I was watching TV last night — a show that is totally mundane and I shouldn’t have been giving ratings to, but was actually halving it with the Olympics, switching back and forth. I won’t say what the show was, except that it may or may not have starred the daughter of a Hollywood producer — a daughter who used to star in a show about a certain zip code. LAME! I know. I even felt tinges of guilt while I was watching the show, because essentially, it’s a show about nothing. The show makes me smile, though, when this actress, while shopping for a new house, talks about how she can’t afford a certain one. Good one! I’m sure money is a top concern in your life.
Anyway …
I’ve noticed a certain, disturbing trend emerging in today’s TV-land. In fact, I’ve noticed it for some time. It’s a word that has creeped into our everyday speech, and it is being grossly overused. I’m not saying I don’t use it, because I have let it slip out now and then, but I’ve noticed it in conversations and on TV so often that I’m starting to feel piqued by its existence. We use it every time someone shows us something new — as I noticed on last night’s brainless show. “Nameless Actress” was showing her rich friends her newly decorated house, and almost EVERY guest used this show to describe the house. And her. And the baby. And pretty much everything else in life.
“OH!” the friend would gush, “This looks amazing!”
It’s such a little word, but one that has started to irritate every nerve. Next time you watch TV, take note of how often this word is used. I used to think that “great” was the most overused word in our language, but I think “great” has been outpaced considerably by “amazing” in recent years. (Do a Google search for the word, and you’ll see what I mean.)
New haircut? It looks amazing!
Just get back from vacation? Oh, we had an amazing time!
Paris Hilton, what was jail like? “It was an amazing experience, and I learned a lot.”
That outfit? Looks amazing on you!
And on, and on, and on, and on …
Probably the most frustrating use of the word comes when people who have just experienced something momentous are asked to describe their thoughts, and they rely on this insipid word. For example, they have personally discovered Osama bin Laden ordering a latte at Starbucks, personally slapped the handcuffs on him, and personally ushered him into custody. The reporters, crushing themselves in effort to be the first to interview this hero, shove countless microphones into the person’s face, asking him or her what it was like to be part of history.
“Oh, it was amazing to find him there. I honestly couldn’t believe my great luck.”
Doesn’t sound odd, does it? We hear replies like this every day.
And while I could wax philosophical all day about the use of this word, I’m afraid of falling into rambling no-man’s land. Perhaps I already have. In any case, I need to close this post and get ready to turn my attention to school thoughts.
Because, as you know, I’m gearing up to have an amazing year.
