posted
There are some phrases and words that we should voluntarily remove from our lexicon. Here are my nominations:
"I don't mean to be rude" -- this prase almost always is use in the form "I don't mean to be rude, but I will anyway." Saying that you don't meant to be rude actually means that you've thought through things enough to know that it is rude, but you are going to say it anyway.
"I'm just sayin'" -- similar to above, this is a phrase that supposedly allows you to say something awful, but doesn't allow anybody to get upset at you. "He's a lying weasel. Now, I don't think he's a bad person, I'm just sayin'." Say what you mean, and face up to the consequences.
"nice" -- this is a word that has no meaning. If I say something is nice, what does that communicate? Does it mean pleasant and generous? Does it mean well-behaved? Does it mean extend tepid approval? exception: Any variation of "I happen to like nice men." and "I'm nice men." is perfectly acceptable in any situation.
posted
To quote Robert Heinlein: "The correct way to punctuate a sentence that starts with "I know it's none of my business, but" is to place a period immediately after the "but." Do not use excessive force in supplying such morons with a period, as it is bound to get you talked about."
That's from memory so it may not be perfectly accurate, but it's pretty close.
Posts: 957 | Registered: Aug 2002
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posted
"mother of all......[fill in the blank]" -- not only has this phrase been way overworked, but I just don't like it to begin with.
"like" -- when used in place of "um" or as a conjunction for people having trouble thinking of the right words. My kids do this all the time: "He was, like, right there and then, like, they went to the mall, and, like, hung out for awhile..."
posted
I can't remember who said this, and it may well have been OSC:
(rough paraphrase)
You should never use the phrase "It's obvious." If it is obvious, you don't need to say so, and if it's not obvious, you're being pretentious and rude by saying it is.
Posts: 8504 | Registered: Aug 1999
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posted
“Politically correct” needs to be dropped. It’s an excuse for not actually listening to/engaging what the other person is saying.
Posts: 9866 | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
If you mean the concept of political correctness, I can buy that. If you mean just not using the term...I dunno.
Posts: 1041 | Registered: Feb 2002
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posted
Bless his/her/your heart is definitely still used copiously down here in the South by well-meaning people of all ages. "Bless her heart, she's just so homely." "Bless your heart, that's just terrible!" We've decided the literal translation is "You poor fool."
Posts: 186 | Registered: Dec 2000
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posted
Actually, I might agree with dkw on this one. If you use it to say "That's not politically correct", you are shutting your ears. Likewise, if you say "You're just being politically correct", you are doing the same thing.
Posts: 143 | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
I've used "bless his heart" lately, but it was basically shorthand for "He's so sweet and cute and cuddly and I want to love him and sqeeze him and call him George."
Posts: 26077 | Registered: Mar 2000
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posted
Maccabeus, I mean the term. It’s shorthand for “you don’t think for yourself, you don’t really believe what you’re saying, therefore I don’t have to take what you just said seriously.”
Posts: 9866 | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
The trouble is, dkw, that I encounter an awful lot of people like that. But this isn't the place to argue it, I think.
Posts: 1041 | Registered: Feb 2002
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posted
Dude is a great word. What can go away are the fake surfer boys that say duuuuuuuuuuuuude like it's still 1985.
Posts: 5422 | Registered: Dec 2001
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posted
DKW, people who really don't think for themselves, but just repeat the catchphrases they hear.
Posts: 1041 | Registered: Feb 2002
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posted
To be honest, I wasn't joking. Although "bless his heart" can be used in a nice way, it is also used in a way almost identical to "I don't mean to be rude, but" and "I'm just sayin'". This use should be discouraged.
Posts: 143 | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
In my Mormon circle, "bless his heart" is an excuse for gossip. You don't want to be gossipping, so you say, "Justin didn't get the job. He should just stop applying for things like that; he's just too dumb to handle that kind of pressure, bless his heart."
Needless to say, I am not OK with it.
Posts: 8504 | Registered: Aug 1999
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posted
"You might want to consider" ; this is my neighbor's polite-in-her-eyes way of saying, "Not to butt in, but..." Posts: 2711 | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Actually, I do my best (npt perfectly) not to offer unsolicited advice because I myself hate it. And when one person feels the urge to do it repeatedly, that's a greater irritation.
Posts: 2711 | Registered: Mar 2004
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