Excuse me please

KTRIC · 31-05-2007 12:47PM

In every other European country they said "excuse me" (local equivalent).

No one has yet to explain to me why it's not accepted in Ireland.

The Hill Billy · 31-05-2007 12:49PM

To be pedantic for a moment...
"Sorry" implies that you did something wrong. (Which you didn't.)
"Excuse me" or "pardon me" would be be the correct term to use to get someone's attention, such as wanting to pass them on an escalator.

OP - At the end of the day, you attempted to pass them in a mannerly fashion. They were rude by not accepting this.

KTRIC wrote:

I'm from a normal working class backround

Maybe the were shocked to see someone of your status on an escalator. Really, you should know by now that you should have used the staff staircase! Escalators are for the middle classes.

Tar.Aldarion · 31-05-2007 12:50PM

KTRIC wrote:

In every other European country they said "excuse me" (local equivalent).

No one has yet to explain to me why it's not accepted in Ireland.

It is, I say it all the time.

Actually, I usually say it in french out of habit. Been saying it for six or seven years in french, without thinking about it.

cson · 31-05-2007 12:50PM

KTRIC wrote:

In every other European country they said "excuse me" (local equivalent).

No one has yet to explain to me why it's not accepted in Ireland.

Probably considered as being pretentious.

Either way I can't understand why you'd apologise (excuse me? for what.) to go past someone anyway. Bulldoze them out of the way. Especially the old people. They can't fight back.

Duggy747 · 31-05-2007 12:53PM

Mrs_Doyle wrote:

I always say, 'Sorry, excuse me' and I might even throw in another 'sorry' at the end, whenever I am trying to get by someone.

I can't explain why, I just do, I suppose it's just that bit more courteous.

Ha Ha, I do the exact same thing and then I just realise "Wait, did I say that right?"

Dyr · 31-05-2007 12:56PM

just make ambulance noises as you push past them, works for me

31-05-2007 01:05PM

Gauge wrote:

When I was in the US last summer I got into the habit of having to say 'excuse me' when squeezing past people because 'sorry' would usually be followed by a puzzled expression and 'Oh, it's ok.'

Hah, that made me laugh.

I always say, "sorry, excuse me" as well.

seamus · 31-05-2007 01:06PM

It's the Irish inferiority complex, but thankfully we're slowly losing it. The Irish say "Sorry" for everything, not just to push by you.

It's the same effect as politely refusing a cup of tea or a drink when it's offered, even you want it. It's polite to refuse the first one, polite for the host to offer again, and polite for the guest to accept then (even if they don't want it). There's very much an "I don't want to rock the boat or cause offence" attitude in Ireland which has been around for yonks.

boneless · 31-05-2007 01:08PM

KTRIC wrote:

Ah f*ck it then :mad: . Next person that gets in my way is getting a kick in the back of the knee cap.

Try "get outta the way ya coffin dodger" next time...:p

Mrs_Doyle · 31-05-2007 01:10PM

seamus wrote:

It's the Irish inferiority complex, but thankfully we're slowly losing it. The Irish say "Sorry" for everything, not just to push by you.

It's the same effect as politely refusing a cup of tea or a drink when it's offered, even you want it. It's polite to refuse the first one, polite for the host to offer again, and polite for the guest to accept then (even if they don't want it). There's very much an "I don't want to rock the boat or cause offence" attitude in Ireland which has been around for yonks.

That is exactly what my Dad tells me on a regular basis, you sound just like him.

Forever giving out about how we are a nation of 'suck holes and lick arses'.

Oriel · 31-05-2007 01:51PM

anniehoo wrote:

so putting sorry in front of it makes it sound better and less offensive..its weird!

No, sorry for disturbing them.

Red Hand · 31-05-2007 01:54PM

If you are outsider in Dublin, the etiquette is usually,

"Out of my way, plebs!":)

thelordofcheese · 31-05-2007 01:59PM

seamus wrote:

It's the Irish inferiority complex, but thankfully we're slowly losing it. The Irish say "Sorry" for everything, not just to push by you.

It's the same effect as politely refusing a cup of tea or a drink when it's offered, even you want it. It's polite to refuse the first one, polite for the host to offer again, and polite for the guest to accept then (even if they don't want it). There's very much an "I don't want to rock the boat or cause offence" attitude in Ireland which has been around for yonks.

