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What's a phrase you hear a lot, but disagree with? (lemmy.world)
submitted 2 years ago* by to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world
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One that comes to mind for me: "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger" is not always true. Maybe even only half the time! Are there any phrases you tend to hear and shake your head at?

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[–] 75 points 2 years ago (5 children)

"Grow up and live in the real world" / "Life's not fair" / other thought-terminating cliches used to shut down anyone who wants the world to be a better place than it is. Like, I fucking know it's an unfair place. The whole point is that I would like for it to be less unfair.

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  • [–] 25 points 2 years ago* (2 children)

    I got told "life isn't fair" so many times growing up, I came up with a default comeback: "Doesn't mean you have to be."

    A version of it has grown to became my tenet in life: "The universe doesn't care, so we have to."

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  • [–] 9 points 2 years ago

    life isn't fair

    It's not as pithy, but I think "Just because you didn't get your way, doesn't mean it's unfair" would be a better sentiment for adults to tell children.

    Or "I don't fucking care what happened, I just don't want to hear you whine about it". Hardly an acceptable way to talk to children, but I think it's what adults in my life meant when I was a child.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago

    When someone who's trying to exploit me says that, I literally just beat the hell out of them to remind them how right they are and that their means of dominance isn't the only one. Real world strikes again! This time it's the reason we have manners!

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  • [+] 6 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 child)
    [deleted]
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  • [–] 4 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    I actually am guilty of using that when people try to tell me "there's someone out there for everyone." Or "don't worry, you'll find someone who loves you for you."

    Like no? Life isn't fair, there's no guarantee of anything.

    To your point I agree though, discussing what we'd like to improve is important.

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  • [–] 4 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    "Life isn't fair" always bothered me, even as a kid, because it was used against me to dismiss unjust actions.

    Saying something isn't fair is basically saying it's not right, it's not just.

    Trying to claim the injustice against me is moot or unimportant just because there's lots of injustice in the world, seems bonkers to me.

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  • [–] 0 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    It's true though. Saying this is not necessarily meant to be the end of a discussion.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 years ago (1 child)

    Everyone knows that, though. So what's the point of saying it when someone is trying to make things more fair?

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