Welcome to another episode of ‘Is This Really My Life?’ featuring yours truly, Roger. Today, we’re diving into a thrilling saga straight from the digital streets of Reddit. Picture this: a wordsmith in the wild, navigating the treacherous terrain of familial interactions. The drama? Oh, it revolves around the audacity of using ‘big words.’ I know, hold onto your thesaurus, folks.
So, here’s the gist: Our protagonist, a savvy writer who moonlights as a connoisseur of literature, drops the word ‘hyperbolic’ in a casual family convo. The mom, in her infinite wisdom, decides to play the role of the Vocabulary Police. Apparently, using sophisticated language is a cardinal sin that could torpedo job prospects faster than you can say ‘antidisestablishmentarianism.’
Let’s break it down, shall we? Picture this scene:
It’s a humid Sunday afternoon. The family is sprawled out in the living room, lethargically engaging in occasionally heated conversations – probably about the weather, reality TV, or the consequences of pineapple on pizza.
Writer: “Ugh, this weather is so hyperbolic! It’s either torrential downpour or Sahara-level drought!”
Mom: *Pauses mid-sip of her iced tea* “Honey, could you not use words like that? It makes people feel stupid. And trust me, no employer wants to be made to feel stupid.”
The audacity! At this point, I imagine our literary aficionado must be wondering if Newton’s third law of motion included an asterisk for family dynamics. For every intellectual action, there’s an equal and opposite ‘dumbing down’ reaction.
Now, just to be clear, ‘hyperbolic’ isn’t exactly the kind of word that requires a PhD in linguistics to decipher. We’re not talking about sesquipedalian loquaciousness here, folks. It’s not like the writer threw out ‘floccinaucinihilipilification’ at a backyard barbecue. But no, apparently even the lighter shades of eloquence are off-limits within this familial enclave.
Here’s a fun little nugget for you to chew on: language is a tool! A versatile, multifaceted tool that can paint vivid mental pictures, subtly influence moods, and, heaven forbid, elevate a conversation. But let’s get back to the aversion to ‘big words.’
Mom’s position, respectfully, seems to be coming from a place of paranoia. The fear that sounding educated or articulate will somehow alienate others seems, well, hyperbolic. (Yes, I did that.) It’s almost as if there’s an unwritten rulebook called “How to Succeed in Conversations Without Really Trying.” The gist of it? Aim for the lowest common verbal denominator.
Now, let’s talk job hunting. While mom’s concern about employability might be grounded in a kernel of truth—emphasis on ‘might’—it feels like a bit of a stretch. Employers generally appreciate good communication skills. Unless you’re applying for a position that explicitly requires you to communicate in one-syllable grunts, having an extended vocabulary should be a plus.
But of course, all things in moderation. If our writer waltzed into an interview and exclaimed, “My affinity for the lexicon is quite ebullient, wouldn’t you concur?” then I’d hand them a thesaurus and suggest they dial it back a smidge.
There’s also an opportunity here to talk about code-switching, the fine art of tailoring your language to fit your audience. For instance, you wouldn’t use the same lingo with your pals at a rugby match as you would while sipping tea with the Queen. Our protagonist could perhaps practice a little verbal versatility—knowing your audience and sprinkling in the big words when the situation calls for it.
Alright, enough with the pleasantries. Let’s cut to the chase and pull up the main question of the hour:
AITA (Am I The Asshole) for using big words?
Oh, sweet linguistic enthusiast, if you’re reading this, the answer from my sassy (and dare I say, impeccably verbose) perspective is a resounding NO. You’re NTA. You’ve done nothing wrong by tapping into the vast array of the English language. Being able to articulate your thoughts is a skill, not a flaw. Heck, if someone’s ego gets bruised by a simple word like ‘hyperbolic,’ perhaps the problem lies with their insecurities, not your vocab choices.
In fact, I’d argue that you’re doing society a favor. Imagine a world where people regularly upped their vocabulary game. Conversations would be more engaging, debates livelier, and misunderstandings far and few between. If using the odd ‘big word’ along the way ruffles a few feathers, so be it. As the old saying goes, ‘You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it appreciate the semantic richness of the aquatic environment.’
So, my dear writer friend, hold your hyperbolic head high. You are not just a user of big words; you are a curator of language, an architect of expression. And never let anyone, even your well-meaning mom, convince you otherwise.
Until next time, stay sassy, stay witty, and for the love of all things lexical, keep those big words coming!
Original story
I recently found out I am being laid off in mid-july and have started looking for new work. During a random conversation with my family, I said the word ‘hyperbolic’.
I write in my free time, so I do know a lot of words and sometimes I do use them in regular conversation. My mom took a moment to inform me I shouldn’t say words like that because it makes people around me feel stupid and could make finding a job more difficult.
I got confused, as for a moment I didn’t even realize what word I said would prompt such a response, I had to be told. My mom insists it seems like I’m trying to seem smarter than everyone else, but from my perspective it was just the word I chose.
Sure, I could have said ‘I’m exaggerating’, but from my perspective it was just pretty benign word choice. AITA?