Jun 032011
“Whatever.”
Dictionary.com defines this word as:
–pronoun
1. anything that (usually used in relative clauses): Whatever you say is all right with me.
2. (used relatively to indicate a quantity of a specified or implied antecedent): Take whatever you like of these.
3.no matter what: Do it, whatever happens.
–adjective
6. in any amount; to any extent: whatever merit the work has.
7. no matter what: whatever rebuffs he might receive.
–interjection
10. (used to indicate indifference to a state of affairs, situation, previous statement, etc.)
As a teenager I remember how my mother despised when a sibling answered her with “Whatever” and now I finally understand why. Commonly heard 10 years ago this phrase seems to have returned to my life with a vengeance and I want it gone! Why people cannot form a proper answer to a relevant or concerning question I don’t understand.
Adults that use the “whatever” response, especially when they know they have done something wrong, is a cop out and only shows they know they are in error but won’t admit to it.
And yet these past couple of weeks I’ve been saying this so loudly in my head but when I open my mouth more words come out – the truth and my reason for thinking so. Maybe I talk too much, need more than one word to express myself, maybe that’s the writer in me or just the respect for the other person asking a proper question and wanting an actual answer.
Please, I beg you, no matter the situation or attempt at avoidance, answer with what you’re actually thinking – which I’ll never believe is “whatever”. To me, it’s become almost worse than any curse imaginable.
Thanks for reading, and, in advance, commenting with more than one word :),
Sarah Butland