Never say never? 永远不要说得太绝对

Reader question:

Please explain this sentence, particularly "never say never": Coca-Cola’s top global marketer Francisco Crespo has said the brand is taking a “never say never” view on producing beverages infused with cannabidiol (CBD).

My comments:

First of all, cannabidiol or CBD is a compound in marijuana, which, like cocaine is still illegal in many places.

Coca-Cola, the company, is not planning to infuse its traditional soft drinks with CDB. Not yet, not any time soon but the company is not ruling out that possibility, either, not in its totality.

In other words, one day it may still do so.

That's what we can safely infer from their "never say never" view or attitude.

Never say never?

Literally that means you should NEVER SAY that you'll NEVER do something, ever.

You should never say that because you may change your mind or you may live to regret it or because it's simply wrong to say something will never happen because it just will happen.

A lot of things that have happened before will happen again. That's a fact.

Take natural disasters, for example. Devastating earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, hurricanes, typhoons and tornadoes, you name it. Will happen again.

Well, you may insist that when you say you'll never do something, you're talking about personal convictions and promises.

A good point.

Still, how many times have you eaten your words and been forced to apologize for failing to keep a promise?

See?

Don't say things like you'll never eat another Sichuan dish or never go to the cinema again. You may have seem a bad movie and made that statement in the heat of the moment. When you cool down, I'm sure you'll go to the cinema again. After all, every once in a while, there's an irresistible movie coming out that may draw you to the silver screen.

As for saying you'll never eat any super hot and spicy Sichuan food again, well, it'll be your own loss, I must say, and yours alone.

That is, if you are, I mean, if you were able to keep that promise.

No more ado. Here are media examples of "never say never":

1. Angelina Jolie is not ruling out running for public office.

The 43-year-old actress and U.N. special envoy tells People magazine "never say never!" However, Jolie says she's "looking to others for leadership."

In her role with the U.N.'s High Commission for Refugees, Jolie recently urged nations to deploy more women peacekeepers in order to prevent sexual violence against refugees. Jolie says "we have to change laws that treat women as second-class citizens."

Since breaking up with Brad Pitt more than two years ago, Jolie is focused on their six children and her work. Her oldest, Maddox, enters college in the fall.

- Angelina Jolie not ruling out public office: 'Never say never', AP, April 3, 2019.

2. Just one run of one forecast model had weather watchers abuzz on Wednesday morning because it included the “S” word for early next week.

That’s right. Snow.

But it’s Alabama. It’s November. Is there really any chance there could be snow?

Never say never, but the chances were on the very low side as of Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Weather enthusiasts were looking at one run of the GFS model — or the Global Forecast System — which showed a band of freezing rain or snow moving into parts of the state along with a strong cold front on Tuesday.

- Is it going to snow next week in Alabama? Never say never, but no, AL.com, November 6, 2019.

3. Angela Simmons stopped by “The Real” this week, and she spoke about the possibility of dating Bow Wow in the future.

The two were an item in the past, and they were recently seen in a Tik Tok video together, which sparked rumors that they’ve rekindled their romance.

Others thought the clip was a jab at Romeo Miller, whom Simmons used to be friends with until they had a falling out. A lot of people also wanted Simmons and Miller to be a couple after seeing their interaction on “Growing Up Hip Hop.”

During her interview on “The Real,” Simmons talked about the former “106 & Park” host, as well as Miller.

"It’s so weird, the world has placed me with Romeo, they placed me with Bow Wow, and then they leave no room for, like, a real love life,” she explained. “Bow, I love him to death. I’ve known him since 17, and that’s my friend, and if something were to ever happen it would be what would happen. But for me I’m chillin.'”

"The Real” co-host Adrienne Houghton then brought up the fact that Simmons said she and Bow Wow could be an item in the future.

"I just learned to never say never,” Simmons responded.

- ‘Never Say Never’: Angela Simmons Responds to Questions About Bow Wow After Dance Video With Him Goes Viral, AtlantaBlackStar.com, February 5, 2020.

About the author:

 Zhang Xin is Trainer at chinadaily.com.cn. He has been with China Daily since 1988, when he graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University. Write him at: zhangxin@chinadaily.com.cn, or raise a question for potential use in a future column.