busy [bizee] adj 1. actively and attentively engaged in work 2. not at leisure; otherwise engaged 3. fancying oneself important 4. desperate excuse for not living one's life
This word is severely overused in our culture. Nay, the very concept of "busy" is abused. "Busy" is our catch-all excuse. Not spending enough time with your children? Can't be bothered about global warming? "Busy" trumps all.
Another problem: when someone cries "busy" he is often positioning himself as a pitiable figure, the victim of his busyness. His shoulders should be massaged and his slippers fetched. But being "busy" is, for most, a point of pride (not to mention, a self-inflicted condition). For to be "busy" is, we assume, to be quite important. So "busy" becomes a double-win: you get to feel important and sorry for yourself!
And oh the respect due the "busy"! What greater compliment than "he's a busy man." What greater source of shame than sitting on your ass and doing nothing. Those too important to clean their own houses are held in high esteem.
I know I sound harsh, Clebketeers. My apologies to the innocently and circumstantially busy. I don't speak of you, but of the "busy" epidemic that enables people to run laps on the great rat-treadmill and avoid dealing with their real lives. To just plain stop now and then isn't the worst thing.
Oh, and sorry for the spotty posting lately. I've just been SOOPER busy.
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