"Can I get..."
Author
Discussion

vixen1700

Original Poster:

29,287 posts

301 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
Do people realise how stupid they sound when they go up to a counter and say "Can I get a [insert coffee, burger etc here].

Do they not hear themselves and think it just sounds stupid? Can. I. Get.

Heard it so many times recently it sets my fking teeth on edge, I know it's an Americanism, but where do people get it from, are they constantly watching re-runs of Friends and have picked it up without realising. confused

Honesetly, people who say this, sit in the middle lanes of motorways, panic buy petrol and say 'Haitch' instead of 'Aitch' should be shot.

mad

SystemParanoia

14,343 posts

229 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
i personally could not work behind the counter serving food.

NOBODY has any manners what so ever.

i would simply refuse to serve anyone that is incapable of using the words please and thank you.

The Major

2,947 posts

203 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
well i say can i have a pack of 20 malybro (or however its spelt) lights.

its a bit more courtiese than just shouting "CHEESEBURGER"

Justayellowbadge

37,057 posts

273 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
Not as depressingly prevalent as 'Can I have?' which I find far worse.

SystemParanoia

14,343 posts

229 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
all i hear from people in the front of que's is "gimme" and "i want" ... fking rude

anonymous-user

85 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
Is saying "I'll have" acceptable?
I say that one.

ScoobyDood

2,183 posts

190 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
The Major said:
well i say can i have a pack of 20 malybro (or however its spelt) lights.

its a bit more courtiese than just shouting "CHEESEBURGER"
If you shouted "CHEESEBURGER" not only is it discourtious but you certainly wouldn't get your 'Malybro' lights......... wink

Back to the topic, attitude and manners are becoming extinct at an unheathily rapid rate. Society has treated folk too softly for too long and their is an increasing expectation for the plate to be ready-laid. Trouble is, there are fewer people prepared to do the laying.............

odyssey2200

18,650 posts

240 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
TBH I wouldn't give a stuff if someone said
" Can I Get a?"
" can I have a?"
" I'll have a."

or many other things as long as they remembered to add "Hello" before and added " Please" and then "Thank you" in the appropriate places.


Adenauer

18,982 posts

267 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
SystemParanoia said:
all i hear from people in the front of que's is "gimme" and "i want" ... fking rude
And I bet that your boss still insists that you say 'have a nice day' as they drive off, chomping away? wink

RizzoTheRat

29,081 posts

223 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
SystemParanoia said:
i would simply refuse to serve anyone that is incapable of using the words please and thank you.
I did like the story in the news the other day of the coffee shop that's now refusing to serve people that are on thier phones.

Jabbah

1,331 posts

185 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
I was guilty of this, don't know where I picked it up from but as soon as I said it I always cringed and gave myself a mental kick. I think I am out of the habit now thankfully. I think some of it comes from the question: "What can I get you?"

SystemParanoia

14,343 posts

229 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
odyssey2200 said:
TBH I wouldn't give a stuff if someone said
" Can I Get a?"
" can I have a?"
" I'll have a."

or many other things as long as they remembered to add "Hello" before and added " Please" and then "Thank you" in the appropriate places.
^^ this

no manners, no service... fk off!

The Major

2,947 posts

203 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
ScoobyDood said:
If you shouted "CHEESEBURGER" not only is it discourtious but you certainly wouldn't get your 'Malybro' lights......... wink

Back to the topic, attitude and manners are becoming extinct at an unheathily rapid rate. Society has treated folk too softly for too long and their is an increasing expectation for the plate to be ready-laid. Trouble is, there are fewer people prepared to do the laying.............
yes yes i know after reading it back, its a bit stupid but the point still stands. my reason for the stupidity is cause my brain has popped, is melting and running out of my ears, or atlest it feels like that.
really bloody ill atm :/

vixen1700

Original Poster:

29,287 posts

301 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
Jabbah said:
I was guilty of this, don't know where I picked it up from but as soon as I said it I always cringed and gave myself a mental kick. I think I am out of the habit now thankfully.
That's a heart-warming tale. Well done. smile

Ranger 6

7,731 posts

280 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
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Ranks highly with 'sending an invite'..... mad

CypherP

4,456 posts

223 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
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My local stopped serving people that said "Can I get.." when ordering their drink, as it wound her up that much. She would wait until they asked without using that wording.

I say it occasionally without thinking and then instantly think how stupid it sounds. However, compared to some I overhear in restaurants/pubs etc, I at least order or ask for the items I'd like with some manners and pleasantries.

sleep envy

62,260 posts

280 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
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Yes you can [/blankstare]

LeeThr

3,122 posts

202 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
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What really annoys me where I work is with ciggarettes, people come in and ask for something by the price, "Can I get a £7.39?" What the actuall fook posses people to say this, whats wrong with 20 lambert or 25g of cutters choice etc. I dont touch the stuff my self so I strugle when I actually have some clue let alone having to then think what the fk is around that price that it might be or where is this dhead staring at. Seriously pisses me off.

rhinochopig

17,932 posts

229 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
Justayellowbadge said:
Not as depressingly prevalent as 'Can I have?' which I find far worse.
How is it worse? At least only one word is incorrect in 'Can I have'

I 'get' the difference between 'may' and 'can' - permission vs ability - but that usage was left behind a long time ago and only exists in the world of period dramas these days, or for very formal usage. Compared to Can I get, it is much much more acceptable IMO.

ad70x7

229 posts

199 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
What's more rude is the people that carry on their phone call whilst talking to the person behind the till, sometimes just mouthing to them what they want!