07-15-2010, 05:40 PM
billb wrote:
well, I hope they get the darned thing capped.
Well, if they don't, I'm going to whip their @ss.
Mr Downtown wrote:
Well, how would you suggest adding a hint of indirectness to an oppositional statement? It's a softener, a sign that you don't want to be entirely adversarial with your response. Especially online, writing "well, I don't think you're correct about that" is less abrupt and confrontational than simply writing "you're not correct about that." I may be just as confident of my facts or position, but I don't want you to leave the discussion.
Well, I don't think that adding a "Well" makes a message any more palatable. It's just PC to add the "Well" at the beginning of that sentence. In fact, to me, adding the "Well" to this makes it even more snotty. I'd rather the person just be direct, even if it's adversarial.
I do also think that Janit's suggestion is an excellent one, "OK" is a bit more neutral and having less implied doubt. And yes, it may be a gender/culture issue thing. That's sad, that a woman who would just say what she wants without a modifier, would be perceived as "bossy".
Oh, and not to get political, but the Simpsons/Ronald Reagan thing exactly made my point.
And yes, I was in a cranky mood when I started this thread.
