What is the most annoying phrase? - Freeze-Frame Radio

MzHartz · Permanent Vacation

What is the most annoying phrase?

Mad Mema · Bad Biker Granny

For me personally it is "This too will pass." Momma used to say that to me frequently.

I have a feeling I know that the real answers are... saw a clip on the news about that.

Lady Strange · 80's Rock Chick

I know I'm in the minority here, but I hate the "How you doin'", "How are you?" "How's it going?" crap. The only time I find it appropriate is if you're really checking up on someone. For example, if someone just lost a loved one, it's fine to ask them this question. If they've just had an operation, it's fine to ask them this question. Because a) you're actually concerned and b) there is a GOOD REASON!!!

I really hate when you see someone, who runs by you saying "How you doing?" and you couldn't answer even if you tried.

JD The Jazz Doctor · Grand Poobah

I HATE IT IS WHAT IT IS. HATE IT!

MzHartz · Permanent Vacation

Lady Strange wrote:

I know I'm in the minority here, but I hate the "How you doin'", "How are you?" "How's it going?" crap. The only time I find it appropriate is if you're really checking up on someone. For example, if someone just lost a loved one, it's fine to ask them this question. If they've just had an operation, it's fine to ask them this question. Because a) you're actually concerned and b) there is a GOOD REASON!!!

I really hate when you see someone, who runs by you saying "How you doing?" and you couldn't answer even if you tried.

I totally agree!!!! "How are you doing?" is not a substitute for "Hello"!! I'm okay with, "How's it going," or "What have you been up to," as a conversation starter. I am not okay with the times when the only appropriate response is, "I'm fine, how are you." I am NOT fine, and I really don't want to know how you are.

confuzzed · Permanent State of Confusion

I saw the article and I thought it was interesting as to what the top phras is. I would have thought that a few items on this list would have ranked higher.

WebGuy · Doesn't Do Windows

At least most of the time with "How you doin'" they pause long enough for you to say "fine". The one I hate most is "Whats up?" when it is asked and they keep right on going like you were asked a question and not even given a chance to respond.

In the poll, I selected "you know" only for me is with a ? at the end . . . you know? It can really get on one's nerves . . . you know? Especially when the person does it at the end of every comment . . . you know?

Yes, I know! Now shut your pie hole.

Lady Strange · 80's Rock Chick

MzHartz wrote:
Lady Strange wrote:
I know I'm in the minority here, but I hate the "How you doin'", "How are you?" "How's it going?" crap. The only time I find it appropriate is if you're really checking up on someone. For example, if someone just lost a loved one, it's fine to ask them this question. If they've just had an operation, it's fine to ask them this question. Because a) you're actually concerned and b) there is a GOOD REASON!!!

I really hate when you see someone, who runs by you saying "How you doing?" and you couldn't answer even if you tried.
I totally agree!!!! "How are you doing?" is not a substitute for "Hello"!! I'm okay with, "How's it going," or "What have you been up to," as a conversation starter. I am not okay with the times when the only appropriate response is, "I'm fine, how are you." I am NOT fine, and I really don't want to know how you are.

Glad you agree. I'm one of the only people I know who doesn't answer that question. I cover the phones here at work, and everytime it's someone I know & they say, "Hey it's Bob- how you doing?" I just say, "Hi Bob," or whatever the name is.

I remember one time listening to Pete Townshend being interviewed on a radio show, and people could call in and ask questions. The DJ would say, "OK, we have Jimmy from New York. Jimmy you're on with Pete Townshend," and sure enough Jimmy would say, "Hi Pete - how you doing?" After about the 4th person, Pete actually said, "OK, everybody. We've already established that I'm doing just fine, so please don't ask anymore!" It really was eating up a lot of time that could've been spent on longer answers or more callers. And wouldn't you know, even after he said that, each caller asked. It's one of those stupid annoying traditions that really make no sense to me. It's just like it gets engrained in peoples' consciousness, and they don't think to question it. Ugh...

MzHartz · Permanent Vacation

I think I've reformed, but I used to be a subconscious "you know"-er and "anyway"-er. Sometimes I'd switch it up with, "You know what I mean?" or "At any rate..." But I never realized that I was doing it when I did it.

