annoying sayings - Page 4

Sundae · 10-19-2008, 07:13 AM

When things are going down the shitter, it does not comfort me in the slightest to know that one day things might be better. And I think it's a smug get-out from people who are not suffering to brush off your pain with those phrases.

The most remarkable thing anyone said to me when my first serious boyfriend walked out (literally, we were living together) was, "I'm sorry. It really hurts doesn't it?" Bizarrely it was the most comforting, because she looked me in the eye and said it with sympathy, rather than feeling embarrassed when confronted by emotion and obvious failure.

From that day on I've always tried to consider the situation, the person and the emotion rather than trotting out trite phrases. Of course this does sometimes mean I mouth platitudes - some people seem to need them. The only things I won't say are to do with God and angels and heaven because that would be hypocritical.

Sympathy and understanding are wonderful. With humour, even better. But for me, the cliches are most often used by people as a shield rather than a blanket.

A really petty one here from me, people who say "see you later" instead of goodbye on a phone call. No you won't see me later, you're working on a Helpline in Scotland - I am unlikely to even speak to you again, let alone see you. Pick, pick.

Treasenuak · 10-20-2008, 12:56 PM

If things are going down the shitter, I honestly prefer someone to tell me, "Yep. You're pretty fucked," then give me a trite, thoughtless, "It's not that bad, things will be ok".

Cloud · 10-20-2008, 10:00 PM

"just out of curiosity . . . "

just ask the damn question. curiosity is self-evident.

"Wherefore, premises considered . . . " and other legal babbling bullshit.

Clodfobble · 10-20-2008, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cloud

"Wherefore, premises considered . . . " and other legal babbling bullshit.

You ever think maybe you're in the wrong line of work?

Aliantha · 10-21-2008, 06:21 PM

"You can't have your cake and eat it too"

Well what the fuck am I going to do with this piece of cake then?

Sundae · 10-21-2008, 07:54 PM

... except the original meaning of "have" in that sentence was "keep"
So it did make sense then

Like, "On pain of death" - where pain originally meant punishment

SteveDallas · 10-21-2008, 08:13 PM

"No offense, but . . . "

DanaC · 10-21-2008, 08:55 PM

*grins* I suspect my frenemies aren't overly keen on my "with respect..." used in meetings to render an attack civil.

My favorite though is "to be fair to X, ..."

I never thought much about that line, until J pointed out to me that it does sometimes (?) precede a velvet gloved, sideways attack :P

[eta] I have no problem with 'just out of curiosity...' it can fulfil one of two functions: firstly, it communicates that the reason for asking is mere curiosity, as questions aren't always just for that; secondly, it can denote the exact opposite, if said with the right stress.

For me, it usually means I am wavering on the edge of an idea, or thought train and am fishing for further info.

This is the thing about these little sayings, and the reason that one person's annoying phrase is another person's favourite standby: we employ and understand language at a multiplicity of levels. Set alongside that is the rather imperfect machinery that we are running the programme on. We trip over our words and we build in little strategies to make language more comfortable to use, or to fill in the gaps, create comfortable verbal links etc. Like saying "right" or "okay" at the end of a sentence, or filling the gaps with "so", or "umm". Often these stock phrases fulfil a similar function.

monster · 10-21-2008, 09:23 PM

That "God doesn't send us anything we can't handle" really pisses me off too. especially as it's always uttered by Zombie moms with too many kids whose god has clearly sent them some nice narcotics to help them handle the other shit he sent....

for the brits....
"At the end of the day"
"it's a game of two halves"

and the yanks....
"I could care less".....

monster · 10-21-2008, 09:24 PM

and I get annoyed by people who confuse

bought and brought
accept and except
pacific and specific

Shawnee123 · 10-22-2008, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monster

and I get annoyed by people who confuse

bought and brought
accept and except
pacific and specific

Bring and take, as in "Will you bring me home?" That question works if you're currently at your home, and are asking if they will get you home from the movies, but when you are both at the movies you would need to take them home.

DanaC · 10-21-2008, 10:06 PM

*Cringes* I had a boyfriend when I was in my teens who used to say pacific. Used to wind me up.

"at the end of he day" I do find myself saying lol

A party member, who used to be a fellow councillor, is from Kashmir and he always says either "at end of day" or just "end of day, right". His conversation is littered with that mangled phrase heheh

Razzmatazz13 · 10-22-2008, 12:11 AM

Friend of mine in high school's entire family used "whenever" in place of "when", which I found mildly annoying most of the time, and rather amusing the rest of the time.

"Remember whenever we went to the movies that one time, and that guy sat behind us and ate popcorn really loud?"

Treasenuak · 10-22-2008, 11:58 AM

The "valley girl" overusage of the word "like". You know... "He was, like, so totally like GORGEOUS"

Please. Stop.

