You Know What "Maybe" Means?

The word "maybe" is used to convey uncertainty. The use of the word "maybe"  has risen dramatically since its inception in the early 1800's.  Have we become less decisive?  I believe we have become lazy and non-committal.

Frankly, when I have invited someone to a get together, an event, or anything requiring a "yes" or "no" response and I get "maybe" what I actually hear is, "If I haven't gotten a better offer..."  I find everything about the word lazy. By all means just say, "Well if nothing better is happening then or I just don't feel like it at that time..."  Although, I would much rather hear, "Let me look at my calendar and I will get back to you."  So long as you do get back to me!  This would typically happen within the next 24-48 hours depending on when the event in question is going to occur.  This might be a much more pleasant option as you may not want to attend the event, (which is within your right) but you don't want to say no in a face-to-face situation.  Thereby avoiding any further inquiry.  Though, if it is an interaction between myself and someone, there would be no further inquiry.  If you wanted to share your reasons for not attending that is completely up to you, however, I would not ask why you cannot attend! That is simply none of my business.  

This might be the reason why people lean on the "maybe" for lack of wanting to come up with excuses why they cannot or will not attend.  I am much more likely to pursue you when you give me a maybe than a no.  Simply because the "maybe" is just a cop-out.  It's your lack of commitment, your attempt at politeness not wanting to offend or it is flat out an excuse to keep the person at bay until you have exhausted all your options.  

Honesty never offends me.  Be honest!  Yes, honesty can sting a little however, I would take a thousand stings of honesty over a lazy, non-committing, flat out lie of a "maybe" any day.  After all, you know if you can or cannot attend. You know if you want or do not want to attend.  The only thing standing in your way is your lack of being honest with me.  You can hurt me if you are honest but I can and will get over it and I will have nothing to hold against you.  Lie to me, and you have not only hurt me, as you did not respect me enough to tell me the truth, but you have made me leery of trusting you on any level.  

Give me a YES!  Give me a NO!  Give me "I'd rather have my teeth drilled without Novocain."  But for the sake of not looking like a lazy liar, please, do not give me MAYBE!

[Please leave me your honest comments on this or any of my blogs below!  Thanks!]

It's not Rocket Science

Holding the door for the person walking in behind you with their arms full of parcels, it's not rocket science.  Waiting your turn to speak when someone is speaking to you or a group, it's not rocket science.  Not throwing your garbage into anything other than a garbage receptacle, it's not rocket science.  And how about giving people your actual attention when you are with them, rather than having your face in a screen the entire time, it's not rocket science, it's called respect or "common" courtesy.

Why is "common" in quotes?  Because it isn't common any longer.  People are so stuck into their phone screens they aren't seeing how rude they are being to the entire world.  However, when someone does it to them, they are sure quick to point it out.  In fact, cell phone use has gotten to such a level it has become the new "it won't happen to me" statistic.  Tripping over a crack in the sidewalk while watching something on your screen or texting - "It won't happen to me."  Crossing over the double yellow line and hitting another car head on - "It won't happen to me."  If it isn't happening to all these "me's" in the world then why is it happening at all?  

I was driving through a small but populated village the other day and excited to see a friend of mine driving towards me I was going to wave to them with that excitement and a huge smile but as the person got closer I noticed the driver, my friend, had the cell phone propped up with the hand that was controlling the steering and the other hand was pressing on the screen all while the eyes of my friend were frantically looking from the screen to in front of the car and back again.  My excitement turn to terror and disappointment and my smile dissipated immediately.  Do you know how important you are to the people around you? Do you know the heartbreak and damage you could cause to yourself and most likely others?  All because a text could not wait the ten or twenty minutes until you reached your destination?  

This is the era we live in.  I'm not a fan.  I can adapt but that doesn't mean I have to like it.  Somehow it seems to me that the more we progress the more we give up and there is something to be said for simpler times.  Understand that this is not the ranting of a person who has gotten to a certain age and walks around saying "What's wrong with our youth today..." I missed simpler times even when I was seven.  I am an old soul, though I am technologically savvy and I can keep up with the times I prefer big bands to dub step, albums to cd's, carburetors to  fuel injection, and face-to-face meetings to skype, preferably with the phones tucked away where they can't be seen or heard. It's not rocket science!

[I welcome any and all comments and questions - please feel free to do so below.]