Sayings and quotes that annoy..

[xelasnave]

Time for a grizzle..or perhaps just a rational observation of the high tolerance that nonsense enjoys in our world...I dont like quotes..like some "famous" person says something and all around fall down in worship of their wisdom..when in truth they talk dribble...but then you have various sayings that folk nod to and accept as profound and factual for no other reason than it was delivered in such a small parcell they feel they have understood and it somehow has made them wiser...do you have one that ticks you off..that is really opposite to the message..or perhaps a quote from someone that when you think about it is just dribble...

I will start .."What does not kill you makes you stronger"... Does anyone think about this..surely the exceptions destroy this nonsense rule?

Alex

[Hans Tucker]

"What does not kill you makes you stronger"

I consider more a comic line that words of wisdom.

I work for the Department of Defence on Army projects ... a common line they use which I absolutely loath ... "It is what it is" :mad2:

[leon]

Well I hate this one with a passion, and it is used by some over and over again.

You meet up with this person, family member i might add plus others and they say.

"What Do You Know" :sadeyes: I mean how bloody stupid is that.:sadeyes: I just shake my head and don't even answer

Leon :thumbsup:

[xelasnave]

Thanks for your contribution Hans.
I must say I often point out that "things just are" but that is a lead into pointing out that it is ones own personal qualification that makes them say good or bad and then to question the need to judge most things.
Alex

[JA]

Yes Hans, I've had that response too....... many times, usually along the following lines :D

Me: Are you sure that measurement is correct?
Metrologist: It is what it is

The one that amused me the most in miltary/defence circles was ...... "fitted FOR, but NOT WITH" :D:D:D

One that's become too prominent for it's own good to the extent that it makes me smile (sometimes laugh inside) is the phrase (filler) "At the end of the day..."


Another one whilst not a phrase, but a construct that I would like to add is the recent tendency, perhaps within the last 5 years, for starting a response with the word, so. Depending on how it's used, it can sometimes come across as condescension.

Best
JA

[JA]

Literally NO, but in practice with some poetic license, I would say a baby yes :D, in the sense that experience in general, be it good or bad (within reasonable bounds), can prepare you for life in the sense that you know what to expect, or not expect and therefore can act accordingly.

Interesting topic Alex. :thumbsup:

Best
JA

[xelasnave]

Yes but it is your ability to take something broken and make something useful that should be praised...

Now here is another...if a cat sits on a hot stove he will never sit on another even a cold one...the cat here sits on the cold stove even after jumping on it hot one day...

But then I suppose one must ask can the observation of only one cat give rise to overall predictions... well of course it should not ...trials and sampling must be considered mandatory and yet the world of quantum physics seems to have its foundation reliant upon observation of only one hypothetical cat...it seems to me things get lax when involving cats in an example of expectations of reality...

Alex

Alex

[miker]

Alex, if you were not in the room as a witness, would the cat be on the stove or not?🤔

[Camelopardalis]

Oh where do I start :lol:

savings especially "a $30 savings" or "daylight savings time"

The singular form of "saving" is "saving" :shrug:

And when it comes to DST... <sigh> it doesn't "save" any daylight, it's always there, the clock just gets shifted :P

[Hans Tucker]

Yep JA, 21 years as an Instrument Fitter/Avionics Technician and I had never come across this term ... started working with the Army and I am introduced to a new vocabulary. As an example to explain this term to me an Army Mechanic said think of the Winch .. not every vehicle is fitted with one (due to cost and mission profile) but every vehicle has the capability to be fitted with one .. all the infrastructure (electrics, hydraulics etc) are installed.

[xelasnave]

That raises an interesting question as in fact I did not see the cat jump on the hot stove and was told by someone that he had done that...at the time I thought nothing of it but clearly I should have asked for supporting testimony and records of the actual temperature together with some references to what is considered a hot stove.
But the anyoning fact about reality is that it goes on often without any humans to witness it as it unfolds.
In my view the necessity to introduce and propose that random is the order of the quantum world is no more than the inability of humans to follow every minor action that occurs opting to casually call such random..I contend there can be no random as surely what is absent is s full dissection of the event labled to be random..just far to casual.
Alex

[Nikolas]

"Those who can, do. Those who can't do, teach"
This one really annoys the S*&t out of me.
My comeback is "without a great teacher you never will do"
Also this little image says it all.

