No problem
June 3, 2006 1:46 PM Subscribe
What are the cliches/platitudes you love to hate?
At the risk of sounding like Andy Rooney or Bill Safire, some of these just drive me nuts: Why do I hear, "No problem" instead of "you're welcome" or "my pleasure" after saying thank you at the checkout counter (there was never a problem to begin with)? Or, "let me get ... " instead of "can I have" or "I'd like ..." the former sounds so grammatically crude and abrupt. I am normally not a stickler about things like this but was wondering what the rest of the population was hearing and thinking. What are the everyday platitudes that bother you?
At the risk of sounding like Andy Rooney or Bill Safire, some of these just drive me nuts: Why do I hear, "No problem" instead of "you're welcome" or "my pleasure" after saying thank you at the checkout counter (there was never a problem to begin with)? Or, "let me get ... " instead of "can I have" or "I'd like ..." the former sounds so grammatically crude and abrupt. I am normally not a stickler about things like this but was wondering what the rest of the population was hearing and thinking. What are the everyday platitudes that bother you?
This post was deleted for the following reason: chatfilter, this would be better in metachat.
I really hate "SOMEone has too much time on his hands."
posted by grumblebee at 1:53 PM on June 3, 2006
posted by grumblebee at 1:53 PM on June 3, 2006
Do you really "love to hate" them or do you just hate them? Sounds like the latter to me.
posted by vacapinta at 1:58 PM on June 3, 2006
posted by vacapinta at 1:58 PM on June 3, 2006
"In this day and age" followed by simplistic cynical remark
posted by Aghast. at 2:02 PM on June 3, 2006
posted by Aghast. at 2:02 PM on June 3, 2006
"I'm not religious, but I'm a spiritual person." I don't know what this means.
"Everything happens for a reason." People say this as if it's reassuring, but it isn't. So what if everything happens for a reason? What if it's a bad reason? There's a reason why Hitler killed six million Jews.
"You have to suspend your disbelief." No I don't. The storyteller has to do a better job MAKING me believe.
posted by grumblebee at 2:14 PM on June 3, 2006
"Everything happens for a reason." People say this as if it's reassuring, but it isn't. So what if everything happens for a reason? What if it's a bad reason? There's a reason why Hitler killed six million Jews.
"You have to suspend your disbelief." No I don't. The storyteller has to do a better job MAKING me believe.
posted by grumblebee at 2:14 PM on June 3, 2006
Here's one that definitely pisses me off:
When you state a fact (i.e. "You're not supposed to call me when my number is on the do not call registry") and someone responds, "you're entitled to your opinion."
Immediately, three thoughts come to mind when that happens (the third only when someone says the above comment in response to my stating a fact):
1) Of course I am entitled to it, I'm a sentient being capable of cogent thought, and I, like any other human, am capable of feelings or beliefs.
2) You're only saying that because you don't really care what I feel, and you feel that your belief is somehow superior to mine
3) I'm stating a fact, and it's my opinion that you're an asshole for suggesting otherwise
It's like saying "you're entitled to breathe" or "you're entitled to
Also:
"Everyone is special and unique"
"So-and-so called, and he/she/they want his/her/their such-and-such back!"
and finally, pretty much any phrase that includes "literally". "I literally jumped out of my skin."
Oh? And how, perchance, did you survive this flaying?
posted by Merdryn at 2:16 PM on June 3, 2006
When you state a fact (i.e. "You're not supposed to call me when my number is on the do not call registry") and someone responds, "you're entitled to your opinion."
Immediately, three thoughts come to mind when that happens (the third only when someone says the above comment in response to my stating a fact):
1) Of course I am entitled to it, I'm a sentient being capable of cogent thought, and I, like any other human, am capable of feelings or beliefs.
2) You're only saying that because you don't really care what I feel, and you feel that your belief is somehow superior to mine
3) I'm stating a fact, and it's my opinion that you're an asshole for suggesting otherwise
It's like saying "you're entitled to breathe" or "you're entitled to
Also:
"Everyone is special and unique"
"So-and-so called, and he/she/they want his/her/their such-and-such back!"
and finally, pretty much any phrase that includes "literally". "I literally jumped out of my skin."
