To hate "sayings"

[everythingeverything1981]

Just because somebody says something and it passes into common usage, doesn't mean it's fecking true.

For example "never attribute to malice what can be explained by incompetence" Who the fuck said that? I'm pretty sure they had malice on their mind

I am here for this thread, I love some sayings but yes they don’t explain everything!

“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” is the worst one.

Robert J Hanlon said that.

Good for him.

“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”. Erm 🫤

What's for you won't pass you by? Wtf what if you get like raped and murdered, was that your destiny?

I thought the average mumsnetter loved sayings…

You never know what’s going on behind closed doors
Comparison is the thief of joy
Be kind
LTB
etc

“What’s for you wont go past you”..or something like that. Meant to make you feel better when things aren’t going your way, but I want to know WHY winning the lottery cant be for me!

@everythingeverything1981 Sorry cross post!

Hanlon had a point - the world is absolutely riddled with incompetence and stupidity.

Malice is much less likely as it’s so much rarer.

Here's one you might like OP:

"Un bon mot ne prouve rien" - Voltaire

Usually translated as "a witty saying proves nothing".

It bugs me when people use the saying in its exact opposite meaning too. Only ‘one bad apple’ for example makes me irritated/furious, depending on context.

I dunno, I work in the NHS and “never attribute to malice what can be better explained by incompetence” is basically a daily mantra for me at this point..

God yes, I hate this ! So if something doesn’t work out never mind because it wasn’t meant to be. Thanks

Well Hanlon had more faith in humankind than me, there are plenty of malicious odd people out there. Hence people being stalked and shit.

Or bullied, like seriously people be crazy.

What’s for you won’t pass you , always said by someone you’d cheerful strangle at a time when you’re devastated.

“The meek shall inherit the Earth” - late 50s and still at the back of the queue for that.
Also just saying part of one - “the proof is in the pudding”. What even are they imagining when they say that?

Everything happens for a reason. God doesn't give you anything you can't handle. It wasn't meant to be.
These platitudes are so fucking smug and unhelpful

And what won't kill you will make you stronger....fucking hate that.

And tell that to the poor folks in mental health hospitals!!

What an odd thing to say

I second, "The meek shall inherit the earth", even though it's Biblical. The world is not cut out for the meek and humble amongst us!

Sometimes it is hard to get past, "It's God's will" for anything that can't be explained. Even the people saying it probably struggle to see God's will in some circumstances.

Also, "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me". Clearly, that person wasn't bullied or verbally abused at all...

It’s because they’ve got it wrong. The actual saying is “The proof of the pudding is in the eating”

Years ago, someone parodied the Bible quote about 'the meek' as 'The meek shall inherit the earth - but not its mineral rights'. Even truer nowadays!