After being married for two decades, I’ve noticed a couple of things about arguing with my husband. Probably the most surprising thing is the complete lack of variety. We basically have four arguments that we recycle over and over and over again, with no resolution in sight. One of them is about how to make beef stew, I kid you not. We both have the script and, for reasons we can’t explain, we feel the need to give it a go every now and again.
The other fascinating thing is that it’s not the outrageously offensive words that send us out of our minds and escalate our discussions into full-blown battles. Nope. It’s six seemingly inert words that can take a regular old argument and send it careening into another dimension of time and hate. I call them, the fighting words.
Nothing. Seriously. Whatever. Nevermind. Fine. Chill-out
You know them. You hate them. But you use them. And you get them used on you. Forget gender stereotypes. Women don’t have the monopoly on “nothing” and men don’t have the rights to “chill-out.” Although my favorite is easily “nevermind” and my husband has a wicked “whatever” that can melt the layers of skin right off my face. We are all jerks.
NOTHING
Of all the fighting words, I call this one “the gateway” fighting word. Once “nothing” comes out it unleashes the other fighting words. A “nothing” is always in response to “What’s wrong?” And that’s the problem right there…you don’t know what’s wrong. Clearly, the fight is already brewing. You know it. They know it. You’re both just waiting for the sucker to actually ask the question. And everyone, even you, knows that “nothing” universally means, something. But what “nothing” really means is this: “You know that I know that you know damn well what’s the matter.” At this point you’re trapped. If you don’t know what’s the matter, well, you are an insensitive idiot. If you do know what’s the matter, chances are you caused it. Good luck with that.
SERIOUSLY?
When used as a question with a desperately irritated tone, “seriously” can make even the calmest of partners freak the hell out. You see, they were being serious. What you are actually saying is this: “You can’t possibly mean the thing you just said because it was so stupid and/or thoughtless that only a jackass without a working brain would say it to me.” But, that’s a mouthful. So, instead, a wide-eyed “seriously??” will escalate the argument quite nicely. Well done. But, be prepared for a “chill-out” or, maybe even a “whatever.” You totally have it coming.
WHATEVER
Ah, “whatever.” It’s definitely a crowd favorite. Am I right? “Whatever” has the ability to cut right through the already frayed nerves of your partner and quickly unravel years of pent up hostility. This is because it’s a totally dickish word used to marginalize the feelings of your partner, while simultaneously showing them your complete disregard for reaching a resolution. You’d like to imagine you are above using a “whatever” but you’re not. It’s too effective. And if you think a “whatever” will end the argument, think again. I’ve never meet a person strong enough to walk away from a “whatever.” If you throw one out or get one thrown at you, be prepared. Shit is about to get real.
NEVERMIND
At first glance, you might confuse “nevermind” with “nothing.” This is a rookie mistake. “Nevermind” is a hybrid of “nothing” and “whatever,” making it one of the most powerful and dangerous of the fighting words. Where “nothing” makes you guess what’s the matter, “nevermind” doesn’t screw around. It boldly says: “Yeah, something is wrong all right, but I can’t even be bothered to explain it to you because you are not bright enough to comprehend it, so I am exiting the conversation.” Oh, it’s good.
Little Known Fact: “Nevermind” can be as effective when you are right as when you are wrong. Yup. Kinda crazy, but sometimes you’re not right.
FINE
“Fine” shares the same dismissive properties as “whatever” but it is much more manipulative. It’s actually a mock capitulation. You are doing what is most crafty and, I won’t lie, most impressive, in an argument. You are letting them have the last say on the topic without saying you agree. You are effectively saying: “You’re not right, but at this point I can’t stand the sound of your voice, so, we are done here.” Good stuff. And what it lacks in escalating the argument, it makes up for in years of simmering resentment.
Helpful Tip: A “fine” in response to a “fine” is one of the only known ways to end an unresolvable argument, and still have time to grab dinner.
CHILL-OUT
Don’t tell me to chill-out should probably be on my tombstone. It’s my number one trigger word. To tell someone upset about anything, and I don’t care what it is, to “chill-out” is to take your life in your own hands. Nothing — not “whatever,” not “nevermind,” not “seriously,” not even “nothing” — can send your partner into a complete freak out like telling him or her to chill-out. The only two appropriate responses to “chill out” are “Don’t tell me what to do.” And/or “Bite me.” Both responses are well deserved and the partner who uttered the chill-out should have known this is where it would end and probably start looking for an apartment.
GOOD NEWS
The good news is that some couples don’t argue. They are wrapped in a loving embrace of understanding and constant affection for each other at all times. To them, I say, good for you…and please don’t write me hateful comments. We all agree you’re better than us. To the other 99.9% of couples, who, at the very least, have been roommates for many, many years and have the occasional healthy disagreement the way humans do, there is some good news. Understanding the complexities and nuances of the fighting words means you can shorten your arguments by simply using the six words. It saves time and perhaps you can even have a good laugh about how predictably boring your disagreements are getting.
Person #1: What’s the matter?
Person #2: Nothing.
Person #1: Seriously?
