I wrote this as more in jest than anything… and it really took off, from August 28, 2013:
Over the past couple of years I’ve noticed that more and more often people waiting on customers ask a bizarre question… or is it a statement… I’m not really sure what it is!
Over the past few days, I’ve been in fast food places, gas stations, convenience stores and motels, and in all of them I hear this same… whatever it is…
“I can help who’s next.”
or is it “Whose next…?”
Either way it makes no sense whatsoever!
Since “who’s” is a contraction for “who is” wouldn’t it actually be a question? But then if it is a question, what does it mean?
I can’t stand it any more!!
Has the state of education in these United States fallen so low that nobody cares that what they are saying in public is effectively meaningless? I heard a quote one time, credited to Rose Kennedy, in which she is supposed to have said, “Effective people speak effectively.” If she was right, and I think she was, then people waiting on customers in America are, for the most part, not effective people!
When I was in school, I was taught that we think the way we speak. If our speech is meaningless or sloppy, so will our thinking be sloppy. If you look around and listen to what people say, there is an awful lot of sloppiness going on out there. Is that how the politicians are so easily able to fool us? Is that why we are so ready to fall for double talk and lies from public officials and corporate representatives… and don’t even get me started on the legal profession…
The saddest part is that there is also an awful lot of sloppy language in preaching these days. Could it be that this has contributed to the decline of the church in America? Could this be one of the reasons that so much modern theology is so cluttered with nonsense and so short on clear and honest Truth?
Maybe.
OK, I have a nasty habit of listening to what people say rather than just for what they mean; I’m most likely a victim of my training somewhere along the line, and to be honest, I catch myself speaking like that from time to time. Maybe I’m just too critical; some think so. Maybe we should be more careful to say what we mean and go back to using words more effectively, words that convey the actual meaning of what we are trying to communicate.
I know, it’s a radical notion; forget it. Sorry for ranting.
I can help who’s next…
Life Project Blog 
There it is. No comma after “I can help!” Or have I completely mis-read that final line?
Great page, Don, and so true.
I think you’ve got it right, thanks!
Yes I agree, I believe it is because we are in the age of “strong delusion”; yet it is God (who is still on his throne) and has chosen collectively, people, and whole nations to be given over. “May his will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”… In short; we like Lot, are vexed with the sins of the wicked. “Yet the righteous must but follow, in Spirit and in Truth” – instead of trying to “fix the world” which God has already condemned, and will judge. I think believers often forget this simple walk of obedience; and do sacrifice instead of just abiding in the vine.
Amen!
You are right–up to a point. I am an ordinary person and I consider myself a country girl. I grew up in a home that used slang and colloquialisms. My everday speech is common, ordinary, often using slang and not putting a g on the ends of words ending in “ing.” However, I excelled in English and grammar, and I know how to speak properly (except when under pressure, and I speak without thinking, thus ending up with at least one foot in my mouth).
It is important to know the difference, isn’t it? I used to use terrible grammar deliberately when teaching because when I did so, I knew that the class would remember that point I was making. Of course, that only works when used sparingly!
You make a very good point, as a teacher I can be really picky when my students try and use text language in their papers. For me sometimes I have to ignore one type of error in order to help them focus on fixing another. Their language skills are atrocious.
Yes, and I don’t see that as being beneficial
Reblogged this on Covey View and commented:
My friend Don urges to say what we mean.
I’m laughing because I thought the saying things myself. Just as you have, I hear myself say something incorrectly at times. Let’s persevere in saying what we mean and saying it correctly.
🙂
“I can help who I next” would actually be a correct statement grammatically. It’s like saying “the one who is next, I can help” or “I can help the one who is next” maybe we all need a refresher course.
Just sayin’ -mike
Lol
I’m sure we can all use a little touch-up in grammar 🙂