An annoying linguistic fad

For the past few years it has become increasingly popular to use geographical or spatial language to describe one’s spiritual state, as in “don’t even go there man,” or “I’m so there.” There’s even a commercial out now for some financial institution or other which shows a series of people who all need financial advice—they stand there facing the camera, explaining their financial situations, while standing on red circles on the ground, and then conclude, “that’s the spot I’m in”: the red circle symbolizing the “place” or “spot” this person’s in. And of course there was the recent (lousy) Kenny Wayne Shepherd album The Place You’re In. For some reason, this trend drives me crazy. And I suspect that a decade from now, when people look back on it, they will think it was “so 2008....”