You Are Not Busy
Surely if everyone says that they are busy all the time, then that has become the norm and no one can say that they are actually busy?
Using the word busy has become a very commonplace response to the question “How are you?”. I hate that answer. I hate it mostly because it’s misunderstood and incorrectly used, much like the word “literally” which is literally being used everywhere in place of the correct word, metaphorically (eg: I literally died when I heard that song).
The verb “busy” can be defined as:
verb
keep occupied.
“she busied herself with her new home”
I scoff at people who say that they are busy because it’s an answer that they haven’t thought through and is most often disingenuous. If you’re busy, I take it to mean that you are busying yourself with stuff to keep occupied. Basically you’re shuffling papers around your desk so that your boss thinks you’re doing something.
When I ask you how you are I actually give a shit about the answer so when I know you’re handing me a canned response I get irritated and stop listening. “Busy” is one of those canned responses.
When was the last time you held a conversation that went as follows:
You: “Hi, it’s really great to see you. How have you been?”
Friend: “Hey, great to see you too. Ah, man, I’ve been really busy.”
You: “Oh, OK, cool.”
What is the natural response to “busy” supposed to be? Am I meant to be excited, sad, sorry or happy that you’re busy? Is it a good thing or not? I don’t know.
So I’ve developed a canned response to the canned response:
Nic: “Hi, it’s really great to see you. How have you been?”
Friend: “Hey, great to see you too. Ah, man, I’ve been really busy.”
Nic: “Well better busy than bored.”
Friend: “Ha ha ha. True.”
Holy shit that’s 5 minutes of my life I’ll literally never get back. What a waste. I’d (metaphorically) rather rip out my own toenails than have to participate in another wasted conversation repeating that drivel.
What I think we’re all trying to say is that we’ve got a lot going on, that we’re overwhelmed with the volume of work we have and that we’re doing our best to get through it all.
If that’s the case, just say exactly that. I asked so I want to know.
Stop lying, stop trying to be polite, just be honest. If you’re having a shitty day, then say that the next time someone asks how you are. It’s better than replying with a canned “Busy”.
I gotta go. I’m pretty busy today so should get back to being busy.