September 14, 2006Top Ten Poison Phrases
Top Ten Poison Phrases
The results of the Poison Phrase Hall of fame are in. Your top ten more offensive Poison Phrases are listed by obnoxiousness score. 813 Shut up – 782 It’s not my job – 741 What’s Your problem? – 728 Whatever – 684 Bite me – 682 I’m just a clerk – 659 If you say so – 647 I couldn’t care less – 606 I don’t care – 603 I’m done with you – 582 Oh duh
Thanks for participating…it was fun…especially when I received the nominations with the Poison Phrases in the subject lines of the email, so for several days I received emails titled “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” etc.
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Comment by more website hits — January 20, 2007 @ 4:22 pm
Maybe it’s just me, but the phrase I most hate to hear is, “I’m sorry, we won’t be ordering any of your books.” That’s probably too specific to my own life, right? I’m sure for other people the phrase they hate is, “I’m sorry, we won’t be ordering any of Kenn Amdahl’s books.”
Comment by Kenn Amdahl — December 5, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
Duh…I’ve been using duh and reading your poison phrases made me realize just how stupid duh sounds. Thanks for the wake-up. I’ll speak a little more powerfully now.
Comment by terry eisenbart — December 6, 2007 @ 5:30 pm
I try to ask direct questions and I find that both young and old alike respond, not to the question, but redefine the question into something else.
Before a church event, I told the altar server [who I am responsible for]: Go light the candles. The youngster’s response was: “There are only three candles.”
That was not my command/direction.
Actually she was not expected to respond; she was expected to obey. There were three candles and they needed to be lit before the service commenced. The fourth candle was being held by another altar server.
I could only conclude that the child did not want me to tell her what to do.
Again, I was driving with a friend. I just arrived in a city and was driving a friend in the car to go to a McDonalds.
I said, “I would like to have a big Mac and a chocolate milkshake. Where is the nearest MacDonalds?”
I first stated a fact, my desire to have a big Mac.
My friend replied, “There is a Wendy’s right up here.”
The woman redefined my question.
The nearest MacDonald’s was two miles away and a short drive and it was also near the bookstore that we were eventually headed towards.
Why do people avoid responding with a direct answer?
Why can’t they answer the question?
Why must they have an opinion instead of a direct answer?
I have begun to say, “You have not answered my question. You are redirecting/redefining my question.”
Is it poor parenting skills or poor family interaction that results in this type of confused or compromised communications?
Do you have suggestions on how to use good manners and also obtain answers to my questions.
Kind Regards,
DS
Comment by Dorothy Savok — April 30, 2008 @ 7:19 pm