Trite

"A once effective phrase or idea that has been spoiled by long familiarity." according to Merriam Webster.

I've decided that I don't like this word. Just because something has been said before doesn't mean that it's not true any more. If a phrase or word expresses what you mean exactly who shouldn't you say it? I think the only words that are truly spoiled by familiarity are swear words. What people really mean when they say something in a conversation is trite is that I think the person insincere. People too often say something because they've heard other people say the same thing in a similar situation. They don't know what it really means or don't really mean what they're saying.

In writing, I try to avoid common phrases just because originality is one of the purposes of writing to me. It's also one of the most enjoyable things about reading. An original phrase is a delight. However, I don't discount a write for using something that is common effectively.

In art, particularly photography, there is absolutely no such thing as trite. People who use the word trite are just trying to push the framework of fashion into art. Fashion wants everything to be new and edgy so it rejects things that are good just because it's common. Therefore lots of good things such as photos of blue bonnets, paintings of landscapes, and bagpipes playing "Amazing Grace" are all discarded as 'trite'. Why? Just because lots of other people have taken pictures of lots of other blue bonnets doesn't make this photo a bad one. Just because lots of other people have painted lots of other landscapes doesn't make any one of them less beautiful. And just because it's traditional to play "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes doesn't make it sound bad. Tradition can be a good thing.

And certainly 'trite' has no place in talking about truth. If anything we need truths repeated over and over. "Peace on Earth! Goodwill to men!" "He is Risen" "Blessed be the Name of the Lord". As Kirk Youngblood said the other Sunday God won't care whether a church is innovative, creative, or on the cutting edge, but whether or not the sheep were fed the Word. Truth bears repeating and it never becomes trite.