Oh? And how, perchance, did you survive this flaying?
posted by Merdryn at 2:16 PM on June 3, 2006
"There's a school of thought that says..." I used to hear this all the time in college. So what if there's a school of thought? Why should we care about that particular school? What is it's methodology? Why is it important?
posted by grumblebee at 2:19 PM on June 3, 2006
posted by grumblebee at 2:19 PM on June 3, 2006
I love that weak little impatient thanks that people use when they've already forgotten what they meant by it.
Any expression said insincerely is like a white hot poker in my brain. And what's with the complicated handshakes the kids are using these days...
(On preview, you guys are on a roll.)
posted by evil holiday magic at 2:21 PM on June 3, 2006
Any expression said insincerely is like a white hot poker in my brain. And what's with the complicated handshakes the kids are using these days...
(On preview, you guys are on a roll.)
posted by evil holiday magic at 2:21 PM on June 3, 2006
Merdryn, that reminds me of how strong opinions often elicit, "According to YOU!" This truism so irritates a character in David Mamet's "American Buffalo," that he says, "According to me, yes. I am usually the one it's according to when I'm speaking. Have you noticed this?"
posted by grumblebee at 2:23 PM on June 3, 2006
posted by grumblebee at 2:23 PM on June 3, 2006
"Bang for your buck." Hate it!
posted by Sweetie Darling at 2:25 PM on June 3, 2006
posted by Sweetie Darling at 2:25 PM on June 3, 2006
Neverending verbal reruns of "The Simpsons," like "I for one welcome our new X overlords." It really was funny the first seven times I heard it. Now ... not so much.
posted by grumblebee at 2:30 PM on June 3, 2006
posted by grumblebee at 2:30 PM on June 3, 2006
Why do I hear, "No problem" instead of "you're welcome"
I say "no problem" because I wouldn't have done whatever you're thanking me for if it were a problem, and you're not welcome to me doing it any time, only when it's not a problem. This just seems more honest to me.
I hate it when people say "It's not rocket surgery."
I've never heard that before, but I'm totally going to say it all the time now.
When you state a fact (i.e. ....
I hate it when people say "i.e." when then mean "e.g." When you're giving an example, it's "e.g." - example given. It's not rocket surgery.
I also hate it when people say "In my opinion..." when it's completely obvious that what they're saying is their opinion because it couldn't possibly be a statement of fact, e.g. "In my opinion, this food is tasty."
posted by scottreynen at 2:32 PM on June 3, 2006
I say "no problem" because I wouldn't have done whatever you're thanking me for if it were a problem, and you're not welcome to me doing it any time, only when it's not a problem. This just seems more honest to me.
I hate it when people say "It's not rocket surgery."
I've never heard that before, but I'm totally going to say it all the time now.
When you state a fact (i.e. ....
I hate it when people say "i.e." when then mean "e.g." When you're giving an example, it's "e.g." - example given. It's not rocket surgery.
I also hate it when people say "In my opinion..." when it's completely obvious that what they're saying is their opinion because it couldn't possibly be a statement of fact, e.g. "In my opinion, this food is tasty."
posted by scottreynen at 2:32 PM on June 3, 2006
"God never sends you more than you can handle" and, upon someone's death, "It was God's will." Glad to know that She/He/It has friends who really understand the agenda. Bleah.
posted by MonkeyToes at 2:38 PM on June 3, 2006
posted by MonkeyToes at 2:38 PM on June 3, 2006
I've been weaning myself off of, "Personally, I [...].". It's usually redundant.
posted by stavrogin at 2:38 PM on June 3, 2006
posted by stavrogin at 2:38 PM on June 3, 2006
"you are not a special snowflake" ... and just about any other phrase from fight club ... (i thought the book was fine but also think that people don't get it)
posted by pyramid termite at 2:39 PM on June 3, 2006
posted by pyramid termite at 2:39 PM on June 3, 2006
I hate it when people reply to something that they agree is true with "basically."
The literally thing drives me nuts, too.
posted by borkingchikapa at 2:40 PM on June 3, 2006
The literally thing drives me nuts, too.
posted by borkingchikapa at 2:40 PM on June 3, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by grumblebee at 1:51 PM on June 3, 2006