Critical bloody thinking!!

[BeingATwatItsABingThing]

I am so sick of this phrase being thrown about whenever posters are discussing rules not applying to them. That’s all it translates as: I don’t want to follow that rule and I am far superior to all you sheep blindly following the rules!

Every time I see it, I get irrationally cross. I know IABU to get so annoyed about it.

Anyone else get annoyed at this or another constantly used MN phrase?

Anyone else get annoyed at this or another constantly used MN phrase?

I live very rurally.

Was said a LOT last year as to why people didn't need to self isolate.

Well I don't get annoyed by it because I have and do use it in exactly the way you dislike. Angsting over 7 rather than 6 people, or whether a child asleep upstairs counts etc is a nonsense. But that wasn't your AIBU so I shall leave it there.

Yes! Now you’ve said it @slashlover I’m realising how much it was said!

@HugeAckmansWife

I’m not going to claim that I’ve followed every rule to the letter (I haven’t) so that’s not what annoys me. It’s the phrase.

But I think the phrase is simply a way of conveying that sentiment. The phrase itself is pretty innocuous.

I think it’s the smug undertones that accompany it.

Are you just talking about the phrase in relation to covid?

Tbh I think we could do with a lot more genuine critical thinking in this country. In particular about political and social issues.

'Do your own research'. Annoying yet also handy for identifying tin-foil hat conspiracy theorists/armchair experts.

@Ventiicedcoffee

Are you just talking about the phrase in relation to covid?

Tbh I think we could do with a lot more genuine critical thinking in this country. In particular about political and social issues.

Not just in relation to covid, no. I’ve seen it used on other threads but covid seemed to bring it to my attention.

@AnotherOneFightsTheRust

That’s all it translates as: I don’t want to follow that rule and I am far superior to all you sheep blindly following the rules!

But also

I’m not going to claim that I’ve followed every rule to the letter (I haven’t) so that’s not what annoys me. It’s the phrase.

So let me get this right - it's not the rule breaking or the thinking for yourself that you're annoyed about, it's people using the phrase 'critical thinking' to describe that as what they've done?

How would you rather it were descrbed?

It’s the smugness that annoys me. Like they’re better than anyone who disagrees that it’s a rule to be broken.

@Reallybadidea

'Do your own research'. Annoying yet also handy for identifying tin-foil hat conspiracy theorists/armchair experts.

Haha! You’re not wrong. The sources used for their ‘research’ are always dubious. I’ll follow the science thanks!

Does it have to have the "bloody" in the middle of it to annoy you?

"Selfish" - bandied around on her from anything from hugging your mum to asking valid questions about the vaccination.

Also "a mask is far less uncomfortable than a ventilator" which I have seen on so many threads.

And, finally, the very passive, aggressive HTH at the end of a post.

@BeingATwatItsABingThing

I think it’s the smug undertones that accompany it.

Arguably the inferiority complexes of those on the receiving end of it...

@AnotherOneFightsTheRust

It’s the smugness that annoys me. Like they’re better than anyone who disagrees that it’s a rule to be broken.

Would you be ok with someone saying 'It's ok to consider all the options and then make the decision that's best for your circumstances'?

Depends on the rest of the post but this would annoy me less.

@Voomster953

Probably yes.

Tinkly laugh

Head tilt

@Seriouslymole

Does it have to have the "bloody" in the middle of it to annoy you?

"Selfish" - bandied around on her from anything from hugging your mum to asking valid questions about the vaccination.

Also "a mask is far less uncomfortable than a ventilator" which I have seen on so many threads.

And, finally, the very passive, aggressive HTH at the end of a post.

I add the bloody in my head.

Yes, everything does seem to be selfish at the minute. No one was ever not selfish. We all do things that benefit ourselves.

@AnotherOneFightsTheRust

Haha! You’re not wrong. grin The sources used for their ‘research’ are always dubious. I’ll follow the science thanks!

You get knobbled by the Overton Window if you do that though.

waits for OP to add Overton Window to her list of hated phrases

Off to use my critical bloody thinking skills and do my own research to find out what Overton Window is...

@slashlover

Anyone else get annoyed at this or another constantly used MN phrase?

I live very rurally.

Was said a LOT last year as to why people didn't need to self isolate.

Apparently many mumsnetters cannot imagine rural life though. A village in Surrey is definitely not the same as living on a croft in the Highlands but that seems to be what many base their idea of rural life on. I can see why some feel the need to point it out.

@AnotherOneFightsTheRust

Depends on the rest of the post but this would annoy me less.

But it would still annoy you?
I'm still unsure as to whether you're annoyed by people using the phrase to smugly 'justify rule breaking', annoyed by people breaking the rules, or annoyed by people actually thinking critically.

I’m easily annoyed.