No word gets under my skin more than “sure”. Oh God, how I hate to hear it.
“Did you like the movie?”
“Sure”
“You want to go eat?”
“Sure”
What does it even mean? Sure yes? Sure no? Sure?! I have no clue. It’s the most ambiguous word ever. Part of the hate, the loathing, that comes from this word has got to come from the assumed tone. The moment it escapes the lips, I have assumed what the tone is.
Sure you don’t want to go, you’re just appeasing me. Sure.
Whatever.
What a horrid word.
Are you or aren’t you hungry?
The problem with a word like “Sure” is the assumed tone that comes right after hearing it. Assumed tone happens all the time. I wonder if its rampant with this generation thanks to things like email, text messaging, and aim. Although, assuming tone can happen when you hear a word. It is so much worse reading something with no indication on how it should be read.
Back to sure. Sure can be said in a plethora of different tones. It can be a simple yes, an ambiguous no, an “i don’t care”.
Example:
You (usually said eagerly): “We should hang out sometime.”
Response: “Sure”
Translation “I don’t think so, you’re way too enthusiastic, I’m simply alluding you by giving you a false sense of hope.”
All of this present when you use the word. Sure is like “Mufasa” for me, it makes me cringe.
With things like email, texting, and aim tone can go any way. How many times do get emails at work with those damn smiley faces?
Feel free to pick up that paperwork. It’s waiting for you on my desk. 
Translation: Come pick up your crap. Jesus! I’ve been trying to organize my desk and these papers a constant reminder of your incompetence. The smiley face is so you don’t think I’m annoyed, but I am.
*Note, smilely faces can sometimes be replaced with a “ha ha”.
Will I use that word.
Sure!
Tags: aim, ambiguous, assumed tone, communication, email, sure, technology, text messaging, texting, translation
