MUST I BE APPALLED BY THE APPALLING OVERUSE OF "APPALLED?"

 

 

            Why must the "sheeple" (sheep-people) periodically latch-on to specific words and phrases and use them to death, tiresomely copying each other, while even being overtly proud of doing so? One of the worst current examples is "appalled."

            Just a few years ago, an article in Yahoo News revealed the rediscovered fact (that assuredly was common knowledge in the 1930s) that just prior to World War II, Hollywood supported and sympathized with the Nazis.

            Well, of course, out of the woodwork came all of those "appalled" sheeple, adding their little comments as if they were proclaiming something profound or original. Twenty or thirty comments parroted each other endlessly, merely rearranging a few words, each adding nothing new, and all proudly employing the word "appalled." None of the commenters, it seemed, could declare themselves to be "outraged," or "disgusted," or "horrified;" every last one of them could only be "appalled." Yet despite the total collective lack of originality, each comment exuded the self-righteous, smug, self-congratulatory arrogance of the commenter. One could almost see them patting themselves on their little backs, each content in his or her belief that he or she had somehow eloquently outdone the rest, and ensured his or her applause and admiration by the liberal, self-proclaimed "put-upon" masses.

            After wading through this seemingly endless series of contestants for the "talks most - says least" department, I had had quite enough, so I jumped in and commented, "I don't know why everyone is so surprised; Hollywood always supports the loonies."

            Predictably, like diverting a stream of water with a dam, my diversion engendered its own series of imitators. But I must admit that the very first comment that followed my own, soundly bested me. Some exceedingly clever commenter added, "Yes, it's just Hollyweird being Hollyweird." My figurative hat is off to that person.

            But at least we had stemmed the tide of one-upmanship of mindless liberal rhetoric.