Person #2: Nevermind.
Person #1: Fine.
Person #2: Whatever.
Person #1: Chill-out.
Person #2: Bite me.
Person #1 and Person #2 (at the same time): Wanna go see a movie?*
*Your four arguments are unresolvable, so maybe cut your losses and go see a movie.
Related Posts
September is the Worst
Cheating Death: 30 Years of Borrowed Time
45 Years Old Isn’t the "New" Anything
The Wallet Years: The Worst Stage of Parenting?
Escaping Your Inner Voice Captor
Vacation or Trip? A Helpful Guide for Parents
When Midnight Hits and You’re Wide Awake
So, I’m Going to Freakin’ India!
Open Letter To My Kids About Summer
Gen Xers, Unite! Or Don’t. Whatever.
The Joy of Summertime Mushy-Brained Kids
A Breakup Letter to My Forties
About Jugglers
Vacation Daddy
Seven Signs of the Aging Apocalypse
My Love Hate Relationship with Christmas Cards
My Thighs are Trying to Run My Life
When You Feel Fat For You
Don’t Go Down To The Basement: Coronavirus Edition
Scattered Thoughts on My First Pandemic
"Area Man Shocked to Find Out Cool Wife Wants to Feel Special On Valentine’s Day"
Manifest Dresstiny
A Quick Guide for Staying Young
Twas the Default Magic Maker
The Family Dinner Horror Show
To the "Not to be nitpicky, but…" People
The Default Parent™
How A Walk In Montreal Gave Me Much Needed Hope in Humanity
We Means You
The Hair Pulling Madness of the Campus Tour
Things I Want To Complain About That Make Me An Asshole
Enjoy Every Minute of It? Do You Even Have Kids?
The Anti-New Year’s Resolutions Revolution
Going Rogue on Christmas Gifts
And, Just Like That, She’s Off
Teenagers in the Mist
The Legend of The Fourth of July in My Hometown
The Default Parent Resume
The Joy of Not Caring About Stuff
The Modern Midlife Crisis
My Baby Girl is Going to College
The Little Black Dress Party
Why I Wanted to Throw an Apple at My Husband’s Head for 20 Years
Middle School in the 80s
Hamilton Tickets: The Dumbest, Best Money We’ve Ever Spent
Sometimes You Have To Pivot
A Letter to My Friends on New Year’s Day
Buddhist Compassion and Metaphorical Face Punching
The Beautiful Maddening Contradiction of Teenagers
End of School Madness is Upon Us
Doing Time in Elementary School
30 Years of Marriage: The Myths and the Magic
The Week Before Family Vacation
It All Starts with Grease
20 Years of Marital Bliss
Hey Mom and Dad, Applying to College Is Killing My Mojo
At our house: always, never (always said by him, never by me :)), I’ll get right on that (said with the deepest sarcasm, almost always by self) and uh huh (vague and dismissive in response to a rant). I am so proud. Good god. How embarrassing.
Oh my god, I love “I’ll get right on that.” Genius. I’m adding it to our repertoire!
Ugh! THE ALWAYS – NEVER! It’s the worst!
I wish I could write blogs like you! I laughed and laughed. In our house, we have the added bonus of somehow NOT engaging in an argument– a blank stare in response, or a complete ignoring of the other person’s rage… it is INFURIATING!! Also, we have arguments via text/email. To which, a lack of response also causes fury. Or, where a flurry of replies (with links to articles or such, proving the point trying to be made) is met with anger. We end a lot of arguments with “Let’s simply agree to disagree”, and then we go stuff our faces with comfort food. Ahhhh, good times.
It’s comforting to know we are all the same with only slight variations. And thanks for the compliment. It’s so nice to hear that!
I love all of this so much.
I think you need the DON’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO NECKLACE below.
https://verycuriousmind.wordpress.com/2015/09/03/the-power-of-profanity-alison-wonderland-jewelry/
‘shush’ is the most inflammatory word in our house!
I hate to be shushed! (that could also be on my tombstone.)
I think you need to write a whole other post of clever comebacks in the event our husbands use these words!
Nothing.
I still don’t freaking know why you are mad or what we are fighting about…
Ha! And that’s why we are fighting!! 😉
My FAV so far. You could have been a therapist.
Can you even imagine? I’m so messed up!
Any chance you make font bigger so I can read on my iPhone?
Barbara. I can’t! I’m so sorry. Can you zoom???
Been married 26 years…and we’ve just streamlined the whole argument thing to numbers, since we have the same 5 arguments over and over–and they always end the same way…Really an amazing time-saver!!! Very easy to just call a #3….(#3–how to load the dishwasher) he knows how it ends, and I know how it ends (with me being right, of course)…and we can move on to wine! 🙂
This is soooo good. You need to share it on my FB page! http://www.facebook.com/mblazoned. I’m doing this!
My two balls to the walls, freak out with Wolverine claws coming out phrases are — Relax — and — you just don’t want to hear it…… If those are utter, duck. ?
Mere — one of my favorites…!! Love the final mock argument!!
Ha!! Thanks, Ayrn!