Blog Dis
"Ya think?"
2025-06-05
As with all languages, there are some words and specific expressions that creep into the lexicon of mindless banter which, if I'm honest, can drive me to distraction. I hate these specific expressions because the user actually fancies themselves as being on the cutting edge of culture. You couldn't be more wrong, my misguided knucklehead. You're not on the cutting edge of culture. In actuality, you're on the cutting edge of bothersome.
Let us start off with 'ya think?' which originally gained traction in the early 2000's, around 2008-2010, and which implies the statement made by one person that is so obvious to the listener that the listener has to respond flippantly and rudely with, "Ya think?" Yes I do think! In fact, I think all the time. I think of what words I'll say before I say them and I apply sensitivity to the person with whom I'm speaking. After all, I care about what they have to say to me in return. But when I'm confronted with a response of "Ya think?" I want to slap them across the face to kindly point out, "How do you like this endearing response?" This lazy expression hasn't lost its charm for those persons who continue to lean on it, such as me being told, "Ya think?" just recently.
The level of intelligence of wit has been used with skill by great literary minds and many comedians but is regrettably not available to one and all. Few are in possession of wit and consequently their idea of humour is to project a flippant attitude outward, instead of placing a clever witticism where none would be expected, such as in the brilliant use of puns which are just as rare as lacerating wit. For me, "Ya think?" is the poor man's wit because we're dealing with a log-twit who's not in possession of genuine intellect and must therefore throw the ball back into the court of someone else.
Another equally annoying word is 'whatever', which possesses even less wit than, 'ya think?' and is clearly used as a dismissive. Whenever someone retorts back with 'whatever' or the truncated version of 'whatev', I immediately conclude that I'm dealing with a dullard who is mentally stunted and who particularly cares very little for their own self-respect and reputation. Both 'ya think?' and 'whatever' were derived from teenage-like adults, whose official contribution is limited, to be flippant and rude, in defence of not having any control in their lives. Teenagers must cow down to parents who themselves are caught in the paradox of raising a brat who wants to be treated like an adult but who behaves like a child; hence the justification for coming up with the fabulously stupid expressions of 'whatever' and 'ya think?'.
I've reached a point in my life when I've stopped cultivating patience for people who prefer not to use their brains in exciting ways. I see this in everyday use now where I work, young professionals resorting to a baby voice, which sometimes comes across as a world-weary voice, slightly pinched, almost whiny, but still distinctly babyish in tone - used when dealing with an executive or someone else in a position of authority. I solicited the perspective of another senior supervisory staff member as to why this behaviour persists, to which my colleague said, "Patricia... I've given it much thought and I've come to the conclusion that this is how they speak to their parents, to ensure that they always get what they want from them, so they pull the baby-voice card."
Yes! She hit the nail on the head.
Show me a man with genuine wit and I'll show you a lassie willing to bare her tit. It's true... He who woos with mind woos with invisible hands that stroke the body like a surgical tongue.
Let us start off with 'ya think?' which originally gained traction in the early 2000's, around 2008-2010, and which implies the statement made by one person that is so obvious to the listener that the listener has to respond flippantly and rudely with, "Ya think?" Yes I do think! In fact, I think all the time. I think of what words I'll say before I say them and I apply sensitivity to the person with whom I'm speaking. After all, I care about what they have to say to me in return. But when I'm confronted with a response of "Ya think?" I want to slap them across the face to kindly point out, "How do you like this endearing response?" This lazy expression hasn't lost its charm for those persons who continue to lean on it, such as me being told, "Ya think?" just recently.
The level of intelligence of wit has been used with skill by great literary minds and many comedians but is regrettably not available to one and all. Few are in possession of wit and consequently their idea of humour is to project a flippant attitude outward, instead of placing a clever witticism where none would be expected, such as in the brilliant use of puns which are just as rare as lacerating wit. For me, "Ya think?" is the poor man's wit because we're dealing with a log-twit who's not in possession of genuine intellect and must therefore throw the ball back into the court of someone else.
Another equally annoying word is 'whatever', which possesses even less wit than, 'ya think?' and is clearly used as a dismissive. Whenever someone retorts back with 'whatever' or the truncated version of 'whatev', I immediately conclude that I'm dealing with a dullard who is mentally stunted and who particularly cares very little for their own self-respect and reputation. Both 'ya think?' and 'whatever' were derived from teenage-like adults, whose official contribution is limited, to be flippant and rude, in defence of not having any control in their lives. Teenagers must cow down to parents who themselves are caught in the paradox of raising a brat who wants to be treated like an adult but who behaves like a child; hence the justification for coming up with the fabulously stupid expressions of 'whatever' and 'ya think?'.
I've reached a point in my life when I've stopped cultivating patience for people who prefer not to use their brains in exciting ways. I see this in everyday use now where I work, young professionals resorting to a baby voice, which sometimes comes across as a world-weary voice, slightly pinched, almost whiny, but still distinctly babyish in tone - used when dealing with an executive or someone else in a position of authority. I solicited the perspective of another senior supervisory staff member as to why this behaviour persists, to which my colleague said, "Patricia... I've given it much thought and I've come to the conclusion that this is how they speak to their parents, to ensure that they always get what they want from them, so they pull the baby-voice card."
Yes! She hit the nail on the head.
Show me a man with genuine wit and I'll show you a lassie willing to bare her tit. It's true... He who woos with mind woos with invisible hands that stroke the body like a surgical tongue.
