(November 4, 2017 at 4:04 pm)Hammy Wrote:(November 3, 2017 at 2:17 am)paulpablo Wrote: If someone says they're not horrible they just can't afford to give to charity. I don't get why that doesn't work.
And I can think of loads of times when a statement like that could be used to clear up an anticipated misconception.
"I'm not a difficult boss to work for but I have to fire him for what he did as it comes under gross misconduct."
It could be used in this sense for an objection by the employee which has been anticipated by the employer.
" I'm not ultra picky when it comes to girls but I want them to at least have good teeth."
" I'm not a wild person but when you knew me I was going through phase of taking drugs, my personality was different. I'm actually quite sensible now."
The phrase "I'm not being funny but" annoys me, not because I don't think anyone could follow that with something reasonable. It's just because most people I know who use that phrase do follow it with something unreasonable. Most the time anyway.
LOL see none of those phrases sound honest or sensible. Why even mention that you're not a difficult boss to work for, or not ultra picky, or not a wild person in the first place? That's the point lol.
Each of those phrases could be honest and sensible. The reason behind the statement being an anticipated inaccurate conclusion.
The first one the boss could be talking to someone who doesn't understand all of the companies work policies and therefore he's making it clear to them that the firing was justified and based on policy and procedure, rather than any sort of harsh decision made by the boss. This would help his reputation as a reasonable boss while at the same time as teaching someone about what the policy and procedure of the work place includes.
The second instance could be of a guy who said to his friend that he rejected this girl because of her teeth, his friend said "wow you're picky" and he's just explaining that he isn't picky but at a bare minimum he does want a girl who has nice teeth.
The third person is just explaining that they have changed over the years, nothing really complex about that. This kind of thing happens, people change, and they have to explain to people who used to know them when they were different that they have changed.
I personally do know people who say "I'm not x but ....." and with those specific people I think ok, you're about to say something that confirms that you are X.
But I wouldn't throw the baby out with the bath water. Some people use that kind of phrase and use it badly but I think to say it could never be used sensibly or honestly is taking it a bit far.
Are you ready for the fire? We are firemen. WE ARE FIREMEN! The heat doesn’t bother us. We live in the heat. We train in the heat. It tells us that we’re ready, we’re at home, we’re where we’re supposed to be. Flames don’t intimidate us. What do we do? We control the flame. We control them. We move the flames where we want to. And then we extinguish them.
Impersonation is treason.
