Coronavirus (COVID-19) Bromides, Cliche's, and Catch-Phrases

Weird times produce weird behaviors. Since when has it become acceptable to run away from on-coming pedestrians while shopping in masks like robbers?

Now we also have a rash of emails, commercials, and mass media bombarding us with similar-sounding messages. These messages are geared to illicit fear and assuage fear at the same time, because government, medical professionals, and business owners believe that people need to have a certain level of fear to be compliant with government and medical orders. And yet, people need reassurance that businesses, government, and medical professionals have their best interest at heart. As a result, people will joyfully obey.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying the situation isn’t serious for many people. And I’m not saying some of the measures taken aren’t legitimately helpful. I’m just observing how a serious situation can be used to communicate lazy marketing messages. It seems like there’s a lot of cut and paste propaganda that can’t be discussed or debated is being foisted onto the public to get people to act for all sorts of interests.

Following are some the sayings that are getting trite:

• We care about our customers and employees
• People (you) are our priority
• These are unprecedented times
• Stay safe
• Stay healthy
• Stay home
• Wash your hands (like duh.)
• Practice social distancing
• We are all in this together
• This will be a new normal
• This pandemic
• This global crisis
• We need to stay under quarantine
• Let’s flatten the curve
• This is a novel virus

This list is not exhaustive. If you want to add more, please do so in the comments. And maybe I'll update this list with your suggestions.

Photo by Flavio Gasperini on Unsplash