[FlashDrive]

No empathy when someone says to you ....

'' suck it up mate '' ..... or

'' go tell someone who cares '' ....or

'' do I look like I care ''

or.... Politicians who repeatedly say ... '' jobs,jobs,jobs ..... ( at election time )

Col.

[RB]

Or for the politician who says all those quotes over the duration of his four year term.

:lol:

[FlashDrive]

How true that is ....!!

[Peter Ward]

Oh where do I begin?

I suspect it comes down to advertising copy writers who clearly failed English, yet those that use their non-skill set are too dumb to realize this.

Macca’s for having rasher bacon (it’s a rasher, aka, slice of bacon)
Being able to “shop in store” (do the mean shop in a store, or in case of the Zombie apocalypse??)
Things are always being “impacted” (not burnt, infected, delayed, flooded, etc. etc. )
Problems are always called “issues”
A simple yes has become “absolutely”
A final result has become “at the end of the day”
Nouns being used as verbs..particularly during the Olympics. “he should podium” (WTF!?)

[theodog]

Are you sure that is where the apostrophe goes Peter :question:.

Good list though.

[raymo]

There shouldn't be an apostrophe.

My pet hates are "exactly right"; something can't be inexactly right can it,
it is simply either right or wrong.
The other is the use, which is becoming prevalent among the younger generation, of the Americanism "gotten".
raymo

[Peter Ward]

I thought my intent was clear: it is a rasher of bacon.

The contraction "it's" I believe is correct.

[raymo]

I was referring to the apostrophe in Macca's, and I am guessing that theodog was too.
raymo

[Stonius]

It makes me wince how Americans overuse the word 'right', as in; 'I'll be right back', 'It's right there', 'I wrote it right on the page'. None of those sentences are made clearer by the inclusion of the word 'right'.


And then there's the old 'I could care less' as oppose to 'I couldn't care less', or worse 'I could of cared less'


And the fact that 'literally' can literally now be taken to mean 'figuratively'.


And then the trashy new ones made up by instagram babies, like 'on fleek'.


On the one hand, I know that language has to evolve, but man, it feels like from a language point of view, we're crawling back into the ocean.


Markus

[JA]

I think that since the corporate name of McDonald's includes an apostrophe, implying perhaps McDonald's restaurant or McDonald's Australia, that simply Macca's, although slang, is not inappropriate. Just sayin'.....:D

Best
JA

[xelasnave]

I gave up on using the English language years ago cause it was too frustrating. I actually have tried to adopt the latest butchery...plus once being exact was really my work...and I have retired...one of my greatest pleasures is using "got" and saying "me and my friends"... In fact anything that breaks a rule...and of course plenty of full stops...I cant beat them so I have gone over to the dark side...etc etc etc
OMG ... Mmmmm...no I just can not use it other than to place it here using the tips of my fingers...honestly how I have not attacked people with my walking frame for using OMG ... reminder to self ...dont let anything upset you and embrace things that annoy you...OMG I feel better.
Alex

[Peter Ward]

If Macca's is the contraction of McDonalds, then the apostrophe stays ;)

[xelasnave]

It's a relatively small point, with a tail...however for those who call the place Maccas I suspect the word may be complete, however possibly in a situation where, possessive case would be used, one could expect the addition a another "s" and a"' ' " in the reverse order or maybe not . Perhaps seek out a patron with a cap on backwards for clarification and dont forget to address him as "bro".
Alex

[mura_gadi]

Hello,

"Always in the last place you look...", well yes it is... did you expect me to keep looking in other places after I had found it?

That one gets my goat a little.


Steve
Ps. I rather liked the reply from the Hells Angels in regards to what you could do with your apostrophe suggestion... Well as told by Spicks and Specks the other night anyway.

[vlazg]

My pet hate when paying for something…
That’ll only be $10
My usual reply is
Only $10, that’s cheap.what about only $8

[leon]

What about the NT population and some QLD residents who use the word "BUT" after their sentence when speaking to you.

eg: It sure is a wild and windy day but.

Leon

[xelasnave]

Leon I developed the "but" habbit when I was a kid and it drove my parents bats ...they were very particular that everything was perfect so it was quiet an affront...

Then there is the reply that answers "Yes , no, such and such"

As well as.....
I have said it a million times...I bet you haven't.

