|
Timbuk2
1,030 posts
25 months
|
blindswelledrat said: But we already had better childish insults, so why try and emulate America? If you want to go down the childish insult route then there are few better than spastic, mong, thalid (pronounced 'flid' of course] etc. We have the best insults in the world so why try and be American? I don't think that calling someone a 'retard' is particularly American, they tend to say someone/something is 'retarded' or 'totally retarded bro' etc. I use the word occasionally, it's been around since I was at secondary school fifteen plus years ago!
|
|
|
zip929
566 posts
47 months
|
Timbuk2 said: On the other hand, do people think it's rude for the shopkeeper to be on the phone while they serve you and would you walk out and go somewhere else?
I've been in shops plenty of times when the person behind the counter has basically ignored me completely whilst talking on the phone and plonked my change down on the counter before turning their back.
I don't really care though, I would rather no communication whatsoever.
I suppose it depends if you spend your time getting offended by other people or just ignore them and try not to get worked up by the everyday rudeness you will experience. Must admit I find the phone thing very annoying! You have turned up in person, yet the person on the end of the phone is getting better service than you. Should be 'Sorry I am serving a customer, can I take your number and call you back?'
|
|
|
eltawater
340 posts
49 months
|
.. a rewind? 
|
|
|
essexplumber
7,286 posts
43 months
|
MartinM said: "Can I get..." The phrase most often used by Guardian-reading f  kwits ordering some over-priced diluted cat s t derived hot drink in Starbucks before settling down with their iPad to post some chippy left-wing nonsense on f king Twitter. This. I maintain an office building full of this type of person. If I hold another door open or say "good morning" and get ignored once more I may do something unlawfull. Thing that gets me is 90% of the people here consider themselves to be well educated and mature yet simple manners is something their "Will & Grace" and "Gap year in Angola" filled minds struggle to grasp. It is snobbery of the highest order, an assumption that going to work in a suit places them above you.
|
|
|
Pesty
26,137 posts
126 months
|
Justayellowbadge said: Pesty said: The thing is you sound like a plum by saying "may I have" What an absurd thing to say. let me word that better. I sounded like a plum with my peers because I spoke differently on a s ty estate in the north.
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
SlipStream77
1,648 posts
61 months
|
|
|
vit4
3,094 posts
40 months
|
To be honest as long as they say 'hiya'/'hello'/'good morning' etc and 'thank you' - which, having done far too much work in retail, I can safely say is a damn sight more than the majority of people seem to be able to muster - I really don't think it matters. The one thing I couldn't stand was people talking on their phones. If I'm having a phone conversation whilst getting served I'll either ask them to hold for a minute or hang up & ring back. I suggested we refused point blank to serve customers on phones, but unfortunately it wouldn't get past Head Office. Hopefully a few of the big companies will bring in a policy and it will filter down, although somehow I doubt it 
|
|
|
J a k e
704 posts
105 months
|
essexplumber said: It is especially prevelent with office workers, not sure why? I put it down to the whole "Friends" and "Starbucks" culture. Could that be any more annoying?
|
|
|
Symbolica
9,034 posts
85 months
|
sleep envy said: Indeed, bring back the days of calling someone a 'spastic'. Div, divvy or div-kid are also underused past insults.
|
|
|
RDMcG
7,138 posts
77 months
|
Language evolves and meanings change all the time. If you are able to clearly understand the other person the objective of language is achieved. When I was young I read quite a lot of 18th and 19th century literature. Now I find much of it to be tiresome. I am not fan of poor grammar,nor do I like bad spelling. Still, we are in a changing world where even cursive writing will be gone in 30 years.
