Whatever Does It Mean?

Discussion in 'Evolution of Language' started by Faye Fox, Aug 25, 2021.

  1. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    I worked with a guy from Pennsylvania who used the word "whatever" the way some people use the work "like."

    "I went the the store or whatever and they were out of eggs or whatever and I was really wanting breakfast or whatever..."
     
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  2. Joanna Newton

    Joanna Newton Very Well-Known Member
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    I agree with you. It's disrespectful, and dismisses what the person said like it's not worthy of a genuine response.
    In my opinion, not much different from intentionally yawning, rolling eyes, or similar.
     
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  3. John West

    John West Very Well-Known Member
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    IMHO, whatever is a cop-out or dismissal word that often signals that someone has stopped thinking, assuming they ever started. There's also the possibility of a major disconnect between the brain and whatever. :)
     
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  4. Nancy Hart

    Nancy Hart Veteran Member
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    Whatever could also be used ...

    When someone tries to provoke you into an argument, and don't want to get into a never ending back and forth, so you write WTVR, meaning you may have the last word.

    Abbreviation to WTVR would throw the reader off balance. Not willing to admit they don't know what it means. A radio station maybe?
     
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  5. Jo White

    Jo White Well-Known Member
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    First time I had 'whatever' thrown at me was in the late 70s, a friend said it to me and I found it annoying. She said it a lot, until one day I returned the whatever-fire and said, "What. Ever." Man, did she ever look shocked, but it cured her of the habit.

    With kids I always found my Nan Stare O Death the most effective way to end any annoying conversation. That, and if there was any attempt to push luck, smiling with "You're not going to like what happens next". I never had to follow through on the latter, heh heh, and to this day my grandson (now a teen) does not realize that I had absolutely no follow up re what would happen next.

    At any rate, I digress. 'Whatever' irks the hell out of me if said to me, otherwise I'm totes 'whatever' to the use by others, lol.
     
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  6. Lois Winters

    Lois Winters Veteran Member
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    It is intended to annoy, I can assure you. Just as, it is what it is. That simply burns me up.
     
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  7. Al Amoling

    Al Amoling Veteran Member
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    I;ve used it on occasion when the person that I'm engaged with simply refuses to stop bantering
     
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  8. John Nopales

    John Nopales Well-Known Member
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    "Ya gotta do what ya gotta do" is another one.
     
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  9. Tom Galty

    Tom Galty Veteran Member
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    My pet hate is "you no what I mean"

    I often say NO
     
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