I hate exaggeration I have said that a billion times:lol:

I dont let things upset me or concern me as once they would. I found it is not worth it and as there are some seven billion people on the planet the odds are some wont think the same way you do and you just need to tolerate these folk who are clearly in the wrong.:D

The view I had to embrace for the sake of my sanity in respect to the English language was it is a form of communication and really so long as someone can communicate their meaning what else matters...I do find that folk who will use one word when a sentence is required tiresome because so often they do not effectively communicate what they intend to, and that can be time wasting as you need to ask for clarification and here dont make the mistake to say "pardon" as they will repeat their one word as if you failed to hear, so it is necessary to ask "what do you mean?"

I dont like it when folk mumble and talk fast in an unclear manner and when you ask "what did you say?" They accuse you of going deaf..I dont bother saying I have better hearing than my dogs ( well when they were alive and my hearing remains exceptional) but say I couldn't quiet hear over the background noise

AND so often folk say one thing and mean something very different to your understanding of the word so being conscious if how their words fit the context is helpful.
Alex

[Andy01]

How about “Avoid it like the plague” - given how little effort so many people are making to avoid an actual plague! :lol:

[Peter Ward]

I also struggle when someone is asked a question and they reply "yeah, nah "
but some also say "nah, yeah" . Which is it??!! Agree? Disagree? :shrug:

[JA]

I would take it as a "definite maybe" :D from a non-commital /uncertain person.

Best
JA

[Stonius]

Were you in publishing? I've got a bunch of friends in that game.


Markus

[xelasnave]

No law which demanded an unbelievable precission. I did things like draft the Memorandum of Articles and Association for companies being formed, the most notable being a certain firework company who now opperates world wide ( whether they still opperate under my original M&A I dont know but the way I drafted them they probably could) Usually one can rely on having a set of precedents which you more or less change only the name on the cover..say a development company or finance company all the same as the previous development or finance company that you had previously incorporated..easy...but as this was the first fireworks company I could not find a precedent and so had to draft the lot..its like writing a book on what the company is entitled to engage in..so lines starting with..to manufacture, aquire, supply, produce in part or whole etc etc etc etc..fireworks and any associated materials including but not limited to fuzes explosive powders etcetcetc I cant remember specifically but think of that for a 100 odd pages and no room for error. If you dont say they can import stuff well they cant..you have to cover everything....and in the legal game you have others , the boss or others who really are just waiting for you to make a mistake..I never made one if you can believe that..sends you a bit funny after years of being perfect.

Then as a clerk in the Attorney Generals to take the hand written notes made by the Judge and re write them so as to be able to print out the formal orders of the court and also to check similar draughted by others doing similar...
You just cant stuff up the orders of the court.

And so these days I enjoy being like anyone else in the pub and not thinking about being respectful to the English language in the least...quarter Irish helps. Some would carry it on, the skill I mean, but I am happy to leave it way behind...imagine if I came here picking everyone up on everything they perhaps got technically wrong or jumped on spelling..
Its not something to take pride in as far as I am concerned.
Thanks for the opportunity of getting that off my chest.
Alex

[Stonius]

Thanks for sharing. It's interesting to hear. I've not had much to do with the law (on either the right side or wrong side of it) so the workings of the legal system are foreign to me.


Markus

[Pepper]

All you guys “need to have a teaspoon of concrete”



hate that one.

[xelasnave]

Lived in the residence behind the court house when young, played with the police Sargent's son in the lock up if unoccupied and would take own own finger prints...spent many hours study and doing homework sitting where the magistrate sat in the court room and later when my father became a magistrate learnt everything from him telling what he did at work that day:D...so for me...most of my life.
Alex

[Stonius]

Never come across that one. Does it mean they should 'take a dose of reality?'.


Markus

[Nikolas]

Not quite, the full expression is "take a cup of concrete and harden up" Designed to have go at people who are sensitive "snowflakes" <---- not a fan of that expression eiehter

[Astronovice]

Nothing is ever twice any more, always “two times” grrrr.

[JA]

Even less used would be "thrice" for 3x

Best
JA

[FlashDrive]

A little bit off the topic at hand ,but how about....

When you go shopping and you pick an article to buy and it say's $4.99 ....

