kinda what i mean, lol... they ask, and i say "well, my gout has been flaring, and the hemorrhoids are a bit painful today, but on the bright side, that rotten tooth finally fell out"...

... but you wish real bullets were shooting from those fingers.:)

Hahaha, I know what you mean but it doesn't really irritate me.
Anymore, I don't even acknowledge it unless it is preceeded by, Tom.
If someone says "Hi Tom, how are you today?" then I will tell them. Otherwise I know they don't really care.

And then.they get all fidgety and announce that they need to go water their cactus ....

"you don't know what you're talking about..."

I hate that phrase.

For me... That is a phrase that is relative to the topic at hand.

If someone says it to me while I am talking about myself and things that I personally have experienced it can be irritating but I have learned to let it slide off. Their ignorance does not invalidate reality.

If I am talking about something that I may not completely understand or might be deluded about it gives me pause and I consider their argument as long as it is valid to my experience. If it is part of a "He Said/She Said" argument. There is no validity. Thus merely another attempt to manipulate the argument.

I think that most phrases used in arguments are made with the intent to manipulate. Phrases that intimidate are ultimately said to manipulate. Even phrases that praise can be a sly form of manipulation in an argument. Attempting to influence or direct a path of dialog to misdirect or redirect thinking.

The X was one to throw "You're a Good Man, Tom" at me. It worked for awhile but then I started to wonder if I am such a 'good man' why are you doing these things to me when you know I won't tolerate them. It used to piss me off. Then I realized that she was NOT a good woman and things got pretty clear. The rest is history.

Plenty more fish in the sea!
That's all well and good but I want that one!

Oh Lordy...and I am still alive



I think one that makes me grind my teeth

Take a deep breath....Relax

"I'm sorry.....What?"


.........her reaction to me after I have just poured my heart and soul out to her about how New Coke wasn't really all that bad.

it doesnt make my blood boil but kind of annoyes me:

oh it is easy for you because...blah..blah..blah

(it aint easy i just do it, so could you)

.....and that is how i spot a real whiner

I rebel at pretty much ALL catch phrases.

My strategy to fight them, is to answer them with some twist. Sometimes it's as simple as responding literally. "How ya doin?" could get "How am I doing what in particular?" as a counter question, or something similar. I also react with "I'll tell you in another month, after the feedback reports come in." That kind of thing. "Have a nice day!" can trigger me to slump against the wall, and piteously ask if I absolutely HAVE to.

Some that upset others, don't bother me so much. One popular one, which only bugs me when it's MISUSED (which is about half the time), is "It is what it is." When it's said in order to point out to someone who is griping about something which can't be changed, it's often an appropriate attempt to refocus the discussion on a response, and stop wasting time on whining. When it's said as a way to refuse to negotiate something that does still need a decision, I think it should be legal to handcuff the person to whatever chair they are nearest, until they retract it.

"Excuse me, Excuse Me, No Offense But......."

It basically says their right and you're wrong, or excuses themselves prior to being offensive. I get this a lot from my sibling, which is mostly likely why it's so annoying to me.

Good topic Peggy!

"Calm down" never sits well with me (though I can only remember one time when someone has said it to me).

The other one I don't care for at all.. "Don't take this the wrong way..."

When someone prefaces a statement with that, how can you help but take it the wrong way?

When people say all good don't worry
What they usually saying is it's not all good and you should be worried..
Don't worry about the money..
I hear that i immediately worry about the money..
And when people say is that a banana in your pocket or are you just happy to see me... I have to Wonder.. were they stirring in my kitchen window this morning as I slipped the banana into my pocket....lol

Oooo..yhea... personal favorite... I think you're a little too good looking for me..
How is that even possible..lol..
That's like saying there's too much sugar in the Sugar....lol

Honestly...
To Tell You The Truth...
Let Me Be Honest With You...

It doesn't irritate me but it makes me think that if that person doesn't forevermore proclaim their honesty, they are lying.

"Most of the things I say are lies but, honestly, I am now telling the truth."

I do say 'No Worries' when something doesn't really bother me. I picked it up from Aussie dialect used in another online community. I am not one to say things I don't mean unless I am messing around.

That brings me to another irritating phrase that really irks me.

I'm just joking, sheesh!

Especially if that phrase is preceded by some serious discussion or revelation. It always seems that the phrase doesn't get said until there is an adverse reaction. Like if its all good, it wasn't a joke but if it is bad, then, well, "I was just joking, sheesh!". I can take a joke and I have been known to give them. There are times when joking is not appropriate.

Most guys freak out, when woman says

"Honey, we need to talk..."

Right? :)

I know lots of men that dread those words.
Personally, I like to talk. I have actually said that phrase to a woman many times. I guess it all depends upon your relationship at the time. If there are issues, it can be very dreadful to hear those words.

Good one!

Well.....that's not technically correct. Now, if she says this all the while holding an ax or a shotgun, then yeah.....us men will freak out.

Yeah, accessories give totally different weight to words...

And some guys even would beg you hold a gun in one hand at the same time you're holding pregnancy test in another.