Nobody likes a Debbie Downer, a Ronnie Rain-cloud or a Pessimistic Patsy. I certainly don't. Most people are attracted to the Happy Harolds and Gregarious Gretchens of the world. And why not? Now, I consider myself a positive person. I'm not shooting up in a back alley or trolling for johns. Way to go Mom and Dad. But the overuse of superlatives: Awesome! Great! Fantastic! Amazing! Superduper! I confess: it brings out my Irritable Irene.
Is language really saying it? With all our texting and MSNing - are we really lol-ing as much as we say we are? Narcissism aside, does everyone who sends me an e-mail signed "love you!" really love me? I get subtlety, nuance and context. I get that saying "I'm doing great!" when the checkout person asks you is easier than saying, "My job sucks, everyone's an asshole and I don't want to share this bottle of wine." I'm not advocating for Shakespearean sonnets, but our every day use of those positive superlatives seems more like avoidance than honesty.
Our emotions, in casual dialogue, are often exaggerated to such an extent that we're becoming, in some cases, caricatures of ourselves. Buffoons really. People who have more than one response to the world are, in my limited experience, more interesting. They're also more likely to appreciate true joy and be less sanctimonious. There's nothing wrong with striving for happiness. But being super-fantastic, amazing, awesome and g-r-e-a-t, even when you can't be, may very well send you to the psychiatrist's couch.
Sure, you must revere your Gregarious Gretchen. But if you don't acknowledge your Pessimistic Patsy or your Irritated Irene, you may very well fall into the arms Depression Darlene.
