N.O.B
Posted in Blog, Rants by: LottieJanuary 22nd, 2009
Have you ever found that when someone starts a sentence with the phrase “No offence, but” there is little doubt that what follows won’t offend? That no offence is more often followed by a shower of racist, sexist, bigoted drivel.
No offence, but aren’t you a little too curvaceous to be wearing those skinny jeans?
No offence, but you’ve looked better.
No offence, but your whole family is a slut brothel of skanks and whores.
No offence, but I’d rather eat my own faeces than spend another minute talking to you.
And as I spoke, confident, informed he leaned in close and lowered his voice. “No offence, but aren’t you a little young? I just mean isn’t…“and then he said it “one of the boys available?”
No offence, but fuck you too.
January 22nd, 2009 at 12:29 am
No offence but,
I’m not a racist but,
I don’t know how to say this but,
Don’t get angry but,
All are the tools of a winker.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:32 am
I’m afraid that’s something you’ll have to weather and disprove all the time in your business. It is not so forward thinking.
Still. Better to be told you’re a little young than a little old.
At least you’re not a female black doctor.
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:43 am
Bill McFarlan wrote a book about Pink Elephants, which is what he calls it when you directly contradict yourself when speaking like this… It’s a silly self-help book but the free seminar I went to when he was speaking about it in Scotland once was quite entertaining. Sometimes when you have something difficult to say it’s so hard not to say “I don’t want to make you angry but…” http://www.amazon.co.uk/Drop-Pink-Elephant-Personal-Communication/dp/1841124796
I really dislike the “no offence…” thing.
What has been getting more and more on my nerves over the last year or so is people putting “- to be honest” at the end of their statements, especially if they’re being harsh or snotty. Well I should certainly hope you’re being honest, why wouldn’t you be honest all the time? Why do you have to clarify that on this occasion, that you are being honest?
Female friends, in particular, are using this phrase more regularly recently. What to do.
“I don’t want to anger you, but please stop saying “to be honest” all the time?” Whatcha think? Hurhur.
January 22nd, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Fuuuuck. Unbelievable.
What did you say?!
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:04 pm
@Maxi – I say nothing.
@Jo – It might change over the years. 10 years ago 35-40% of the profession were female. Now 65% of Blackhall candidates are women. It’s not as bad as it once was when I first started – and I do find that women prefer to deal with a woman – but perhaps that s just as discriminatory.
@MJ – My issue is that it’s so passive aggressive. And I get the “to be honest ” thing too but I am guilty of it from time to time. So what your saying to me is that anytime you don’t say “to be honest” you’re not being honest…is that it?
@SP – Not what I should have said. In hindsight I should have said – Well none of the “boys” knew what the hell to do about this and since I am the only one here with any expereicen or knowledge in this area I was happy to hear you out. However, if you would like “one of the boys” to deal with it I am more than happy to pass it off and I wish you the best of luck.
What I actually said was “uh ah – well thank you but maybe I am not as young as you think.” And then I went on to justify my experience in a ridiculously round about way.
January 22nd, 2009 at 4:32 pm
No offense, but you’re a N.O.B.
January 22nd, 2009 at 5:04 pm
My Favourite is i’m not a racist but…
of course you’re a bloody racist.
Same thing just said in a more stupid way.
Some people are just shitheads.
January 22nd, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Ah.. where’s my comment edit?
January 22nd, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Oh that Father Flannery has some cheek.
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:09 pm
No offence, but isn’t life an offence.
January 23rd, 2009 at 6:17 pm
I came here with the intention of pointing out the “I’m not a racist but” but I can see I have been beaten to the punch.
No offence but you’re all a bunch of pricks.
January 24th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Grrr, what an ass. I hope he has to come crawling with thanks when you sort him out.
January 25th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
“In all fairness and don’t get me wrong” That’s my favourite.
January 26th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
@Chris – Right back at ya!
@RP – huh? Im not that sensitive.
@Xbox – I know! I mean. We’ve had female Alter girls for years now!
@Paddy – That’s grim.
@Thomas – You snooze you loose.
@Sinead – He didn’t seem the type.
@Holemaster – Or “I don’t mean to be rude but…”