Lady Strange · 80's Rock Chick

WebGuy wrote:
In the poll, I selected "you know" only for me is with a ? at the end . . . you know? It can really get on one's nerves . . . you know? Especially when the person does it at the end of every comment . . . you know?

Yes, I know! Now shut your pie hole.

We know, we KNOOOOOOW!!!

-- Edited by Lady Strange on Friday 9th of October 2009 12:53:10 PM

WebGuy · Doesn't Do Windows

Now I look at the actual results. I don't think "whatever" bothers me as much because to me "whatever" means "Ah, you make a good point to which I can't counter so I will pretend like I've just become too uninterested to continue, but in reality I just don't want you to know that I got nothin'."

Lady Strange · 80's Rock Chick

JD The Jazz Doctor wrote:
I HATE IT IS WHAT IT IS. HATE IT!

Did you have someone in your life who used to say this a lot, so that it got to bug you? This phrase wasn't in my life very much, but when really looking at things, it has become an important thing for me to remember.

I was in NYC watching the Alan Menken / Lynn Ahrens musical version of "A Christmas Carol", and one of the most powerful scenes was when Scrooge cries out, asking the ghost of Christmas past why he is torturing him by showing him all of these awful things. And the ghost basically says, I'm just telling it like it is. I didn't make these things happen - it's just the history of what did happen. And he repeats to powerful drum beats, "It is what it is, it is what it is." But Scrooge would rather "forget" (which you can't do) and bury it down inside of himself (which doesn't work.) We as the audience knows how important these past events are. It helps us to understand why he became the awful person he was, and once he accepted it better, he was freed from a lot of the pain, and allowed himself to open up and change. OK, yes, I really do think this story is amaaaaaaazing, and everyone can learn so much from it - even the Mr. Magoo version!

Anyway, I started applying this saying to my life, and it has really helped me a lot. You can say, "Why is so-and-so dead? It's not right! How could a little kid like that have gotten cancer and suffered and then died?!" But the fact is: regardless of how much that sucks, and how unfair that is- guess what - you can't change it. Nobody can. (Except maybe Willow doing a crazy-ass spell), but learning to accept things that you can't change (no matter how awful) is really important for healing, stress-relief, etc.

I am finishing up Joey Kramer's autobiography, and it was interesting seeing him say the same thing. AFter going through rehab, his band's comeback, then a nervous breakdown, he learned that accepting the fact that his dad used to beat him and wasn't a loving father was so healing and helpful. Also to learn something about his father's childhood that helped explain WHY he was like that, allowed him to be more at peace with his father, and therefore with everything.

Then of course, the Rick Springfield song, "Will I?" repeats that line, and I loooooove that song!

Lady Strange · 80's Rock Chick

WebGuy wrote:
At least most of the time with "How you doin'" they pause long enough for you to say "fine". The one I hate most is "Whats up?" when it is asked and they keep right on going like you were asked a question and not even given a chance to respond.

That happens sooooo much! Like you could say, "Well, my genital warts are really flaring up," and they'd smile and say, "Good..."

Lady Strange · 80's Rock Chick

WebGuy wrote:
Now I look at the actual results. I don't think "whatever" bothers me as much because to me "whatever" means "Ah, you make a good point to which I can't counter so I will pretend like I've just become too uninterested to continue, but in reality I just don't want you to know that I got nothin'."

It's a snotty comback, but I think that's part of the reason I like it. It seems like a saying that females use more. (not surprisingly.)

MzHartz · Permanent Vacation

You know, I don't think-

OMG, I haven't broken that habit! And do you know what I want to say now?

Anyway, I don't think-

Aaah!

Ahem.

I don't think I've ever really been around someone who says, "It is what it is," a lot. I don't find it annoying because I never really hear it.

MzHartz · Permanent Vacation

Lady Strange wrote:

WebGuy wrote:
Now I look at the actual results. I don't think "whatever" bothers me as much because to me "whatever" means "Ah, you make a good point to which I can't counter so I will pretend like I've just become too uninterested to continue, but in reality I just don't want you to know that I got nothin'."
It's a snotty comback, but I think that's part of the reason I like it. It seems like a saying that females use more. (not surprisingly.)

I just read an editorial on this article, and the whole time the author kept saying, "Whatever. [hand flip]" Ya gotta have the hand flip.

