"It is what it is." For some reason this phrase has been popping up all over recently. Maybe it has always been used so widely, but I've only recently noticed it. It's everywhere! And what the hell does it mean? Like, I know what it means literally and I know the reason people use it. But it's pointless. I'm not just saying that. It seriously doesn't make any point. Here are some places I've seen it recently:
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Assistant Sports Editor Tom Curtis
(Note: He's talking about how people mistreat each other on Reds message boards.)
"Sometimes it's hard to believe adults can act this way, but it is what it is."
Curtis isn't even trying to use the phrase to make a point here, he just ran out of things to say. Maybe he felt that saying "it's hard to believe adults can act this way" was too risque and might ruffle some feathers, so he went with "it is what it is" to cool down the sentence. It didn't cool me down though. I'm hot. Pissed. It doesn't mean anything!
Former Pacers guard Reggie Miller
(Note: He is reacting to the brawl a couple years ago in Detroit)
"Obviously, you never want to see something like that happen, but it is what it is."
Huh? So basically he's using the phrase to say, "it happened. And that's what happened, that it happened." Of course it happened! Everyone knows what
happened. I mean, yeah. We know your teammate Stephen Jackson wasn't giving a dental screening to that fan he hit in the jaw. He was hitting him in the jaw! Hey Reggie, man, listen. Just leave it at "you never want to see something like that happen." That's fine. No need to tell us that what we saw is what we just saw. No need, bud. In case you're wondering though, your quote, even without the "it is what it is" bullshit is wrong. It is incorrect. Everyone wants to see NBA players fight heckling fans. I mean, shit, they're still running it monthly on highlight shows and I still get pumped when I see Ron Artest fly up ten rows of seats, already swinging. 'test asks no questions. 'test jus takes cor uh his bidness.
Brian McNamee in a taped phone conversation with Roger Clemens
(Everyone knows the story.)
Clemens: "Why would you do that to me? Come on, after all I've done for you? Tell them I did steroids? Come on, Mac."
McNamee: "It is what it is, Roger. Whaddya want me to do? Whaddya want me tooo do?"
I can actually understand his use of the phrase here. He didn't want to have this convo with Clemens. He had just outed the guy for being a cheater. But Roger shouldn't have taken that shit. Here's what Clemens' next line should have been: "Hey fuckstick. I know what it is. You don't have to tell me 'what it is.' You screwed me. My whole career is a joke now." The Congressmen, like me, had a tough time with the phrase when they read it aloud in court. Mark Souder, a senator from Indiana called it a "prototypical New York" phrase. Souder obviously doesn't watch many player or coach press conferences, because then he'd know it's definitely not just a NY thing. It's everywhere, and it needs to stop.
In my research for this disaster of a post, I realized this is actually a pretty common rant. I am 1. embarassed that I am probably coming off as unoriginal, 2. happy that other people have taken issue with the use of this meaningless phrase, and 3. that I have to use it a couple times in the next few days to see the reaction it gets. That's the only way to get a feel for the meaning and usage of the phrase. Say I go into Jimmy Johns tomorrow and order an Italian Night Club with extra peppers and a drink and the guy is like "is this for here or to go?" I'll give it to him. "It is what it is." There's no way he'll enjoy that. Check back for updates, or don't. It is what it is.
That will officially end the worst post in the short history of this site. I shouldn't have posted it, but you've gotta have a bottom to have a top. OK, yes. YES. I am officially starting "you've gotta have a bottom to have a top" as the next popular, overused meaningless phrase. You heard it hear first. Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, Miami Dolphins -- get at me.
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Assistant Sports Editor Tom Curtis
(Note: He's talking about how people mistreat each other on Reds message boards.)
"Sometimes it's hard to believe adults can act this way, but it is what it is."
Curtis isn't even trying to use the phrase to make a point here, he just ran out of things to say. Maybe he felt that saying "it's hard to believe adults can act this way" was too risque and might ruffle some feathers, so he went with "it is what it is" to cool down the sentence. It didn't cool me down though. I'm hot. Pissed. It doesn't mean anything!
Former Pacers guard Reggie Miller
(Note: He is reacting to the brawl a couple years ago in Detroit)
"Obviously, you never want to see something like that happen, but it is what it is."
Huh? So basically he's using the phrase to say, "it happened. And that's what happened, that it happened." Of course it happened! Everyone knows what
happened. I mean, yeah. We know your teammate Stephen Jackson wasn't giving a dental screening to that fan he hit in the jaw. He was hitting him in the jaw! Hey Reggie, man, listen. Just leave it at "you never want to see something like that happen." That's fine. No need to tell us that what we saw is what we just saw. No need, bud. In case you're wondering though, your quote, even without the "it is what it is" bullshit is wrong. It is incorrect. Everyone wants to see NBA players fight heckling fans. I mean, shit, they're still running it monthly on highlight shows and I still get pumped when I see Ron Artest fly up ten rows of seats, already swinging. 'test asks no questions. 'test jus takes cor uh his bidness.Brian McNamee in a taped phone conversation with Roger Clemens
(Everyone knows the story.)
Clemens: "Why would you do that to me? Come on, after all I've done for you? Tell them I did steroids? Come on, Mac."
McNamee: "It is what it is, Roger. Whaddya want me to do? Whaddya want me tooo do?"
I can actually understand his use of the phrase here. He didn't want to have this convo with Clemens. He had just outed the guy for being a cheater. But Roger shouldn't have taken that shit. Here's what Clemens' next line should have been: "Hey fuckstick. I know what it is. You don't have to tell me 'what it is.' You screwed me. My whole career is a joke now." The Congressmen, like me, had a tough time with the phrase when they read it aloud in court. Mark Souder, a senator from Indiana called it a "prototypical New York" phrase. Souder obviously doesn't watch many player or coach press conferences, because then he'd know it's definitely not just a NY thing. It's everywhere, and it needs to stop.
In my research for this disaster of a post, I realized this is actually a pretty common rant. I am 1. embarassed that I am probably coming off as unoriginal, 2. happy that other people have taken issue with the use of this meaningless phrase, and 3. that I have to use it a couple times in the next few days to see the reaction it gets. That's the only way to get a feel for the meaning and usage of the phrase. Say I go into Jimmy Johns tomorrow and order an Italian Night Club with extra peppers and a drink and the guy is like "is this for here or to go?" I'll give it to him. "It is what it is." There's no way he'll enjoy that. Check back for updates, or don't. It is what it is.
That will officially end the worst post in the short history of this site. I shouldn't have posted it, but you've gotta have a bottom to have a top. OK, yes. YES. I am officially starting "you've gotta have a bottom to have a top" as the next popular, overused meaningless phrase. You heard it hear first. Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, Miami Dolphins -- get at me.
