# What platitudes do you wish people would stop using? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 27, 2022, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-platitudes-do-you-wish-people-would-stop-using/960203 "2022-02-27T23:20:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-platitudes-do-you-wish-people-would-stop-using/960203/81 "2022-02-28T23:13:04Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.” Those who can’t teach, teach gym. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-platitudes-do-you-wish-people-would-stop-using/960203/82 "2022-02-28T23:13:32Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > “No one said life would be fair”, “life isn’t fair”, and other variations of this are invariably uttered by those who are, at that moment, profiting from said unfairness. Big time. That platitude is the trademark of the high-handed. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-platitudes-do-you-wish-people-would-stop-using/960203/83 "2022-02-28T23:20:17Z")
I’ve heard it addended with “…those who can’t teach, become critics.” Probably from somebody who doesn’t much care for critics. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-platitudes-do-you-wish-people-would-stop-using/960203/84 "2022-02-28T23:31:22Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > Those who can’t teach, teach gym. I’ve also heard “Those who can’t teach, teach teachers.” ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2022, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-platitudes-do-you-wish-people-would-stop-using/960203/85 "2022-02-28T23:33:32Z")
Years ago, when my car was totaled in a rear end collision, I was unhurt. So many well meaning people said to me, “Be grateful it was just your car. You can always replace your car.”. Umm, No I couldn’t. I was on freaking temp jobs at the time, and not having a car meant I was damned limited in getting to them, never mind not having the money to replace the goddamn car. Still pisses me off. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-platitudes-do-you-wish-people-would-stop-using/960203/86 "2022-03-01T00:36:26Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > God won’t give you more than you can handle - God gave Jesus more than he could handle. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-platitudes-do-you-wish-people-would-stop-using/960203/87 "2022-03-01T02:25:48Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I’m the only one who says “Gesundheit”. Yeah, I say gesundheit if I say anything. Thankfully, I’m not in the Bible Belt, so I’ve never received any negative reactions. ---
**Author:** ![dummygladhands71](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c0e974/32.png) [@dummygladhands71](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dummygladhands71)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-platitudes-do-you-wish-people-would-stop-using/960203/88 "2022-03-01T02:28:55Z")
“They’re in a better place” ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-platitudes-do-you-wish-people-would-stop-using/960203/89 "2022-03-01T03:23:17Z")
I think platitudes are way Awesome! Fur, web-feet and a Duck-bill. How fuckin’ cool is that??? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-platitudes-do-you-wish-people-would-stop-using/960203/90 "2022-03-01T03:30:28Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > > [@ParallelLines](#): > > > > God won’t give you more than you can handle - > > God gave Jesus more than he could handle. 😉 - I don’t know about that. He hung in there until he actually died. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-platitudes-do-you-wish-people-would-stop-using/960203/91 "2022-03-01T04:57:35Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > And “He’s gone to a better place.” I’d like to add “s/he is always with you” to this. Especially when they add something about the dead person knowing/seeing things post-death which implies that the with you is in a spirit sense, not in your mind. I know that people who have said this about my parents are trying to be uplifting - what’s not uplifting about implying that your loved one is angelic? - but it’s of no comfort to a. people who don’t believe in an afterlife **and** b. people who believe in an afterlife but don’t think anyone goes to heaven before Judgment day. Between the two groups, that’s a lot of people. I’m a B. person. My parents aren’t with me, they’re not aware of anything, and won’t be for who knows how long, but thanks I guess. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-platitudes-do-you-wish-people-would-stop-using/960203/92 "2022-03-01T13:23:14Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I don’t know about that. He hung in there until he actually died. Yeah, but he tried to get out of it. That’s not “handling” it. * * * The stuff people say when a loved one has died sometimes makes you want to shout at them: “Get a fucking clue!” but you can’t 'cause “they mean well.” I heard a ton of B.S. after my husband died, and I didn’t shout at anyone. Because _they meant well_. The best thing to say is, “I’m so sorry.” Period. Someone’s silent presence is a lot more comforting than a timeworn platitude. (And I AM a believer, so it’s not the religious content _per se_ that bothers me.) ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-platitudes-do-you-wish-people-would-stop-using/960203/93 "2022-03-01T13:28:17Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > no comfort to a. people who don’t believe in an afterlife **and** b. people who believe in an afterlife but don’t think anyone goes to heaven before Judgment day. …and c. people who, when/if they go to the afterlife, would rather meet their old cats than their parents ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-platitudes-do-you-wish-people-would-stop-using/960203/94 "2022-03-01T13:48:52Z")
“Freedom isn’t free”. People quote this as if it was profound wisdom, but too often I think it’s to justify whatever military conflict we find ourselves in. “If you teach a man to fish…” Utter pablum People who quote this are generally all for slashing the social safety net. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-platitudes-do-you-wish-people-would-stop-using/960203/95 "2022-03-01T14:01:33Z")
“Some people are just afraid of change.” Those who benefit from the change love to use this phrase to shut down discussion of the people who might be harmed by it. ---
**Author:** ![f.coli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eada6e/32.png) [@f.coli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/f.coli)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-platitudes-do-you-wish-people-would-stop-using/960203/96 "2022-03-01T15:32:12Z")
“Think outside the box.” It usually means “think the way I’m thinking.” ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-platitudes-do-you-wish-people-would-stop-using/960203/97 "2022-03-01T15:34:58Z")
> [@velomont](#): > > …and c. people who, when/if they go to the afterlife, would rather meet their old cats than their parents “Oh-h-h-h. You want the Rainbow Bridge! It’s over this way.” Speaking of which, that’s another one. ---
**Author:** ![Kzbre5m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kzbre5m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kzbre5m)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-platitudes-do-you-wish-people-would-stop-using/960203/98 "2022-03-01T16:05:22Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Literally Maybe not a platitude, but I wish people would stop using this. At least, until it stops getting overused. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-platitudes-do-you-wish-people-would-stop-using/960203/99 "2022-03-01T16:08:20Z")
“You do you”. Just a way of saying " I totally think you’re wrong but I don’t want to look like a jerk". ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2022, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-platitudes-do-you-wish-people-would-stop-using/960203/100 "2022-03-01T16:15:18Z")
> [@Kzbre5m](#): > > > [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > > > Literally > > Maybe not a platitude, but I wish people would stop using this. At least, until it stops getting overused. - It gets overused literally all the time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-platitudes-do-you-wish-people-would-stop-using/960203.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-platitudes-do-you-wish-people-would-stop-using/960203.md?page=6)