Sundae · 10-22-2008, 12:04 PM

Does Pie ever get annoyed when people say, "As easy as Pie?"
It's quite hurtful after all...

10-19-2008, 07:13 AM	#1
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	When things are going down the shitter, it does not comfort me in the slightest to know that one day things might be better. And I think it's a smug get-out from people who are not suffering to brush off your pain with those phrases. The most remarkable thing anyone said to me when my first serious boyfriend walked out (literally, we were living together) was, "I'm sorry. It really hurts doesn't it?" Bizarrely it was the most comforting, because she looked me in the eye and said it with sympathy, rather than feeling embarrassed when confronted by emotion and obvious failure. From that day on I've always tried to consider the situation, the person and the emotion rather than trotting out trite phrases. Of course this does sometimes mean I mouth platitudes - some people seem to need them. The only things I won't say are to do with God and angels and heaven because that would be hypocritical. Sympathy and understanding are wonderful. With humour, even better. But for me, the cliches are most often used by people as a shield rather than a blanket. A really petty one here from me, people who say "see you later" instead of goodbye on a phone call. No you won't see me later, you're working on a Helpline in Scotland - I am unlikely to even speak to you again, let alone see you. Pick, pick. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

10-20-2008, 10:00 PM	#3
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	"just out of curiosity . . . " just ask the damn question. curiosity is self-evident. "Wherefore, premises considered . . . " and other legal babbling bullshit. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

10-21-2008, 06:21 PM	#5
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	"You can't have your cake and eat it too" Well what the fuck am I going to do with this piece of cake then? __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

10-21-2008, 07:54 PM	#6
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	... except the original meaning of "have" in that sentence was "keep" So it did make sense then Like, "On pain of death" - where pain originally meant punishment __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

10-21-2008, 08:55 PM	#8
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	grins I suspect my frenemies aren't overly keen on my "with respect..." used in meetings to render an attack civil. My favorite though is "to be fair to X, ..." I never thought much about that line, until J pointed out to me that it does sometimes (?) precede a velvet gloved, sideways attack :P [eta] I have no problem with 'just out of curiosity...' it can fulfil one of two functions: firstly, it communicates that the reason for asking is mere curiosity, as questions aren't always just for that; secondly, it can denote the exact opposite, if said with the right stress. For me, it usually means I am wavering on the edge of an idea, or thought train and am fishing for further info. This is the thing about these little sayings, and the reason that one person's annoying phrase is another person's favourite standby: we employ and understand language at a multiplicity of levels. Set alongside that is the rather imperfect machinery that we are running the programme on. We trip over our words and we build in little strategies to make language more comfortable to use, or to fill in the gaps, create comfortable verbal links etc. Like saying "right" or "okay" at the end of a sentence, or filling the gaps with "so", or "umm". Often these stock phrases fulfil a similar function. Last edited by DanaC; 10-21-2008 at 09:03 PM.

10-20-2008, 12:56 PM	#2
Treasenuak Multiorgasmic and wrapped in plastic Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Central Tennessee Posts: 483	If things are going down the shitter, I honestly prefer someone to tell me, "Yep. You're pretty fucked," then give me a trite, thoughtless, "It's not that bad, things will be ok".

10-21-2008, 08:13 PM	#7
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	"No offense, but . . . "

10-21-2008, 09:23 PM	#9
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	That "God doesn't send us anything we can't handle" really pisses me off too. especially as it's always uttered by Zombie moms with too many kids whose god has clearly sent them some nice narcotics to help them handle the other shit he sent.... for the brits.... "At the end of the day" "it's a game of two halves" and the yanks.... "I could care less"..... __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

10-21-2008, 09:24 PM	#10
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	and I get annoyed by people who confuse bought and brought accept and except pacific and specific __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

10-21-2008, 10:06 PM	#12
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Cringes I had a boyfriend when I was in my teens who used to say pacific. Used to wind me up. "at the end of he day" I do find myself saying lol A party member, who used to be a fellow councillor, is from Kashmir and he always says either "at end of day" or just "end of day, right". His conversation is littered with that mangled phrase heheh

10-22-2008, 12:11 AM	#13
Razzmatazz13 Vicariously, I live... Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,221	Friend of mine in high school's entire family used "whenever" in place of "when", which I found mildly annoying most of the time, and rather amusing the rest of the time. "Remember whenever we went to the movies that one time, and that guy sat behind us and ate popcorn really loud?" __________________ I have some people I need to have smoted. ~ SteveDallas

10-22-2008, 11:58 AM	#14
Treasenuak Multiorgasmic and wrapped in plastic Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Central Tennessee Posts: 483	The "valley girl" overusage of the word "like". You know... "He was, like, so totally like GORGEOUS" Please. Stop.

10-22-2008, 12:04 PM	#15
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Does Pie ever get annoyed when people say, "As easy as Pie?" It's quite hurtful after all... __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

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