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.
mr_porteiro_head
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
"I'm only human." People only use this phrase to justify behaving like an animal.
Posted by Stray (Member # 4056) on :
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.
Posted by Fyfe (Member # 937) on :
I would propose we remove "bless his/her/your heart" if it weren't so entertaining.
Jen
Posted by miles_per_hour (Member # 6451) on :
Fyfe -- does anybody under the age of 60 actually say that?
"I know it's none of my buisness, but I'm going to butt in anyway."
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
"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..."
Farmgirl
[ September 17, 2004, 11:15 AM: Message edited by: Farmgirl ]
Posted by Maccabeus (Member # 3051) on :
I used to hate that, Farmgirl--but somehow I've begun doing it anyway.
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
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.
Posted by IanO (Member # 186) on :
"Don't go there."
"You go Girl!!"
Posted by miles_per_hour (Member # 6451) on :
Good one, Annie.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
“Politically correct” needs to be dropped. It’s an excuse for not actually listening to/engaging what the other person is saying.
Posted by Maccabeus (Member # 3051) on :
If you mean the concept of political correctness, I can buy that. If you mean just not using the term...I dunno.
Posted by Lucky4 (Member # 1420) on :
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."
Posted by miles_per_hour (Member # 6451) on :
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.
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
Dude.
Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
No way, you can't have Dude.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
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."
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
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.”
Posted by Maccabeus (Member # 3051) on :
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.
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
We use bless his heart to.
As in, "He's the biggest waste of human flesh since Noah fell out of the ark, bless his heart."
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Maccabeus: People like what?
Edit: I'm not trying to argue, I seriously don't understand.
[ September 17, 2004, 12:01 PM: Message edited by: dkw ]
Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
Dude is a great word. What can go away are the fake surfer boys that say duuuuuuuuuuuuude like it's still 1985.
Posted by Coccinelle (Member # 5832) on :
In the south the phrase "bless his/her heart.." is correctly used if said immediately before or after criticizing of a person... ex:
"Bless his little heart, he just can't help the fact that he can't drive."
"Bless her heart, she just can't do anything right today"
"Bless his heart, he never got the knack of using the sewing machine. That's why he has three fingers."
At least, that's how I always noticed it to be used
[ September 17, 2004, 12:05 PM: Message edited by: Coccinelle ]
Posted by Maccabeus (Member # 3051) on :
DKW, people who really don't think for themselves, but just repeat the catchphrases they hear.
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
Basically. I haven't heard it used in any other context beyond the softening or blunting of a criticism.
-Trevor
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
"My grandpa, bless his heart, thinks I'm wonderful." I've SAID that sentence.
Posted by miles_per_hour (Member # 6451) on :
So it's another example of a phrase that you use to allow yourself to say something horrible.
I don't mean to be rude I'm just sayin' Bless his heart
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
No, it's not. It's not rude. "Bless his heart" doesn't have to be rude.
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
I think MPH is being funny.
I get your point Kat - it can be used as a term of affection and endearment.
It probably says something about the people I associate with that I've never heard it used as such.
-Trevor
Posted by miles_per_hour (Member # 6451) on :
quote: I think MPH is being funny.
If you only think I'm being funny, then I'm obviously not being very funny. Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
No, my joke-o-meter is broken. I'll send it in for repairs.
Posted by miles_per_hour (Member # 6451) on :
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.
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
We've established my sense of humor doesn't conform to the mainstream, so don't judge your posts by my reaction.
-Trevor
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
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.
Posted by Papa Moose (Member # 1992) on :
"'Nuff said."
'Nuff said.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Okay, how instead of banning innocent, useful phrases, we just don't gossip/say rotten things about people?
p.s. I KNEW my joke-o-meter was in top shape.
[ September 17, 2004, 01:04 PM: Message edited by: katharina ]
Posted by Mike (Member # 55) on :
It goes without saying that, like, we should remove these offensive phrases from our lexicon. I mean, it's obvious.
(Bonus points for those who can point out all the banned phrases in this post.)
Posted by miles_per_hour (Member # 6451) on :
I never said these phrases should be banned.
I just said we should stop using them.
It's not the same thing.
Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :
"hella"....
Fortunately I believe that particular term is out of vogue.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
quote:It goes without saying that, like, we should remove these offensive phrases from our lexicon. I mean, it's obvious.
^ | |
*Points*
Posted by miles_per_hour (Member # 6451) on :
D*** it, Cartman, stop saying hella!
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
I never use bless his/her heart that way!
It's always like this....
"Did you hear that Dan_Raven's son Sasha had to have surgery?"
"No! Bless his little heart. I hope he's okay."
Posted by James Tiberius Kirk (Member # 2832) on :
"Weapons of Mass Destruction."
--j_k
Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :
The use of the word "interesting" meaning "bad".
Posted by Maccabeus (Member # 3051) on :
Doesn't that come from the Chinese proverb, though?
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
"You might want to consider" ; this is my neighbor's polite-in-her-eyes way of saying, "Not to butt in, but..." Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
Well Romany, how would you prefer someone offer unsolicited advice? Or rather they not do so at all?
-Trevor
Posted by the master (Member # 6788) on :
is using an archaic definition of "nice" acceptable?
Posted by fil (Member # 5079) on :
"I'm _____________ (insert name) and I approve of this message."
I will never use this again. And I am fil and I approve of this message. I mean after now.
fil
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
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.
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I'll send it in for repairs.
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