Sometimes Is Great All The Time

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I love that word: Sometimes. It’s the get-out-of-jail card of the communication game.

It’s as noncommittal as maybe, now-and-then and occasionally without the ambiguity. You can get away with anything if you know how to say sometimes. Every time.

Say for example, you don’t care at all.

“Maybe I don’t give a fuck”. Bitchy. Not good. Change it to “Sometimes I don’t give a fuck”. Suddenly you’re sensitive. A victim of circumstances, perhaps.

Let’s look at another example.

“Now and then, you don’t treat me well” sounds sporadic and wish-washy -it's like you’re inviting further abuse, really. And you probably deserve it. Change it to “Sometimes you don’t treat me well” and then you found a nice way to say ‘Stop abusing me’. You’re raising a flag without sounding like a nag -au contraire, you look like a victim. Again.

Has the penny not dropped yet?

“Occasionally I feel like writing a blog”. What’s this occasionally nonsense? Sounds like you’re not committed. Take that man’s computer away! Close his account!

Now, say it again and change the crucial word.

“Sometimes I feel like writing a blog”. How wonderful is that cry for help? Only the most hardened criminals and politicians -who are similar creatures- would not encourage you. Everyone else would say “Do it. Write a blog”.

OK. I will. Sometimes.