What is a No Brainer: Tips for Baby Boomers and Seniors

Why is a no brainer of concern today? A no brainer is an expression that one hears quite frequently in this era and leads one to ask, what is a no brainer? It may or may not be an expression that baby boomers and seniors are familiar with.

The definition of a no brainer from freedictionary.com suggests two meanings, first as something that requires no thought and secondly, as slang for something that does not require mental effort.

Interestingly, the former is typically a western world expression, while the other is almost a criticism, as slang is inappropriate usage of the English language.

What are the implications of a no brainer?

A no brainer, as not thinking prior to acting, can lead to dire consequences in different situations. For example, a man who has been working many hours drives down the highway. He knows better, but does not think about the seriousness of what he is doing. He ignores the reality of the danger he is putting himself and others in, until he has an accident. Then, he calls it a no brainer. It is too late. Had he thought seriously about what he was doing in the first place, he never would have been on the highway. Socially, it becomes more serious when it involves the use of alcohol, drug or other kinds of substance abuse.     

A no brainer as slang implies a literacy issue. Literacy issues arise through the lack of formal education or the practice thereof, particularly when common, colloquial or informal language takes precedent to formal language.

For example, a woman working in a coffee shop serves a customer something other than what he or she has ordered and excuses it saying, “That was a no brainer,” instead of offering a formal apology to the customer. Appropriate expressions may not be part of her upbringing, education or training.

Colloquialisms like a no brainer are common in everyday language. Expressions like a no brainer may be acceptable in some instances, when people understand them. If they are an excuse or are an expression misunderstood by others, they may be unacceptable or offensive.  

Repetitious tasks do not require a lot of thought, but not thinking about what one is doing, can also present a hazard at home or at work. For example, a no brainer at home, like forgetting to turn off the stove, can result in a burn injury to a child. A no brainer at work, that results in damage to expensive equipment, can cost an employee his or her job.

The human mind has an innate ability to think, as well as to adapt to colloquial expressions like a no brainer. Allowing one’s language to slip into slang or colloquialisms is not good, even though those kinds of expressions may seem appropriate and time saving, at that moment in time.   

Every person does a no brainer in terms of not thinking before or while doing something, at one time or another. There are instances when a no brainer can prove to be hilarious. 

Ideally, all around the globe, people strive towards more perfect communication, as well as a better understanding of one another. The use of a no brainer should never be something that interferes with effective communication or brings harm to others. That is when a no brainer becomes of concern on a cultural and social level.