Lazy Statements: Are You Guilty Of Them?

“Stop making lazy statements!” is a phrase I hear often from my close friends. They know that I am guilty of the crime, and they are always on me about it. In this blog post, we’ll be exploring what constitutes a “lazy statement” and why you should keep an eye out for them in your own life.

1. The Chewbacca Defense

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What is a “lazy statement”? In my opinion, a lazy statement is any generalization that leaves out the details. A quick example from today would be this:

“I can’t believe they canceled Firefly, it was such a good show!”

Now I understand what you mean, but this sentence lacks detail and is therefore a lazy statement. You didn’t say which season it was in or even which network it aired on. How could another person possibly know if they were guilty of making the same mistake? 

2 . The Goldilocks’ Defense

           A little while ago I had to write an essay for school about my favorite book. When asked why that particular story means so much to me, I found myself struggling to give a clear answer. After some deep introspection, I realized that the reason my favorite book is “The Catcher in the Rye” is because it’s the only book that I’ve read more than once.

This is an example of a lazy statement because it generalizes my experience with books. It’s like saying “I don’t like vegetables” or “I’m bad at math.” These statements may be true for you, but they lack detail and are therefore not very informative.

3 . The Bandwagon Defense

           Have you ever heard someone say “everyone’s doing it!” in order to try and get you to do something? This is another example of a lazy statement. It lacks detail and therefore offers no useful information.

4 . The Hypocrite Defense

           This is the most common of all lazy statements because it’s so vague that anyone can apply it to almost any situation. “That person is being a hypocrite” or “I’m not being a hypocrite, you are!” You may have had someone say something similar to you before- do you know why they were wrong? It’s because they didn’t offer any detail about what made them hypocritical in their own minds, so how could anyone else know if they are guilty of the same offense? Let me give an example of what I mean:

You overhear your friend talking about how much he hates cats. Later that day, you see him playing with his new kitten.

Your friend’s statement about hating cats is a lazy statement because it’s generalizing and doesn’t offer any detail. In this particular scenario, it would be more accurate to say “I don’t like the way some cats behave,” or “I’m not a fan of cats that are standoffish.” These statements are more specific and therefore provide more information than a generalization.

5 . The Ignorant Defense

           This one is pretty straightforward- making statements without knowing what you’re talking about is a surefire way to sound lazy. If you’re not sure about something, do your research! It’s better to be informed before you speak up than to make yourself look foolish.

Are You Guilty Of Lazy Statements

If you’ve made some of the statements I mentioned above, don’t worry! Remember that everyone is guilty of being lazy at one point or another. Try to get into the habit of adding detail to your statements so that you’ll be able to speak confidently in the future. If you find yourself lacking information about a particular subject, look it up and make an informed statement next time instead of resorting to laziness. Ignorance may be bliss, but knowledge is power- use them both for great results!