"Shit happens." "Is it Friday yet?" and "Life's a beach" are all terrible, pretty tired clichés that still pop up on t-shirts and bumper stickers. But only one phrase has entered the lexicon that means absolutely nothing yet still gains popularity: "It is what it is."
What about this phrase has captured the public's lack of imagination? Well, it's certainly catchy, and if you're not paying attention, it sounds like you're actually saying something profound or knowing; it's a poor man's "Easy come, easy go."
If you're talking about the quality of something, at least "Garbage in, garbage out" describes how croddy ingredients create a croddy result and inspires you to do better. "It is what it is" just sits there and neither puts it down NOR compliments it. "It is what it is," is essentially saying "That thing is right over there being itself," and lets you just sit back and not think about improving it, scratching your ass.
Probably the worst use of it is in comforting someone in a bad situation. Just imagine telling some old skank lady at a bar that your wife left you and you just got fired. What else is she gonna say to you? It's perfect to just fill up some time, like saying, "Well, you know" or "Bob's your uncle."
Shit. I just realized this entire entry reads like an Andy Rooney segment. Oh well,"It is what it is."
Fart
