I
worry these days about saying I “like” something, because I no longer know what
“like” means.
There
is a lot of football coming up, so football commentators are predicting which
team will win by saying they “like” the team. “I like Alabama.” None of them
ever says she likes Indiana, which is too bad, because I think IU is quite
likeable. Apparently, though, football commentators just don’t like you if they
think you can’t win.
At
least in football, “liking” is linked to effectiveness. In other areas of life,
“liking” is not tantamount to competence. I have noticed that often when people
say, “We like our pastor,” it means the pastor is not very good at her job, but
they like him anyway.
I
accompanied granddaughter Brigid to her high school freshman orientation
gathering and picnic since her parents were both working at the time. Many of
her classmates went out of their way to speak to her. I said, “They must really
like you.” “No,” she said, “they respect me.”
She
was right. There is a difference between liking and respect. For instance, I
like Sarah Palin.
When
she was running for vice-president, I heard many people say, “I’m going to vote
for her because I like her.” I said, “I like her, too, but liking a person is
not enough reason to vote for her.” Much more important than likability is
ability.
I
blame it on Facebook. There “liking” does not necessarily mean liking. It’s
just phatic communication, an acknowledgement that a fellow Facebooker has seen
that stupid cat video you posted. [Although, I do like cat videos.]
But
I like you, for being kind and patient enough to read what I write.
JRMcF
I
tweet occasionally as yooper1721.
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