The Word "Just".
I find the use of the word just most fascinating indeed.
It is a word with many meanings depending on which context it is used in.
"He is a fair and just man".
"I just got home from work".
"Don't mind me, I am just going to use the phone for one minute".
There is one particular use of the word "just" that concerns me.
The use of the word "just" a way in which judges the significance of an event, person, place, or thing.
Attempts to devalue or lessen the importance of an event, person, place, or thing.
The use seeks to hide, make invisible an event, person, place, or thing.
Why would we use such a word in a context which expresses a desire to judge and
convert the significance of an event, person, place, or thing?
Lets look at some examples of what I am referring to!
Lets take a hypothetical scenario.
Three young women in their early twenties are driving in a car on there way to a party.
The music is pumping, everyone is in good spirits, all is well.
One of the girls suddenly gets a phone call on her cellular phone, and motions for her friends to turn
down the volume on the stereo so she can hear the phone call more clearly.
She gets into a very in depth conversation with the person on the other line.
Some of the topics discussed are of great interest to the other girls in the car, as they cannot help but over-hear the conversation.
As soon as she gets off the phone they ask her, who she was talking to. She replies "Its Just my brother".
We have to ask ourselves, why is it "Just my brother"?
Why couldnt she say "My Brother"?
Why the use of the word "just" in there?
What is she signifying by using the word just in that statement?
Can it be translated: "Its my brother, although he is of little or no significance,
so pay no attention or little attention to the fact that is was him on the phone".
When people say "just" in the context of:
"Don't mind me, I am just going to use the phone for one minute".
The use is to express the insignificance of an event, which can also be applied to a person, place or thing.
Why do we feel compelled to judge the significance of events and make it known to others
the insignificance of the event, person, place or thing that you are referring to or experiencing?
Do other people care if you are "Talking to your brother"
or " Just talking to you brother"?
Do other people care if you are " Using the phone for 1 min"
or "Just using the phone for 1 min"?
Why do we think they care?
Why do we use the word in that format?
Are we trying to convince ourselves of how meaningless we find certain people, places, events and things?
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