to wish the word "Just" didnt exist?

[PyongyangKipperbang]

Ok simplistic but a post on another thread has had me thinking about this. Why do people say "oh just....." to imply an action is easy and simple, when they must surely know its anything but?

"Why doesnt she JUST leave him" in regards to an abused woman
"Why dont you JUST get a better job" if short of money
"Why dont you JUST move" school places, house prices, etc etc
"Why wont you JUST get an abortion" in regards to an unplanned pregnancy
"WHy dont you JUST lose weight"

and so on and so on

A moments thought would show that none of these things are simple or easy or indeed, desired at times. JUST moving house for example involves JUST getting another job and JUST moving the kids schooling and JUST settling into a new area. JUST leaving an abuser is hard, fucking terrifying and above all, dangerous.

And yet it keeps being trotted out. Seen it on MN many times, especially in regards to JUST moving or getting a better job, as if it really is something that the person concerned couldnt possibly have thought about.

AIBU?

I hate 'incredibly' for things that aren't incredible

I know what you mean. Any piece of advice that starts with "just..." is usually shit.

Why don’t you just ignore them or tell them to just go away?

I agree, and would add "only" to the list, along with "always" and "never".

The worst has to be "just adopt! Because it's that easy!?

I'll add to the list - I now bellow "No! No just!" at my kids when I tell them for the hundredth time to go put their shoes on and they come back with "I'm JUST going to...". 🤯

My personal bug bear is 'for context' whereby the information following after would only ever be provided to give context. It adds nothing to the meaning of a sentence.

I like the word 'just' and I would use it when I'm exasperated with long winded, complicated handwringing back and fourth discussion of many details and distractions that are irrelevant. Just doesn't mean simple, it means focus on this thing only, cut out all the other crap and excuses. And sometimes it actually is simpler than the current situation. Simpler doesn't mean simple. I think people sometimes just want to winge and moan, find a hole in every advice and they just want to suffer and be a victim forever so they argue with anything you try and suggest to help them. Their frustration should be at themselves for gettng themselves into the problem not at people trying to help them with succinct and direct advice. It is assumed the receiver doesn't need hand holding and patronising breakdown for first contact estate agent then deep clean and decorate your home..etc they just tell you the crucial bit not because it's easy but because they assume you have the brains to break down the task yourself.

I agree completely - it's so patronising, like as if you hadn't thought of that already.
You "I need to get an emergency loan from a doorstep/payday lender"
Them "why don't you just ask your parents " 🤔
You "gosh , thanks Sandra it simply never occurred to me to do that "
🫣

Thank you for understanding.

Its the use of it in situations where someone really is on the bones of their arse and someone says "Why dont you just...."

Must be nice to be in the position that "just" is an option!

Maybe you should just stop being so patronising.

Just had so many different uses though. It's quite a versatile word so it gets used a lot.

I posted earlier today on the “should I move him out after 3 days post” and I edited my own post to delet…3 justs!

I don't mind the word "just", what really annoys me is hearing "like" as every third word when (usually) young people are talking. "Like it was like his fault he like kept saying it" grrrr 😄

The word itself isn't bad but it's (just) overused.

The three most annoying words on here: "Just that really"

Well it does exist, and people are entitled to use it, so you are JUST going to have to put up with it.

It doesn’t even seem like a real word anymore.

Can I give you another one, OP? Like. People use ‘like’ too much as a filler word.

OP, I thought that @EdgyCat, rather than being "patronising" as you accused, was just explaining how the word could be used and understood. As a PP said, it's a very versatile word.

I hate it when used perjoratively against oneslf or others "i am just a carer" or, " she is just a cleaner,"
No one is 'just" anything

Never thought about this before but I agree!

How does one word come to have so many meanings?

Interesting. A rabbit hole beckons…

Hmm, on reflection, they all mean ‘exactly this’ really, don’t they?

Which I can see relates to the law.

I love this stuff.

I actually agree with @EdgyCat

When someone is the thick of a shit situation, they don't always see the wood for the trees. It's easy to come up with plenty of excuses. It does sometimes take someone on the outside to point out something really obvious and say 'you can do this'.

I used to get very annoyed at the LTB bridgade and thought 'As if it is that easy'. Then I actually LTB, realised how easy it was and how much easier life has been since and wish I had LTB years ago. So believe it or not, the 'just' bridgade might actually have been in the same boat and done said same thing to get themselves out of it. And realised that is was a case of just doing something simple.