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Post by sandbachhatter on Jan 10, 2016 20:20:20 GMT
Evening all Starting this one a little early, as I might be late into the office tomorrow. Maccy is your host this week, so.... Saying "So..." at the Start of Answers
So (sorry, couldn't resist...), what we appear to have is a Stateside convention that has spread like wildfire, and doesn't look like going away in a hurry, over here. Interviewees who begin their answers with such an unnecessary word sound both condescending and rehearsed - but, more than that, it is an utterly grating habit. And, so far as this viewer/listener is concerned, guaranteed not to keep my attention. So, just stop. Sofa Sales
Two of life's great mysteries are: (1) Why do furniture companies hold seemingly never-ending sales of sofas?; and (2) What does it say about us as a nation, if these really are perennial must-have items?? The all-year-round adverts, enticing us with 'discounts' and then 'extra discounts' from sales that 'must end soon' (when, fer chrissakes, the next Millennium?!?), are annoying - and, in all likelihood, a trading con. So - fa-ck off, DFS, Harvey's and Furniture Village. There's nothing suite about you. Snakes
They have never done anything untoward, so far as my life is concerned. But they do scare the living crap out of me! Get voting...
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Post by gazz on Jan 11, 2016 0:12:51 GMT
Saying "so" for me.
Right up there with "look" (a favourite of Australian cricketers for some reason) and "listen".
Chuck all three in the vault, along with anyone who commits these most heinous of conversational crimes!
Good choices, Maccy!
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Post by countybenno on Jan 11, 2016 8:54:25 GMT
Has to be Sofa sales for me, all the bloody time on the t.v, all the do is have sales, has anyone actually bought a sofa that wasn't in a sale, in fact is there ever a time when a sofa shop didn't have a sale on?
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Post by marketharborough on Jan 11, 2016 9:54:11 GMT
Really simple - I hate snakes!!
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Post by countyfan on Jan 11, 2016 10:18:13 GMT
Saying "so" must be gone!! It's become a unnecessarily used word amongst all the youth that also use the word "like" in every sentence they speak!!
"What time did you get in last night"? "So it was only like 10 o'clock" "like 10 o'clock? Does that mean it was or wasn't 10 o'clock you fool"? "so why you like calling me a fool"? ..........
"So like get up to your bedroom and don't bother coming back down until you've read the dictionary"
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Post by another_ruined_saturday on Jan 11, 2016 12:25:25 GMT
not that arsed about snakes. have held a corn snake. cool, dry; wasn't arsed. a striking cobra is probably a different matter, and i did used to have a bit of a fear about a double 's' - the sea snake. they always seemed a bit worrisome. having mentioned double 's', i suppose you could have sent the SS packing from history rather than an american import language convention. 'so' is also the one i'd have to get rid of though. the SS aren't around anymore and the use of the word 'so' at the start of sentences is a front runner in the new language of terror. has to go.
you've done half of the 's' phobia double act, and while i have little problem with snakes, spiders are a different thing altogether. too alien, too quick, too many legs, faces of horror, mummify their victims. what's to like?!?
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Post by sandbachhatter on Jan 11, 2016 12:53:45 GMT
I too don't seem to have a major problem with snakes, having had a python around my neck in the past (and in my trousers for nearly 36 years - arf), but spiders would have been a different matter altogether.
Still, these are Indiana Macc's choices, so (intended) from the other two I shall plump for those who start answers with "So...."
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Post by Epworth Hatter on Jan 11, 2016 13:18:45 GMT
As you would expect, I love snakes. Sofa sales seem to have become a parody of themselves. I also find that I don't watch adverts any more. I watch very little live TV, starting anything on a commercial channel late so the ads can be fast farwarded. It means I haven't actually seen a soda sale as in years. 'So' on the other hand is a pet peeve of mine, and I'm glad you've called it, macc. Politicians were clearly aware that not answering questions was not going down well with the public. The problem was, they don't want to answer questions. Solution? Start each answer with 'so', use some of the words in the question, but still don't answer question. E.g. What are you going to do about the flooding? So, we've done a lot about the flooding... It is a politicians trick to sound like they are answering the question by giving some sort of context.. If it sounds like it's related to the topic, the thick public will think it's a good answer and, more importantly, it takes up 75% of the airtime. The problem is, they aren't answering the question. They try to cover it up with past facts and figures. But, as someone said, the facts often exceed our curiosity. Just answer the question! The old joke used to go: How can you tell if a politician's lying? His/her lips are moving. In these more enlightened times, it has turned into: He/she starts a sentence with the word 'so'. Get it in the bin.
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Post by bringbacklenwhite on Jan 11, 2016 19:20:05 GMT
Never thought about "so" and although I hate those sofa adverts I hate snakes even more so.
They have to go.
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Post by bigfudge on Jan 12, 2016 0:42:16 GMT
I hate all Americanisms, I hate their U-less spelling of pre-established words.
I hate them calling Football, Soccer.
I hate them calling Secondary School, Middle School or High School.
I hate them referring to themselves as The US of A.
I hate their whole ridiculous bastardisation, and yes that it bastardisation with an S NOT with a Z, of the English language.
Saying so before sentences if one of them Americanisms that I hate so for me that can go in the vault as a warning to all American words and phrases that try to sneak their way into civilised English...like we used to do with executed prisoners heads!
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Post by dudleyhatter on Jan 13, 2016 21:23:53 GMT
So is so overused so often it has to go.
Quite like snakes (in Britain!)
Soaf sales do get you a bargain though! Never have seen one full price mind....
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Post by archie on Jan 14, 2016 9:21:11 GMT
I've no issue with sofa sales. Does anyone buy at full price?
'So' is acceptable on occasion. When you can't see someone, it's quite easy to miss the first word said and putting in verbal padding gets round that. Many people use 'look'. Used every sentence it becomes a pain though.
Snakes are a phobia of mine and are an easy selection.
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Post by jamesgill on Jan 14, 2016 17:08:45 GMT
Being someone who uses 'so' an awful lot, I'm definitely not going to put myself in. Snakes are cool. Definitely picking Sofa companies' marketing tricks, not worth my time or anyone elses.
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Post by bringbacklenwhite on Jan 14, 2016 19:11:22 GMT
Can't think you are old enough to even consider buying a sofa James.
Lounging about on one, yes. Purchase .................... nah !
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Post by jamesgill on Jan 14, 2016 20:36:46 GMT
Can't think you are old enough to even consider buying a sofa James. Lounging about on one, yes. Purchase .................... nah ! That's a good point, Lennie. And you're correct,I'm not at the point of buying sofas yet. But the marketing still annoys me.
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