Is it really trivial?

‘It’s trivial!’ An expression I often find myself saying. However, the word ’trivial’ can be dangerous, and perhaps I use it to freely.

When I was younger, my dad used to love the game Trivial Pursuit. My main memory of this game was the frustration of everyone else around the table. My dad would sweep the board collecting the cheese wedges for each category; whilst the rest of us were desperately trying to get a single wedge. The game’s questions might have been trivial to my dad, but they weren’t to the rest of the family.

Trivial is an adjective we use to imply something has little value or importance. We often describe problems as trivial to imply they are easy to solve. Herein lies the danger.

When we use the word ‘trivial’ we make a couple of assumptions: firstly, the knowledge and experience of the recipient; and secondly, their current state of mind. If someone is stressed, the word ‘trivial’ is likely to contribute to their existing state of anxiety.

• ‘Trivial’ can make people feel like imposters if something falls outside their experience
• ‘Trivial’ can over simplify a problem that in the details is actually complex
• ‘Trivial’ can imply something is going to be quick — in Tech, things are rarely quick to implement
• ‘Trivial’ risks bringing a discussion to an abrupt end, preventing questions and considerations of alternative solutions

Our choice of words can make a real impact on those listening to us. Next time I reach to use ‘trivial’ in a sentence I will try and remember those games of Trivial Pursuit and the inbalance in trivial knowledge. Using the word ’trivial’ doesn’t have to be problematic, but the context needs to be considered. Perhaps, alternative language would suit the situation better.