This word isn’t considered vulgar by the vast majority, but in my mind, it can be as vulgar as any other four-letter word in existence. The word I'm speaking of is "like”.
I know, I know the word is just when used properly, such as when one shows an interest or pleasure in something. It's also just when used as a simile. But I’m not referring to such scenarios. I’m referring to when every other word that comes out of a person’s mouth is “like”. It doesn't matter whether or not it makes sense. It doesn't matter if he or she sounds stupid when speaking. All that seems to matter is that they include the word "like" into the conversation at least thirty-eight times in the span of five minutes. I would like to give a brief example of what I'm talking about in a made-up dialogue between a girl, whom is quite excited about a date she had, and her male friend. I call it, “The Valley Girl Complex”:
Bruce: “So, how was your date over the weekend?”
Trisha: “Oh my gosh, like, it was like so great!”
Bruce: “Oh yeah? That's great news! So, what'd you two go and do?”
Trisha: “Like, he came and picked me up, and like took me to a movie, and like, then we went to dinner, and like he dropped me off and like gave me a good night kiss. I think we're going to go out again, like, maybe on Friday.”
Bruce: “Wow! That's awesome! I hope that goes well! I think Alexandria and I may go out on Friday, also. You think you might want to double with us?”
Trisha: “Like, oh my gosh, are you serious? Like, totally! I'm going to go and talk to Claude about it and I'm sure he'll like be totally cool with it. I'll like call you and let you know, okay?”
Bruce: “Okay, well, I got to get going to class now. I'll talk to you later. Take care.”
Trisha: “Yeah, you too Bruce, I'll like talk to you later, for sure.”
Okay, now is it just me, or after a while, is the only word you hear (read in this case) come out of Trisha's mouth, the word "like”? That's the problem I have.
I took a public speaking course a few years ago and the words "umm," "uh," and "like" are called space-fillers. They fill in time after one has lost their train of thought or forgotten what to say for a split-second. By continually running their mouths, this gives them the false idea that they will come across as more intelligent, when it has the direct opposite effect. I better run along now. Reminiscent of what would occur in real life, having just typed that dialogue and reading the word “like” so many times, I think I need to grab some Advil and lay my head down for a bit.
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