Lady Strange · 80's Rock Chick

MzHartz wrote:
You know, I don't think-

OMG, I haven't broken that habit! And do you know what I want to say now?

Anyway, I don't think-

Aaah!

Ahem.

I don't think I've ever really been around someone who says, "It is what it is," a lot. I don't find it annoying because I never really hear it.

Ha ha ha, we know, we knoooooow!!

That's why I asked JD if he did hear it a lot growing up or something.
I am curious to see if he says it seem less annoying when you think to apply it to life the way I talked about?

-- Edited by Lady Strange on Friday 9th of October 2009 01:01:11 PM

-- Edited by Lady Strange on Friday 9th of October 2009 01:01:27 PM

Lady Strange · 80's Rock Chick

MzHartz wrote:
Lady Strange wrote
WebGuy wrote:
Now I look at the actual results. I don't think "whatever" bothers me as much because to me "whatever" means "Ah, you make a good point to which I can't counter so I will pretend like I've just become too uninterested to continue, but in reality I just don't want you to know that I got nothin'."
It's a snotty comback, but I think that's part of the reason I like it. It seems like a saying that females use more. (not surprisingly.)
I just read an editorial on this article, and the whole time the author kept saying, "Whatever. [hand flip]" Ya gotta have the hand flip.

True. Man, it is completely female.

-- Edited by Lady Strange on Friday 9th of October 2009 01:00:14 PM

confuzzed · Permanent State of Confusion

Yeah, you have to give the hand flip or the head snap when you "whatever."

WebGuy · Doesn't Do Windows

Don't forget to throw in the "valley girl" voice too.

confuzzed · Permanent State of Confusion

Yeah, cause that makes it totally awesome.

disco strangler · Smiles everyone, smiles!

WHAT EVVERRRR! Whatever... I say it all the time -- yes, mainly to annoy...

We used to have a guy here (God rest his soul), but in conversation, he'd say about a million trillion gazillion times... "The reality of it is..." or when he was talking about a conversation he had with someone... "I said, I said..."

I really really can't stand when people always say "like" in their conversations... "Like when we went to the fair last week, there was this like really cool ride. Like I almost threw up on Jacob, but he like, moved so it like landed on the other Jake... " Real conversation from one of Jacob's friend girl...

MzHartz · Permanent Vacation

I like totally agree! I'm like so surprised that like isn't on the list.

It also drives me nuts when people use too many ums or uhs. I know everyone uses them sometimes, but there's those people who can't get a sentence out without it being stuck in there somewhere. Especially salespeople. We had a salesman have a meeting with us one time who was an um/uh-er, and it drove me nuts.

disco strangler · Smiles everyone, smiles!

We have a radio station that occasionally has a challenge to win concert tickets, etc., and all one has to do is talk for 10 seconds on a given subject without saying um or uh. It's suprising how hard it is, but one guy I remember started out with "Um"

Poor guy...

MzHartz · Permanent Vacation

In 7th grade, my English teacher had an Um/Uh jar. Whenever anyone said Um or Uh, they had to put a nickel in the jar. At the end of the year, all the change in the jar went to a charity chosen by the kids.

JD The Jazz Doctor · Grand Poobah

I guess it is a catch phrase here at work which excuses low quality or incompetence. Its like the ultimate dismissal of responsibility, care, or willingness to fix something wrong. really bugs me.

Lady Strange · 80's Rock Chick

MzHartz wrote:
In 7th grade, my English teacher had an Um/Uh jar. Whenever anyone said Um or Uh, they had to put a nickel in the jar. At the end of the year, all the change in the jar went to a charity chosen by the kids.

Whoa, really? That's a cool idea.

Lady Strange · 80's Rock Chick

JD The Jazz Doctor wrote:
I guess it is a catch phrase here at work which excuses low quality or incompetence. Its like the ultimate dismissal of responsibility, care, or willingness to fix something wrong. really bugs me.

Oh yeah, I don't think that's appropriate. That would bug me too.

Jeremy Riggs · 2011 Super Bowl Champions!

I work with a guy who uses "whatever" all the time.

It bothers me even though he's not using it on me specifically. He'll be telling a story and at some point cut the story short with a "whatever". Drives me mad!