Behind the Motto: The Problem With YOLO Hey haven't you heard? You only live once.

If ever you were unaware that this whole being alive thing is not everlasting, than this catchphrase is here to both help and enlighten you. It can be heard trailing off the lips of people from every shape, color and clique. It can also be found in superabundance on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. But that most likely goes without saying, because anyone that is still unacclimated to the YOLO acronym takeover is a champion recluse and should be awarded for their stellar Ralph Ellison impression (get it, the Invisible man? Anybody? Hold your jeers and tomatoes, folks, I won't be doing anymore jokes), wherever the mysterious coordinates of their cellar-dwelling may be. Campus has run absolutely rampant with the saying. It was coined by rap's current hot-shot and most quotable man, Drake, than popularized by his worshipping sector of teeny-boppers. From there it practically became a mantra of Ohio State students and a codeword that strangers can use to see if their conversational counterpart is cool or not (usually, the people saying it are most definitely not). I myself have heard it 28 times today and it's not even lunchtime.The kids these days have adopted the slogan because it succinctly expresses their youthful philosophy. It does make for a good toast. When imbibing a bevy of beverages, casually spilling liquids and causing enough inundations of libation to break a levee; opening the floodgates to your worries and just truly not giving a dam(n), all in the name of elation and celebration, uttering those two simple syllables can define the moment and turn it into an almost death-defying instance of beauty. YOLO! The beauty of it is that it is entirely open for interpretation. It is flexible enough to be applicable in any context, and therefore can mean something slightly different to just about everyone. That, of course, is also the issue. When abused, the concept of YOLO can be detrimental to its host. It can mangle good judgment, empower ignorance, embolden irresponsibility and, possibly the worst of all, excuse blatant stupidity. It seems obvious that citing the motto as inspiration to get completely blotto and break the law is not what Drake had in mind, but that is how some people misconstrue it, foolishly thinking they are protected under the figure of speech's umbrella. "I personally don't like to say the motto at all. Maybe I wouldn't mind it as much if it wasn't so overused. I mean, the song came out like almost a year ago, enough is enough already," said Omar Abdulla, junior Medieval and Renaissance Studies major. "My group of friends tend to say it more as a joke because we know it's a cliche," said Amy Macynski, a senior in Public Affairs Journalism. And as for those that shout it without a trace of irony? "If you need to rationalize your actions with a phrase from a rap song, you probably need to reevaluate your whole life." Kyle Pancero, senior in Construction Management, had this to say. "YOLO is something careless people use to feel justified that what they are doing has meaning, whether it is important to society or not." At least one person, Caleb Redfern, a senior in African American studies, still respects the motto for its original message. "Although I don't go around shouting it like a degenerate, I do concur with the motto because I know what Drake meant by it. He is working hard, earning respect, loving, living, forgiving, speaking his mind and enjoying his self." It seems that the majority of students are tiring of YOLO and its gimmicky antics,

which could signalize an approaching expiration date. Is it doomed to become yet another outdated phrase in the canon of terminal terminology? Probably. Even wildly popular expressions get but one life.