I no longer hear some of the responses literally. Waiters who say "no problem" or all of the "have a nice day" crew no longer bother me. Trying to correct the changing ways of the world is being an etymological King Canute.
|
|
|
GTIR
19,231 posts
136 months
|
Symbolica said: sleep envy said: Indeed, bring back the days of calling someone a 'spastic'. Div, divvy or div-kid are also underused past insults. Unless they are medically classed as spastic. I was in the Robert Sayle (John Lewis) shop a while back and Stephen Hawking reversed his wheelchair into me. On that occasion calling him a spastic, although technically correct, wouldn't have really been on. So it seems you can call anyone a "spas" or "spastic" as long as they are not actually a spastic.
|
|
|
NDA
10,257 posts
95 months
|
'Can I get' 'Can I have' means 'is it physically possible for me to have that item'. To which the answer is probably yes - but you're not actually asking for it. I was always taught to ask 'may I have'. But then I iz old fash. Innit. 
|
|
|
Plotloss
67,230 posts
140 months
|
NDA said: But then I iz old fash. Innit. No, you're correct. 'Can I get' is an appalling Americanism and it makes me cringe when I hear it over here.
|
|
|
Pesty
26,137 posts
126 months
|
NDA said: 'Can I get' 'Can I have' means 'is it physically possible for me to have that item'. To which the answer is probably yes - but you're not actually asking for it. I was always taught to ask 'may I have'. But then I iz old fash. Innit. So was I. But like I say if you are seemingly the only person on your school who does. It tends to single you out somewhat. For similar reasons its not worth pronouncing some words properly like Porsche for instance in certain company because they will just carry on pronouncing it their way and you sound odd.
|
|
|
vixen1700
Original Poster
6,588 posts
140 months
|
Pesty said: For similar reasons its not worth pronouncing some words properly like Porsche for instance in certain company because they will just carry on pronouncing it their way and you sound odd. I'd always pronounce 'Porscher' rather than a Brewer-esque 'Porsh' whatever the company.  Why would you sound odd and why would you change your own pronounciation when you know it's correct?
|
|
|
Pesty
26,137 posts
126 months
|
Like I said depends on the company. If you are in a group talking about cars and you are the only one I feel self conscious. I had always said 'May I have' After I was taught by a relative that was the correct way. Now I imagine had you grown up on a rough council estate like I was and you were the only person who used words like that, you would feel self conscious too and eventually stop because it drew too much attention
|
|
|
vixen1700
Original Poster
6,588 posts
140 months
|
Pesty said: Now I imagine had you grown up on a rough council estate like I was and you were the only person who used words like that, you would feel self conscious too and eventually stop because it drew too much attention I did grow up in an East London tower block, so I can take your point really. But please don't say you say 'Astin Martin' depending on company. 
|
|
|
SkinnyBoy
4,293 posts
128 months
|
wow what a first world problem....
I usually sashay up to the counter of said establishment and the banter usually goes thusly:
le me: Gday mate, I'll have a pack of winny blues, yes 25's thanks.
le shopkeep: "17 dollars thanks"
le me: "no probs mate" (hand over a 20)
le shopkeep: "18, 19. 20, have a good day"
le me: "Cheers, you too"
Simples!
And no thesauri were harmed in this transaction.
|
|
|
Pesty
26,137 posts
126 months
|
vixen1700 said: I did grow up in an East London tower block, so I can take your point really. But please don't say you say 'Astin Martin' depending on company. No I would draw teh line at that one.
|
|
|
Fatman2
1,445 posts
39 months
|
Plotloss said: No, you're correct.
'Can I get' is an appalling Americanism and it makes me cringe when I hear it over here. Why, because we are all quintessentially English in the UK nowadays  We do seem to have picked up a lot from our bro's over the pond and whilst I don't mind in general this one does irk. 24/7 is one I'm not fond of, mainly because it originated from hip-hop culture and I hate it when regular folk try to emulate dat s t. Whenever I hear it it reminds me of 'f k You' by Dre Dre: "Twenty-fo' seven, Dre, Snoop, and Devin We servin' these hoes, and never lovin' these hoes, biatch"
|
|
