Mike Wittmer

it is what it is

Has anyone else noticed that this phrase is only used to describe something bad, like the Michigan economy, the Detroit Lions’ defense, or the futile search for Osama bin Laden?

You never hear:

“Sex.  It is what it is.”

“Snow day tomorrow!  It is what it is.”

“Jesus is coming!  It is what it is.”

Maybe we should “redeem” this phrase (thanks, Kuyper) by using it to describe things we like.  If nothing else, it may startle others and bring some humor to your day.  Can you think of any other funny examples that might work?

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12 responses to “it is what it is”

  1. Rev. Z. Bartels

    “The Emergent church. It was what it was.”

  2. mikewittmer

    Zach:

    That’s funny, in an opposite sort of way. I see we’re going to need a scorecard to keep track of the misdirections.

  3. Justin

    “Beer. It is what it is.”

  4. Todd

    Being. It is what it is.

  5. Jonathan Shelley

    Todd:

    Please warn me before you post something so funny. I think I cracked a rib laughing so hard!

  6. mike

    Todd:

    I wish I had an award to give you, but the fact that you made Jonathan laugh is probably its own reward. That is really funny.

  7. Pam Elmore

    NPR did a story on this phrase a couple of years ago… they called it “verbal tofu” (flavorless alone, but takes on the flavor of whatever you put it with):
    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18974664

    At the time, I thought that was brilliant. But now I see that it really tends to be more like verbal whitewash — an attempt to paint over something distasteful.

  8. Todd

    Jonathan and mike, thanks. Ontological humor is really fundamental. makes me chuckle.

  9. Nate Archer

    YHWH, “I Am what I Am.”

    Or… Popeye, “I yam what I yam.”

  10. Jonathan Shelley

    After Todd’s masterpiece, I had given up on finding anything worthy to post, but I can’t refuse this paraphrase from the State of the Union:

    Democracy. It is what it is.

  11. Jack H

    Jonathan

    Democracy. It is what it is? Depends on what your definition of is is.

  12. Jonathan Shelley

    Jack,

    With jokes like that you will never complete your recovery.

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