Notes on Anything

Anything; definition-any object, or matter whatever-to any degree or extent; at all something or someone of importance-any object, event or action whatever-in any way-anything but, not at all.

Anything: The Ultimate Excuse. If used too many time in the presence of one individual, may cause anger, frustration and lack of understanding. USE WITH CAUTION.

Anything: The Ultimate Excuse. Anything; the perfect avoidance beacon from responsibility. When someone asks me a question for which my answer is clearly defined and may cause, shall we say, "controversy," my answer is 'anything.' "What should we do for dinner?" One of the most lethal questions a person could ever be asked. There is at least a 75% chance that the asked already has something in mind, so the answerer must be extremely careful on this unsteady ground. 'Thinking... dinner... thinking... not spaghetti... anything bu spaghetti.' "Anything." In my mind's eye it was decided that the likelihood that, of all available meals, spaghetti should be chosen, was so small that it would be better to appear indifferent. Of course, it works the other way as well. If my answer to the question is too particular, and therefore possibly open to ridicule, I will default to "anything." Anything is a fall back--a place to go when our fear of prosecution overrides our knowledge of freedom. Anything can go anywhere, be anyone, so anything, so why not fall back on it? It's so soft, so malleable, so open.

Anything: A Death Sentence. It's too open. As wonderful a fall back as 'anything' may seem, it isn't much good at catching. In fact, the result of falling back on 'anything' is nothing, which leads to back and neck pains. Ouch. 'Anything' must be used with caution. Answering the "what do you want to do in college?" question with 'anything' is a terrible idea. In an instance like that, answering with "anything" leads to follow-up question (which I personally despise and avoid at all costs). So now 'anything' isn't an avoidance beacon anymore, but a huge attracting beam. So unless you want the attention received during the follow-up questioning, avoid 'anything.'

'Anything' may help on occasion when you're in a tight spot, but don't use it all of the time. 'Anything' can be anything, and 'anything' can change at any time to become anything other other than the anything it was when it was first mentioned. Anything: The Ultimate Excuse, a Death Sentence, and the Most Dangerous Word in the English Language.