Bye, bye, bye, bye, bye... Why???

Your Superior

I was just on the phone to an Irishman that works for a company we deal with, and as usual the call ended with him saying bye about ten times. To the non-Irish ear this always sounds quite rude and dismissive. I personally do understand that it isn't, of course, but it is something that has been mentioned before by American and British people I do business with. Why do people end calls this way, especially professional calls? What's wrong with just "bye"?

SEPT 23 1989

a single bye is a bit abrupt

Caovyn Lineah

My mother in law does it and ill never understand why.

whiskeyman

Unknown fact: Most Irish people suffer from a stutter only evident towards the ending of phone calls.

El Weirdo

Because Sean Hughes, that's why.

One eyed Jack

It's simply just a bad habit with some people. Possibly the same people who never grew up from suggesting that the other person hang up first -

"No you hang up first"

"No. YOU hang up first"

"Ok, bye bye bye..." :rolleyes:

IamNotNumber

Bye, bye, bye.. Delilah.

jelutong

Bay City Roller Syndrome perhaps?

Lux23

Because it would be rude not to say bye at least six times while ending a telephone conversation.

TheBeardedLady

I do it as I feel a simple "bye" is a bit rude though it's subconscious. It's a bit like how the Irish refuse something twice then accept it on the third offer - a direct "yes" would seem rude but a refusal, or even worse, 2 refusals, would seem rude in other cultures.

Different cultures, different ways of doing things. Simple, really. You just adapt and get on with it.

stmol32

Pina Colada wrote: »

The same reason we drink too much.

We're all delightfully eccentric!

biko

It's our culture you racist

ScumLord

Irish phone conversations usually go something like..

"Yes, Yes, ya, oh yeah, yeah, yeah"

"no, no, no, ya, ya, ya, ah no, no, no"

"sure, sure, sure"

"sure, no bother No bother sure, ya, no bother, yeah"

"bye, bye, bye, bye, bye"

zzfh

i say good luck then it turns into something turkey like

okay,good luck,gluck,gluck,gluck,gluck...

5starpool

I never say bye multiple times, although saying that I might throw in a couple of different ones, such as "Good luck, see you now", or "Alright bye, see ya" which I suppose is a similar if less obvious Irish thing.

Precious flower

I don't do it. I think some people play into the stereotype now because it's been noted that Irish people do it. At most I'll say bye twice. However, I have had the bye,bye,bye,bye done to me. Makes it confusing you're never sure when to press end call.:P

jimgoose

Maybe it's code for "I'm shít-sick of talking to you now, in fact I didn't really want to in the first place, so please please God make it end before I injure myself!!"

Oooh mind mind mind mind, will ya mind.

humanji

I always finish calls by shouting "END COMMUNICATION" and slamming the phone down. There's no reason to drag these things out.

unjedilike

It's simply a way of ending the call without fear of more conversation. Most people are in the process of hanging up when they start with the "byes"

123balltv

Must be a fear of not seeing your loved ones again
bye, bye etc have peace of mind knowing they got to say bye.

whatismyname

Caovyn Lineah wrote: »

My mother in law does it and ill never understand why.

I find myself doing it sometimes and I'll never understand why.

Tombo2001

maybe she is afraid the person she is talking to wont stop talking.

The Backwards Man

Most people I know just say 'right' or 'alright' and hang up.

jjbrien

I used to think it was just a mullingar thing when i was there never usually noticed people in Dublin saying it too much so thought it was a country thing.

Spunge

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Most people I know just say 'right' or 'alright' and hang up.

"fck this"

Dr Strange

TheBeardedLady wrote: »

I do it as I feel a simple "bye" is a bit rude though it's subconscious. It's a bit like how the Irish refuse something twice then accept it on the third offer - a direct "yes" would seem rude but a refusal, or even worse, 2 refusals, would seem rude in other cultures.

Different cultures, different ways of doing things. Simple, really. You just adapt and get on with it.

"Ah go on...go on, go on, go on, go on..."




