"What If?".....

[mdehners]

Two of the most Toxic words in my life. They are there to Undermine you, Demean you, Belittle you.
In my Life these words are ALWAYS used to imply that I or my Choices, Beleifs, etc are Substandard. And the quickest way for me to, to use the modern term "Unfriend" you is to use them.
"What If...you were Straight?". I'm NOT.
"What If your Beleifs are WRONG?". Same back at you Bub.
"What If........FUCK YOU!
Cheers,
Pat

Comments

[ngakmafaery]

...but WHAT IF the questioner weren't a douche...????? ahahaha! I think that there is a certain crowd of people who were taught in their religions or classes or something that this is some 'novel way to challenge how people think' and therefore kind of shockbully them into changing...I mean, I can learn new things if I contemplate what if I were a fish or something, and even what if I actually believed some line of talk from some other religion, but to imply in some smarmy way that I am too dumb to have ever considered if, say, fundamentalist this or that is great for me is ignorant and not likely to make me want to become like the questioner...like people our age never had the option to see if we're straight gay bi neither whatever, or whatever spiritual view...!

[arlie]

*sigh* For me, "what if" introduces a chance to play with ideas - "what if you were emperor for a day" - "what if you could change one - and only one - key historical event" - "what if you were going to be transported to the bronze age, and could take only the amount of 'stuff' that could fit in one steamer trunk".

I hate the idea of people using "what if" as a bludgeon, the way they've been doing with you. Much sympathy from me.

[mdehners]

"WI?" used personally tends to be a tool of self-reflection and discovery. I've just had it asked of me that wasn't some form of put-down. I can still remember our mutual Runeclass-"leader" using it on me once when I asked why we weren't studying more Lore than the Runestaves and even with them ignoring the Runepoems, "What If they(the Ancestors) just made it up?". A good excuse if you just want to run classes from material you "viked" from Diana's Runecraeft workshoppes;>
Cheers,
Pat

[sophiacatherine]

I agree that it depends on the person saying it - I've used 'what if' type scenarios to help people understand things like disability, although I don't use quite those words and I aim not to be aggressive etc. I have had 'what if' used against me for belief, and it's annoying as Hel. There's no good answer. "What if you were still a Christian?" "Well, I'd still be an anxious wreck on the road to depressing atheism..."

[mdehners]

Prettymuch my experience. "WI" is used as a weapon by others, a tool by yourself...sort of like a rifle;>
Cheers,
Pat