Whatcha scared of?

Meet Jack, he's not scared of anything

A couple of months ago I started hearing a phrase everywhere-- on the streets, in class, in taxis, and yelled by my neighbors. And it always seemed to garner a reaction, maybe a little embarrassment on the part of the person questioned, while others would invariably laugh. A "gotcha" moment.

"Whatcha scared of?" - they ask.

It's interesting how language evolves and catch phrases develop. Word has it that the phrase  originally came from a radio host. It was adopted in relation to a new telecommunications company in town: what are you afraid of, to buy a SIM card with the new company?

But language changes, and the catch phrase came to apply to a number of things. Like crossing the street. You can hardly pause a moment to check traffic before an interested islander will yell "whatcha scared of?" at you. What are you afraid of? Certainly not being hit by a car....

There are a lot of situations where it can be used:
-- you arrived at a shop and haven't asked for your desired item yet - "whatcha scared of?"
-- a friend asks a question and you pause to think - "whatcha scared of?"
-- a random acquaintance asks for your number - "whatcha scared of?" 
-- I've even found it to be handy comic relief in the English classroom, as I ask different students questions - "whatcha scared of?"

Motorbikes leaving a soccer match

And legitimately, a lot of people have reason for caution. We'd be foolish to encourage those crossing the street to ignore the risk of oncoming traffic. A pause before replying to a question can show thoughtfulness on the part of the person answering. In the majority of situations, caution is to be admired and emulated.

Just as J- mentioned, the king going to war must consider if he can win with the troops he has. Saying "whatcha scared of" to him is likely to win you an admonishing look.

Or the person choosing to follow J. Choosing to follow without counting the cost and measuring the reward against the risk is simply foolhardy. And those of us who are waiting for the decision might be tempted to rush it, asking "whatcha scared of?" But a measured decision is far better than a rushed one. 

So, while I'll continue to join in the gentle teasing of the island catch phrase, I'll be remaining mindful of those decisions which require careful consideration first.