Oh dear look, that's cheap only $4.99

no it's not ...it's $5.00 at the checkout :rofl:

They think we are ' simple ' because we see the 4 .... some sort of retail gimmick to play on the masses.

Where's my 1c change :P

Edit ... why don't they just mark the price as $5.00 and be done with it.

[xelasnave]

Maybe the CEO transfers all the one cents to and account and distributes with his group. The shop gets their $4-99 so those figures add up so even a decent audit must conclude nothing to see here...

And if someone is in charge of a major shopping complex and he is not onto that would you want a mug like that heading the company.

I had a young chap working for me who's father was a publican..the subject came up ( many years ago now) as to what one would pay a manager of your pub...he said "You pay him about $250 week but if he cant sting you for another $100 he is not worth employing":lol::lol::lol:

Alex

[AndyG]

"safe space"

"my bad" - In the context of being said after doing something that is bad, but they aren't sorry.

"Just sayin" - I welcome clarification on that one. It presents to me as a example where someone wants to say something, but doesn't want to own the consequences of saying it. What's the deal?

[raymo]

Alex, The $4.99 example you quoted is standard practice in retail. Extensive
research found that more of any given article marked at $4.99 for example,
will sell, compared to the same article marked at $5.00. To people that buy
on impulse $4.99 does indeed sound cheaper.
raymo

[FlashDrive]

Spot on Raymo .....!!

[Camelopardalis]

Crikey JA, prolly haven’t heard that since primary school :eyepop:

Which brings me to another annoyance… we use 2x … 3x … meaning two times … three times…

What bugs me is when folk say two ex … three ex… :mad2:

[xelasnave]

Are the buying public really that silly? I find that fifficult to accept;)
Alex

[raymo]

Look at it this way Alex. if, for a figure plucked out of the sky, say 2% of
shoppers are sucked in, that's 2% more items sold. If all your goods are marked in this way you've increased your revenue by doing virtually nothing.
If you are a large company such as Woolies or Coles, 2% of your annual revenue is a very large amount of money.
raymo

[xelasnave]

I do understand the idea Raymo ... There are lots of things employed in marketing ..we would turn on the hot plate in a house open for inspection and place a few drops of vanilla essence on it to give off a homely baking smell ...one American sales trainer advocated giving folk a very hot cup of coffee so they would need to stay longer in the house Did it work I dont know but I remember reading a lot on marketing and it was rather deep and somewhat sinister.
Alex

[Sconesbie]

If you pay with EFTPoS it is charged at $4.99.

[GrahamL]

"Moving forward ",, middle management speak for I am not going to deal with the issue/problem.

[Allan_L]

Ladies, you try sitting on a train (etc.) with two soft boiled eggs between your thighs and see how you go. :scared3:

[N1]

For me, it's saying "he/she was like" instead of "he/she said".

[Camelopardalis]

Crikey :eyepop: they sag that much with maturity :P

[Saturn488]

"It is what it is". annoys the hell out of me. It brings nothing to the table, might as well not say anything at all.

If it is what it is then it obviously isnt what it isnt, is it?

[xelasnave]

That Ceasar was a great general when in fact he was firstly a murdering slave trader.
Think of how many people died under his orders and how many lives sold to slavery but the real sadness is folk just think nothing of any of the horror. Personally I find the fact we have a month named in his honour disgusting in the extreme.

Alex

[multiweb]

Agree. Que sera sera sounds a lot better. :lol:

[N1]

Yes but it is the month with the crappiest weather. Not sure he would have liked that

[xelasnave]

He probably did not like March
Alex

[PCH]

NOT in the northern hemisphere where he kinda was mostly, except when he was holidaying in Fiji

[RB]

That’s because that was the month they made his predecessor into Ceaser Salad...

:sadeyes:

[N1]

Agree, June is worse, in central Europe at least.

[pgc hunter]

I've always been frustrated by phrases like "a quarter of a century" and "quarter of a million dollars" that make the quantity sound more impressive.

It's 25 years and 250,000 dollars.

Instagram influencer speak like "amazeballs" is pukeworthy. Drives me mad

[AndyG]

My response to such is unprintable here. To share what I really think on that would bring 2 life bans.

[leee]

I have ONE word that really annoys me - "WHATEVER" I find it rude, crude, and a total put off.

[RB]

Yeah, ό, τι να 'ναι...

:D