Maybe

Maybe
Maybe
Maybe

I use this word a lot when I'm allowed to. I would never use 'maybe' in a formal essay because a) it is a colloquial language and b) it shows hows how unsure and weak I feel about the topic I am to assert. But, in such places as my blog, I overuse 'maybe' because I've been raised/forcing myself to be neutral.

The absence of 'maybe' often leads to a strong argument which often results in fighting. For example, if I say "Coke is better than Pepsi," it attracts those who are in absolute love with Pepsi to disapprove of my statement. Now, the argument that is to occur here isn't necessarily an intelligent one because the Internet usually offers anonymity. Therefore, instead of using one's real name (which might be concerned by the idea of being tarnished), people can fight under IDs, thus slightly feel allowed that they can say whatever they want without being held responsible for its consequences.

Then, a question arises: how should one say what one wants to say without offending anyone? There are multiple solutions.

One of them is to put "I think" in front of it. "I think Coke is better than Pepsi" still conveys the fact that the speaker prefers Coke to Pepsi but puts a bit of a personal tone to it. Saying "I think" is another way of saying "this is what I think but others may feel different about this matter. Nonetheless I respect their opinion." This works fine on conversational terms but jeopardizes the quality of assertion when it is employed in an argumentative essay, because if it isn't your thought, you wouldn't write it in the first place. "I believe" is a bit stronger than "I think" and is more formal. But it would be funny to say "I believe Coke is better than Pepsi"; no matter how strongly the person feels about it (which would be funnier.)

Another way is to say, "Maybe." Maybe is a very irresponsible word. It is an easy way out. The speaker cannot be called upon to take care of the consequence of his/her opinion when there is "maybe" in the statement because the speaker already clarified the uncertainty. This is why many companies use "may" or "might" in their disclosure: 'This food may increase the consumer's heart beat per minute'; 'This medicine may be lethal when taken after midnight;' etc, etc... It is good that the side effect doesn't occur, but, if it does, buyers cannot sue the company because it stated in a tiny lettering 'it MAY have the following side effects:...'

Writing 'maybe' in what I think it's true relieves me from pressure. Even if it isn't true, it doesn't have an effect on me. I can say whatever I want to say without being worried. I can sleep well because no Pepsi-lover would come after me when I say "My personal thought is that Coke may taste better than Pepsi."

Vague. Ambiguous. Grey.
There is nothing to be salvaged in that statement. If I were an English teacher marking an essay and saw something along that line, I would give the student big fat zero. (Ironic, because zero is an empty number containing nothing...)

So why was this awful word created? It may have been generated for those who can't handle highly stressful situations - but that's just what I think.