During a recent American Idol episode, Randy Jackson (one of the judges) was asked about how he felt toward a particular contestant and whether they should be advanced to the next level — Jackson’s response, that he was “a billion percent” in favor of the contestant, demonstrated his continuation of the upward trend of overemphasis when it comes to valuing someone or something!
Keep in mind I’m not talking about money or wealth — It is possible to acquire more than 100% more of whatever you started with. Whether it is cash, property or goods that you are measuring. However, if you lost 100% of your assets you’d have no assets left!
How truly capable is anyone of giving more than 100%?
I can remember back to my early life when it was inconceivable that anyone could give more than 100% of themselves… 100% was all they had! There was nothing left over.
However, you could question them as to whether they were giving, or had given, 100% at the time. Most people will never come close to a 100% effort when doing something, unless it involves a life or death situation — even then it would be questionable without a personal relationship to the outcome!
Perhaps this trend of overemphasis and exaggeration regarding amount of effort began with sports. That is the first place I remember hearing about someone giving more than 100% — “He gave 110% that time!”
Truthfulness is reaching new highs!
References to being certain of the truth have also escalated above 100% — It’s possible to hear people being interviewed during news coverage saying things like, “I’m a 110% sure what I saw!” Or, “I’m sure I heard him threaten to do it… 150% sure!” Come on… what kind of nonsense is that!
Politicians, junkies, celebrities and everyday-citizens have fallen into the trap — Where will it end?
Will those of us with saner heads, lacking a need to embellish, be forced to inflate our values of events and actions in order to simply avoid hurting peoples feelings? Only time can show the result…
However, I do expect Randy Jackson to get to at least 1 Trillion percent before the current season of Idol ends! 😎
February 15, 2010 at 8:48 pm
I couldn’t agree more! It’s been a pet peeve of mine since i first heard Tim McCarver say it decades ago. He meant it as a witty comment…a “Yogi-ism” or “Stengelese” of sorts.
Unless a measurement or comparison is involved–and a quantity or size comparison is merely a form of measurement–it’s just not valid. It maddens me!
Anything else I want to add is already in your blog, Handicapper. Good job once again.
February 18, 2010 at 3:26 pm
Thanks John.
After I published the post, it occurred to me that I might have titled it better as “Exaggeration” instead of “Overemphasis”…
It should be clear, to any thinking individual, that inflated values are common in our speech. And, the result is a lose of worth.
April 13, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Simon Cowell hit a new high with exaggeration tonight… he told an American Idol contestant that he was “a million billion times better than last week!”
AMAZING overemphasis, Simon!
November 28, 2012 at 4:44 am
American Idol is simply the best singing TV show ever. i always watch it. ”
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