Thoughts

There are words, phrases, accents, idioms, and customs that vary from region to region, even family to family. Growing up in this great state of Michigan, I of course developed the correct and complete set of these different items, right? (Not funny? Ok, fine.) Having spent my glorious college years on the East Coast I began to see what things that seem so normal to me can confuse Philadelphians and New Yorkers so easily (well most things can confuse New Yorkers easily, but that is another post entirely).

Back east I was the outsider. I say "tennis shoes" while they refer to their "sneakers". If I wanted a piece of candy, I might enjoy a "sucker", while they would have a "lollipop". There weren't too many differences, but those that were did not go unnoticed. But, like a good stubborn kid from a stubborn family, I stuck to my guns. I still say tennis shoes and sucker and will continue to do so though those were small potatoes.

The big, glaring difference that has even been the topic of entire episodes of programming on some television channels is the pop/soda debate. I am now and will always be a member of the pop camp. Many tried to convert me while I was at school. They said it was just easier to order what I wanted if I would just say soda. What are we without our principles?

So early already in law school I face another of these challenges. This may not be industry specific vernacular, but in a law environment is the first time I have even encountered the use of the term "hypo". Hypo is just a truncated version of saying hypothetical situation. If you present a hypo to someone you are asking them to apply knowledge to a scenario that was created in your mind. In class we will read a note or a question after a case and then we are told how similar this is to the hypo we just discussed. Or a student will pose a question to the professor to see how a rule or law applies to a different situation for increased understanding; this is another way to use a hypo.

As I vowed on the drive to Philadelphia those few years ago that I, on my death bed, would be able to go in peace with understanding that I never wavered from saying pop, I vow to you now that I will do everything in my immediate power to not use the term "hypo". I find that using "example" or "scenario" or when I am feeling crazy even "hypothetical situation" is not difficult to say.

I harbor no ill will towards the originators of this abbreviation, nor towards those that promote its use today. All I am saying is that I do not expect it to enter into my limited vocabulary.

On that note, in my tennis shoes, I will now go have a sucker while drinking a pop.