"You can just"

[firecat]

About providing food for your family when you don't have a lot of money, and the thoughtless advice that people sometimes give if they don't know much about a difficult problem you have, especially if they give the advice using the adverb "just" (with the "it's so simple" connotation).

http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2011/08/31/you-can-just/

Comments

[gmdreia.livejournal.com]

Yep... If the person could "just" do something so easily, chances are, they would've already done it.

"just" also doesn't take into account the fact all kinds of invisible factors of which the "juster" may not be privy.

Like, in my own case, with my health issues combined with ADHD (I can't take meds, unless i want to experience heart palpitations, windedness, and increase my chance of a serious heart condition in the future), I can't over schedule things the way that many people do - I need to allow myself a lot of time to get things done. I was only able to work while going to school (because of how time consuming it is to make accommodations to my ADHD) when on meds.

Most of the people who've told me "you can just..." have more free time than i do. They have no clue what it's like to be me.

I try to watch the "you can just..." with others, especially with people I don't know very well... And even then.