Am I the only one who finds it annoying when people say "stay safe"?

It's one of those things people say all the time, like way too much. When phrases are overused like this they start feeling super fake, and this one especially annoys me because it's always in response people who are in some kind of tough situation, which makes the fakeness of overused phrase hit even harder. 😆

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Degbeme · 70-79, M

Take care, be safe. ✌

Adrift · 61-69, F

If you saw the way people drive these days, going to the grocery store is a risk.

froggtongue · M

I agree that it's annoying. For the purpose of staying safe they're useless words. But humans being social as they are makes it compulsatory for most to say something.
As an exercise think if the situation is the other way and that person is leaving. What would you say to that person for them to feel the social bond you want to express for someone about whom you care?

Nightwings · F

@froggtongue I wouldn't say something in particular, if you have a friend who's going through something you just talk about it. It would be very strange if something happened to my friend and I went: "Oh okay, stay safe, bye." 😆 If it's someone I don't even know, I don't feel a compulsion to say something. If I was curious about it I'd ask questions, if they don't seem comfortable with that then I'd stop. Maybe I'd read about the thing if it's someone I don't know very well but still have a casual relationship to, to understand better what's happening. ^^

froggtongue · M

@Nightwings Maybe just a generic thing like "see ya" or "talk later" could fill the gap.

BlueVeins · 26-30

Not really. I've been saying it to people what with the smoke and all, I find it sweet when people say it to me. Maybe you're hearing it a lot because your country is at war and stuff?

Nightwings · F

@BlueVeins Yeah it's just the default script everyone writes to me for years now, even if I don't know them or don't think we'd normally get along lol. Like if a person wants to show empathy at least be original or just don't bother. 😆

DMmeyourtits · 26-30, M

Sometimes it's also just out of your hands. Literally anything can happen, no matter how safe we try to make it. I'd rather express my wish/hope for safety, than just stating 'stay safe'.

Nightwings · F

@DMmeyourtits Right, that's actually part of why it's annoying too, because usually the phrase doesn't even make sense. 😆

Horace · M

No, you're not the only one. It's all part of this 'be kind' toxic positivity narrative that has infiltrated the world. People have been mind-conditioned into thinking they are obligated to say something nice to strangers for fear of being labeled rude. RUDE, after all, is the latest crime of the century.

Nightwings · F

@Horace It 100% appears to me like they think they have to say something nice, not because they care, just a cliche phrase to make sure they are a good person. They feel like it's rude to just say nothing, or literally talk about anything else. Many times it ends up being dehumanizing instead of kind, because you become more like a sad example that they have to feel sorry for, instead of having a normal conversation with you about something more interesting lol.

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