I must say after more than 16 years in Ireland I have taken on the "Bye, bye, bye, bye...." subconsciously. Just doesn't feel right with just a "Bye" or "Bye-bye".

fricatus

ScumLord wrote: »

Irish phone conversations usually go something like..

"Yes, Yes, ya, oh yeah, yeah, yeah"

"no, no, no, ya, ya, ya, ah no, no, no"

"sure, sure, sure, HYeah"

"sure, no bother No bother sure, ya, no bother, yeah"

"bye, bye, bye, bye, bye"

FYP... you missed the "yeah" which is done with an intake of breath, like the person is having a seizure. I've actually known foreign colleagues to turn around with a look of startled concern when Irish people do this.

FunLover18

Why why why why why why why?

In fairness according to the American film and TV industry they don't even say 'bye' they just hang up.

jimgoose

FunLover18 wrote: »

Why why why why why why why?

In fairness according to the American film and TV industry they don't even say 'bye' they just hang up.

Artistic license. Films generally run to about 120 minutes, can you imagine the hole in profits 20 minutes of "Bye, bye, bye, bye..." would make?? :pac:

dd972

Sounds like a 60's Burt Bacharach tune...

One eyed Jack

FunLover18 wrote: »

Why why why why why why why?

In fairness according to the American film and TV industry they don't even say 'bye' they just hang up.

American tv and film does one just as bad as the bye bye whatever -

Ever notice when they answer the phone they always say their own name instead of hello?

I can understand a receptionist stating the name of the business when a person calls, but a person taking a call on their personal phone?

Just never made sense to me. I always know who I'm calling.

Calibos

This isn't just an Irish thing.

There was an Italian student in our shop jabbering away on the phone. She ended the call with, Ciao, Ciao, Ciao....Ciao, Ciao....Ciao, Ciao, Ciao...

Kiwi in IE

When OH and I first got together I naively thought that it was something that was particular to him, that he did on the phone to me because he didn't want to end the calls and I thought it was sweet.

Then we moved to Ireland and I rapidly became aware that it is not particular to him and nor is it sweet when coming from a phone operator at utility companies/banks/government departments etc.

ScumLord

Calibos wrote: »

This isn't just an Irish thing.

There was an Italian student in our shop jabbering away on the phone. She ended the call with, Ciao, Ciao, Ciao....Ciao, Ciao....Ciao, Ciao, Ciao...

Would she not start with ciao, ciao, ciao too?

honerbright

I'm originally from New Zealand and used to think it was really weird / used to mock my friends who did it.

Now I'm one of them

Brendan Bendar

unjedilike wrote: »

It's simply a way of ending the call without fear of more conversation. Most people are in the process of hanging up when they start with the "byes"

That's it, flood the phone with 'byes' and the person can't interject with new stuff.

Kind of carpet bombing strategy, flatten everything and there can be no comeback approach, whole convo ends in a cloud of dust and kind of nuclear mushroom.

That's how I see it, no other explanation surely:eek:

Kiwi in IE

honerbright wrote: »

I'm originally from New Zealand and used to think it was really weird / used to mock my friends who did it.

Now I'm one of them

Hahaha I've not reached that point. I admit to saying 'grand' frequently, potato chips have become 'crisps', 'press' in lieu of cupboard is starting to sneak in on the odd occasion also, but I refuse to join the 'bye bye bye bye bye bye's' or start saying 'yeah' whilst taking an inbreath.

(Potato chips may as well be called crisps, or even better not talked about at all, since you cannot buy reduced cream and onion soup here )

messrs

ScumLord wrote: »

Irish phone conversations usually go something like..

"Yes, Yes, ya, oh yeah, yeah, yeah"

"no, no, no, ya, ya, ya, ah no, no, no"

"sure, sure, sure"

"sure, no bother No bother sure, ya, no bother, yeah"

"bye, bye, bye, bye, bye"

Its like you have been listening to my phonecalls!!

Tombi!

Youse need to answer the phone saying "howareye" about ten times

Kiwi in IE

Brutal Deluxe wrote: »

Youse need to answer the phone saying "howareye" about ten times

G'day!

