"i HAD to"

[Sosuke]

Link to original post: [drupal=1786]"i HAD to"[/drupal]



This sort of ties into my last blog post I guess.

I really hate it when people say they "HAVE" to do something. I mean, no. They don't. A wise man once told me that there are only 2 things you HAVE to do: "Die and stay whatever ethnicity you are", or something like that. I think it's pretty true. I mean, idk how you could NOT do those things. There are probably a few other exceptions, but that's not really important now.

"Why didn't you come to class on time?"
"I had to talk to my friend!"
"No you didn't."
"No, No!! You don't UNDERSTAND!! I HAD to!!!"
-_-

Really now?
I understand that it could be the better decision
I understand that it could be important to you
I understand that it could be for the benefit of someone

But there is almost ALWAYS an alternative. Even if it's a HORRIBLE one, there's almost ALWAYS something else you could have done. So there's no "I HAD to", there's a "I HAD to IF...". There is a big difference.
"I HAD to take the test". No.
"I HAD to take the test to pass the class". Ok.
...Why not just say that?

It's just really annoying to me when people act helpless in matters that they really aren't helpless in.
I mean, don't this bother everyone? =/

 

[Barge]

Not really.
You know what they mean.
It's kind of grown into our daily speech anyways.

I fink you're taking it too seriously xD

 

[urdailywater]

That's really going in deep on issues. But you are right. Saying you HAVE to do something is just a habit though. It just comes out naturally, and people don't really bother to word it correctly so you understand why they actually have to do it (like the example you gave above).

It doesn't annoy me to much. Just only when it effects something.

 

[Xivii]

It's similar to the word "Can't."

 

[VietGeek]

People always like they "have" to do something if they believe it is the best option, or only reasonable option at the moment. It has become integrated into the language as such. People do not really have to do really anything but rot and die, you're right, but taking such things literally is sorta rebelling against the implied meaning of what the phrase.

Or something like that. *shrug*

Sasuke your blog is too much like a real blog. You're doing it wrong.

 

[Sosuke]

I take everything too seriously i'm sasukebowser :;da;:AD:
rawr


Maybe its just because of how often I hear this at school
and how often they're "having to" was at a very minimal cost if they chose the other option.

i don't remember the last time someone said they "had" to when the alternative would have been dire in any way.

 

[kr3wman]

It's because people are stupid and they won't admit it because of something called pride.

 

[Firus]

I know what you mean, but it's a colloquialism...it's not necessarily supposed to be entirely accurate, it's just been naturally picked up.

If you want to complain about something, complain about "same difference" (oxymoron) or "I could care less" (okay, so you DO care?) or something like that. Those aren't just inaccurate, but they defy logic/mean the opposite as well.

 

[VietGeek]

Sasuke you're too serious about the children you hang around with. Have a beer. ~

We children need not to worry ourselves with questioning and redefining a language. You need a literal army to do so.

 

[Sosuke]

Is it "I could care less" or "I couldn't care less"?
I think it's the first one, but the second one would make more sense. >_>


Viet, I'm secretly mature for my age. It's a burden. =(

 

[MidnightAsaph]

You're being too technical. Humans run on symbolism, which is what lies behind language.

 

[deepseadiva]

Is it "I could care less" or "I couldn't care less"?
I think it's the first one, but the second one would make more sense. >_>(

The second one is the correct term. Otherwise, the first one says it's entirely possible for you to care less because you actually care in the first place.

And while the subject of the OP is indeed annoying, like Asaph said, it's symbolism. A symbolism that has been almost too deeply ingrained in the language, and has thus become virtually useless at it's original purpose.

Stoooooopid English.

 

[Azua]

It's better than me saying "my lack of self control and impulse has made it nearly impossible for me to resist executing this poorly thought over action."

 

[.AC.]

i think people say it either as a habit or to not restate the obvious.

 

[bobson]

I knew I had to post a snarky reply as soon as I read the title.

 

[Shadow Moth]

NO WAY!

: (

I was going to write a blog on how there's always a choice in something...

But now... =/

 

[Sosuke]

I steal people's ideas in the dead of night.

 

[Teran]

But... I HAD to kill them...

The voices... they told me.

ARGGGGHHHH!

 

[Proverbs]

It's a pet peeve of mine, too. =/