Does anyone else hate the 'Regards' signature

[LizzieMaine]

Or people who say 'yourself' when they mean simply 'you'.

Or "myself" when they mean "me." "The only people there were Mary and myself."

This is a classic case of "hypercorrection" -- a habit people tend to develop when they're insecure about their command of the language. They aren't sure what the correct word should be, so they use an inflated overwrought "hyper-correct" word just to be sure, because they assume the simpler form has to be wrong. You can learn an awful lot about someone's social class, their upbringing, and their personal insecurities by just listening to them talk for ten minutes. Try it some time when watching cable TV news.

 

[HudsonHawk]

Or "myself" when they mean "me." "The only people there were Mary and myself."

This is a classic case of "hypercorrection" -- a habit people tend to develop when they're insecure about their command of the language. They aren't sure what the correct word should be, so they use an inflated overwrought "hyper-correct" word just to be sure, because they assume the simpler form has to be wrong. You can learn an awful lot about someone's social class, their upbringing, and their personal insecurities by just listening to them talk for ten minutes. Try it some time when watching cable TV news.

What does it mean when they say "y'all git in the truck...we goin' up to the big house!"

 

[LizzieMaine]

What does it mean when they say "y'all git in the truck...we goin' up to the big house!"

It means yo' best hide the corn squeezin's, Granny's got a pow'ful thirst on.

 

[Virginia Creeper]

Or people who use "female" to mean "woman" in the grasping hope that they won't offend someone, somehow.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Or people who use "female" to mean "woman" in the grasping hope that they won't offend someone, somehow.

That's cop-speak creeping into real talk. "A fifteen year old caucasian female individual was apprehended after exiting the retail establishment with unpurchased merchandise in her possession" is somehow preferable to "a fifteen year old white girl was caught shoplifting."

 

[Treetopflyer]

Another thing that I find annoying is the use of the world "So" in the wrong context, for example when someone is being interviewed on the radio or television. When asked a question, the interviewee starts the the reply with "So", just to start off their reply, it just does not correct. Another thing that annoys me is when a Railway Station is called a train station, again to me it does not seem correct. These are perhaps me just being picky. Mind you my grammar and spelling is probably is not as good as it should be.

You would hate living in Minnesota. We are known for our "So then" sandwiches. For example, "So, ya goin to the grocery store then?"

 

[Ticklishchap]

Regards is just so Blah!! cheers is also very blah too (I see it too much).

another thing I hate hearing, Usually in person is "Have a good one" used way to often by many factions, esp younger checkout people at various retail establishments.

"J"

Yes, I agree with you about the 'blah'! That more or less sums it up - although other contributors from the US have persuaded me to look much more kindly at it when it comes from Americans.

'Have a good one' has started over here. 'A good what?' I always want to say.

 

[HudsonHawk]

Or people who use "female" to mean "woman" in the grasping hope that they won't offend someone, somehow.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but women are females, are they not?

 

[scottyrocks]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but women are females, are they not?

Welcome to PC society. =o\

 

[HudsonHawk]

Welcome to PC society. =o\

I still don't get why someone would be put off by using "female" to describe...a female.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I still don't get why someone would be put off by using "female" to describe...a female.

"Female" is a biological designation, reducing the essence of the subject to her gender. A "woman" is a person, a female human being. It's got nothing to do with PC, and everything to do with precise use of language.

Would you say "I was out last night with a few of the males?"

 

[Edward]

Yes, I agree with you about the 'blah'! That more or less sums it up - although other contributors from the US have persuaded me to look much more kindly at it when it comes from Americans.

'Have a good one' has started over here. 'A good what?' I always want to say.

I associate it with Clapton. He hates to be wished a good show, or good luck, or all the best right before a show - his people just say "Have a good one, Eric".

 

[Edward]

"Female" is a biological designation, reducing the essence of the subject to her gender. A "woman" is a person, a female human being. It's got nothing to do with PC, and everything to do with precise use of language.

Would you say "I was out last night with a few of the males?"

Tell you where it drives me up the wall: those airport signs for "Male Toilets" or "Female Toilets". Just how exactly does one sex a toilet??

 

[LizzieMaine]

Tell you where it drives me up the wall: those airport signs for "Male Toilets" or "Female Toilets". Just how exactly does one sex a toilet??

A male toilet hangs off the wall, a female toilet sits on the floor?

 

[HudsonHawk]

"Female" is a biological designation, reducing the essence of the subject to her gender. A "woman" is a person, a female human being. It's got nothing to do with PC, and everything to do with precise use of language.

Would you say "I was out last night with a few of the males?"

I would not in such a colloquial manner, but I wouldn't say "I was out last night with a few of the men" either. Also, if someone described me as a "white male" (not that I've ever been the subject of a police bulletin...as far as you know), I would not take offense either. I just don't see using gender as a description as being all that offensive.

 

[HudsonHawk]

A male toilet hangs off the wall, a female toilet sits on the floor?

This is probably the last thing on your list of "What I Want To Know", but if I ever build what some call a "man cave", I'm going to have a urinal installed. Peeing standing up is one of, if not THE greatest thing about being male, and I want to celebrate it at every opportunity possible.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

This is probably the last thing on your list of "What I Want To Know", but if I ever build what some call a "man cave", I'm going to have a urinal installed. Peeing standing up is one of, if not THE greatest thing about being male, and I want to celebrate it at every opportunity possible.

Would you have it located in a private room..or out in the open for a real public celebration to share your glee with everyone ? lol

 

[scrawlysteve]

This is probably the last thing on your list of "What I Want To Know", but if I ever build what some call a "man cave", I'm going to have a urinal installed. Peeing standing up is one of, if not THE greatest thing about being male, and I want to celebrate it at every opportunity possible.

Be that as it may---not at all sure I agree..... the great pleasure of peeing standing up is the freedom to aim in a variety of directions and trajectories....a urinal would severely curtail this.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Boys will be boys.

 

[scrawlysteve]

and to illustrate your point you use an archetypal female symbol..... (or should I say " a symbol of a woman" ? )