (1868-1953),

"Let your intentions be good - embodied in good thoughts, cheerful words, and unselfish deeds - and the world will be to you a bright and happy place in which to work and play and serve."

Labels: letstalkabout, thoughts