"Do You Mind If I......."

Raphael · 20-03-2004 08:38PM #1

Is it me or is that phrase one of the most useless phrases in the entire english languages

As soon as anyone gets a response, they will, 99% of the time, just say

"Yes you mind, or yes i can?"

What the fuck is the point?? its a god awful waste of time IMO

Am i the only one to notice this?

Capt'n Midnight · 20-03-2004 08:45PM

Not to mention this pre emptive version

"Do you mind if I ask you a question.... ?"

flogen · 20-03-2004 08:52PM

its all solved by the word 'can'

'can I.....?'
'can I ask you a question....?'

You know where you stand with a yes then....

Flogen

kmart6 · 20-03-2004 09:08PM

Do you mind if I give my opinion on this matter

Sorry could'nt resist,it's a phrase that really has no use at all

funky penguin · 20-03-2004 09:14PM

If your just really forward, you can avoid it.

Such as, " Listen Biatch, im gona eat this cake wheather you mind or not!"

Capt'n Midnight · 20-03-2004 09:19PM

Originally posted by flogen
its all solved by the word 'can'

'can I.....?'
'can I ask you a question....?'

You know where you stand with a yes then....

Flogen

So you've just asked someone to tell you if you are capable of asking a question, and you'd expect an answer...

Go back to the kerb for forgetting to say May I

flogen · 21-03-2004 12:05PM

Damn it!!
So a response to 'can i ask you a question?' COULD be 'Im sure you can, but I dont want you to ask me'...

May I it is...... good work Capt'n, your grammatical skills have been noted, you shall have a seat on the last rocket off this planet,

Flogen

echomadman · 21-03-2004 12:18PM

Is it me or is that phrase one of the most useless phrases in the entire english languages

As soon as anyone gets a response, they will, 99% of the time, just say

"Yes you mind, or yes i can?"

If i respond by saying yes, it means "yes I do mind" Generally I qualify it with the "i do mind" to keep it clear what i mean, otherwise I say "No I don't mind"

Anyone that misinterprets a response (takes a yes as meaning that person doesn't mind) or fumbles the answer (i.e. says no meaning that they do mind) has a poor command of the language.

flogen · 21-03-2004 12:38PM

handbag people, no foolin handbags.

perhaps the person answering has a bad command of the language and says yes meaning I dont mind, and no meaning I do....

Flogen

Gordon · 21-03-2004 01:09PM

Someone at work asked if they could ask me a question and instead of saying 'you just did' I said 'No'. And she didn't. Until some time later.

What gets my goat is in the movies - when there's someone hanging on to the edge of a cliff or some suitably dangerous situation - his mate will inevitably say "hang on".

If that ever happens to me I think I'll let go just to spite the bugger.

flogen · 21-03-2004 01:40PM

lol

yeah, reminds me of that naked gun quote, where theres a guy in a wheelchair being introduced to Drebbin, and he says 'please, dont get up'. Although that was meant to be funny.

Flogen

Kold · 22-03-2004 07:13PM

If someone didn't say it then I'd be annoyed. It's good etiquette, up there with please and thankyou. I answer "No, not at all, go ahead." or "Actually, yes I do mind, sorry."

PS, omg Flogen... just omg

Kold.

sceptre · 22-03-2004 07:41PM

Originally posted by flogen
its all solved by the word 'can'

'can I.....?'
'can I ask you a question....?'

I'm sure the last time someone asked me that when I was in a smartypants mood my answer was "Apparently you can"
(I should have added "... but just one and you've used up your allocation for today")

Kold · 22-03-2004 07:46PM

It's because you should use the word "May" as in "May I ask you a question?". Which... is a question in itself but the word may turns it into a request.

emorgan · 23-03-2004 11:34AM

Worse than those who say stupid things while asking questions are the people who mime asking for the time by pointing to their wrists. What is the point?? I know where my watch is!?!! Where the hell is yours? Should i point to my crotch to ask where the fecking toilet is?!!!

ixoy · 23-03-2004 12:21PM

Another case of redundant phrasing is when people say "Which of the following.." when they could say something more simple, such as "Identify the.."

Big Chief · 23-03-2004 01:51PM

QUICK!!!!!

someone call the grammar police...

Stark · 23-03-2004 04:58PM

"Do you mind if I ask you a question?"

Depends on the question dumbass. If I had a problem with questions in general, you would already have been punished for that one.

or

"Can you do me a favour?"

Ignoring the "can/may" fallacy, I'm hardly going to say "yes" straight off am I? "Yes, what is it?" "Sure, here's my kidney, would you like ice for it?".

LegacyUser · 23-03-2004 06:38PM

Originally posted by flogen
Damn it!!
So a response to 'can i ask you a question?' COULD be 'Im sure you can, but I dont want you to ask me'...

or 'You can but you may not' as my mammy would say

Senor_Fudge · 23-03-2004 06:44PM

there was this n00b that always used to say to me uhhhh can i ask u a question
and id think
u already did u horse jacker

Michael Collins · 23-03-2004 06:55PM

Or that classic question back in school when you asked the teacher "Can I go to the toilet?" and he'd reply "I don't know can you?"

Or if it was the crazy, slightly disturbing teacher who had a fascination with sex he'd say "Show me your willy and i'll tell you..."

And that's the truth

LegacyUser · 23-03-2004 07:42PM

you showed him and u liked it !!!

Senor_Fudge · 23-03-2004 07:44PM

****s sake thats not true
and if it is SUE his ass ^_^

Michael Collins · 24-03-2004 06:22PM

you showed him and u liked it !!!

Hmm if that wern't true I'd be very angry...

****s sake thats not true
and if it is SUE his ass ^_^

Well it was kinda funny...he wasn't serious...i don't think

"Do You Mind If I......."

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