G'day, g'day, g'day, g'day, g'day, g'day, g'day, g'day, g'day, g'day, g'day, g'day!

fricatus

Calibos wrote: »

This isn't just an Irish thing.

There was an Italian student in our shop jabbering away on the phone. She ended the call with, Ciao, Ciao, Ciao....Ciao, Ciao....Ciao, Ciao, Ciao...

ScumLord wrote: »

Would she not start with ciao, ciao, ciao too?

She might well have, but "ciao" means both "hi" and "bye" in Italian.

Idjit

It's a feature of our culture. Maybe let your British and American colleagues know that it is a sign of politeness and respect to us not to abruptly cut a conversation short. Sometimes I think our little habits like that stem from Gaeilge; nothing is really hurried or ended suddenly in Irish conversation, it meanders pleasantly as if signifying that you're comfortable in the other persons company. Think of how long a greeting in Gaeilge can be, and that's just to say hello!

I would feel like I snubbed the other person if I just said 'bye' once and hung up the phone. We dwindle the conversation down to saying 'bye' repeatedly to ease both parties out of the formality of the phone call. In saying that, I don't mind if the other person abruptly hangs up while I'm still saying my 'byes'!

Kiwi in IE

I think the phrase 'saying your goodbyes' must originate from this country

Either that or you lot take the phrase literally!

Brendan Bendar

Jade182 wrote: »

It's a feature of our culture. Maybe let your British and American colleagues know that it is a sign of politeness and respect to us not to abruptly cut a conversation short. Sometimes I think our little habits like that stem from Gaeilge; nothing is really hurried or ended suddenly in Irish conversation, it meanders pleasantly as if signifying that you're comfortable in the other persons company. Think of how long a greeting in Gaeilge can be, and that's just to say hello!

I would feel like I snubbed the other person if I just said 'bye' once and hung up the phone. We dwindle the conversation down to saying 'bye' repeatedly to ease both parties out of the formality of the phone call. In saying that, I don't mind if the other person abruptly hangs up while I'm still saying my 'byes'!

No it's not,its crept in in the last few years like referring to 'Cork' as 'Koherk', and other despicable habits like the 'like' werd (sic) .

And starting sentences with 'So' .

JYsus don't get me going:mad:

Idjit

Brendan Bendar wrote: »

No it's not,its crept in in the last few years like referring to 'Cork' as 'Koherk', and other despicable habits like the 'like' werd (sic) .

And starting sentences with 'So' .

JYsus don't get me going:mad:

I've heard elderly relatives saying the 'bye bye bye' thing since I was small. It's certainly not new to me anyway. I've never heard of the 'koherk' thing you're talking about. The 'like' thing I've only heard from young teenagers and people from the Southside of Dublin.

Brendan Bendar

Jade182 wrote: »

I've heard elderly relatives saying the 'bye bye bye' thing since I was small. It's certainly not new to me anyway. I've never heard of the 'koherk' thing you're talking about. The 'like' thing I've only heard from young teenagers and people from the Southside of Dublin.

You must lead a very sheltered life is all I can say to that,sorry :P

Idjit

Brendan Bendar wrote: »

You must lead a very sheltered life is all I can say to that,sorry :P

That's a strange thing to assume just based on the specific things you mentioned. But back to the actual topic, I don't believe the 'bye bye bye' thing is new at all.

honerbright

Kiwi in IE wrote: »

Hahaha I've not reached that point. I admit to saying 'grand' frequently, potato chips have become 'crisps', 'press' in lieu of cupboard is starting to sneak in on the odd occasion also, but I refuse to join the 'bye bye bye bye bye bye's' or start saying 'yeah' whilst taking an inbreath.

(Potato chips may as well be called crisps, or even better not talked about at all, since you cannot buy reduced cream and onion soup here )

There's a shop in Co. Tipperary you can buy some from! I almost cried when I found out.

Gwynplaine

My brother does it on the phone, between 10 and 15 times.
Next time he rings, I'll answer and say Hello 10 times. Maybe he hear how ridiculous it sounds.

bur

Family and friends get about eights byes or g'looks but i've usually hung up by the third or fourth. Hate dead air.

Everyone else, they just get one, maybe two.