Ahh, i was wondering why i keep doing that. Mystery solved.

next time i'll say yes right away, then punch them in the throat. Gotta make up for all that false humility somehow.

olaola · 31-05-2007 02:08PM

Mrs_Doyle wrote:

I always say, 'Sorry, excuse me'

Yeah - I'm the same. I say 'sorry' to get their attention, and then say 'excuse me' as I pass.
If I'm in a crowd it usually just ends up being sorryexcusemesorryexcusemesorryexcuseme...

Jonesy3110 · 31-05-2007 02:19PM

I used to say sorry, but then i was like "what the hell am I apologising for Im not the one getting in peoples way!" So then I started saying excuse me. I see it as a shortened form of "Excuse me, may I get by"

AlmightyCushion · 31-05-2007 02:27PM

Just push the fúckers onto the road they'll get the idea.

Ruu_Old · 31-05-2007 02:31PM

Just give them a good hard shoulder and if they fall say "excuse me", otherwise nothing at all and add a smug grin.

I would normally say "excuse me" or "pardon me".

Schlemm · 31-05-2007 02:39PM

seamus wrote:

It's the Irish inferiority complex, but thankfully we're slowly losing it. The Irish say "Sorry" for everything, not just to push by you.

It's the same effect as politely refusing a cup of tea or a drink when it's offered, even you want it. It's polite to refuse the first one, polite for the host to offer again, and polite for the guest to accept then (even if they don't want it). There's very much an "I don't want to rock the boat or cause offence" attitude in Ireland which has been around for yonks.

That's what it is exactly, but as someone mentioned earlier, we've also lost our manners. So what you get now is all these eejits ploughing their way like there's no tomorrow through a crowd or off a bus or something, apologising profusely, but completely insincerely...:rolleyes:
Seems to be more common in Dublin than down the country too.

robinph · 31-05-2007 02:40PM

Deleted User wrote:

I always say, "sorry, excuse me" as well.

I would have thought that "Excuse me, sorry" would have been the more correct form.

As in "excuse me" I'm about to come past you so make way, followed by a "sorry" once you have already pushed them out of the way for being too slow.

Dord · 31-05-2007 02:56PM

I just tell them to fook off! that'll learn them good!

WindSock · 31-05-2007 03:01PM

I generally mutter something along the lines of 'sorryscusemethanks'

cooperguy · 31-05-2007 03:08PM

People say sorry meaning Sorry for disturbing/inconveniencing/moving you. Its as appropriate as excuse me

karen3212 · 31-05-2007 03:23PM

seamus wrote:

It's the Irish inferiority complex, but thankfully we're slowly losing it. The Irish say "Sorry" for everything, not just to push by you.

It's the same effect as politely refusing a cup of tea or a drink when it's offered, even you want it. It's polite to refuse the first one, polite for the host to offer again, and polite for the guest to accept then (even if they don't want it). There's very much an "I don't want to rock the boat or cause offence" attitude in Ireland which has been around for yonks.

I remember having to refuse twice.

I was told it came from the days when people had nothing. Therefore if they really didn't have anything, they'd drop it after the second asking.

Anyway I think the excuse me is something to do with the english language and not wanting to use it properly.

I don't like it when people say excuse me loudly.

I say sorry , excuse me sorry..... real culchie like

monkeyfudge · 31-05-2007 03:31PM

All these niceties are very confusing by times.

I remember once I was sitting on a bus and a woman hit me in the head with her bag as she was getting off... she said "sorry" and I hadn't a clue what I was supposed to say in response so I just blurted out a "thank you" which made me sound like some sort of depraved masochist.

NeMiSiS · 31-05-2007 03:33PM

From hence forth I shall say "Pardon me" or possibly "C'emere yung wan will ya give us a go on yer fanny" whichever I deem to be more polite out the time.
Or of course if you are a lady you could say "C'mere yung felleh an gis a go on yer mickey"
TK

Jigsaw · 31-05-2007 03:54PM

NeMiSiS wrote:

From hence forth I shall say "Pardon me" or possibly "C'emere yung wan will ya give us a go on yer fanny" whichever I deem to be more polite out the time.
Or of course if you are a lady you could say "C'mere yung felleh an gis a go on yer mickey"
TK

:eek: :eek:

That seems like a good approach

:rolleyes:

monkeyfudge · 31-05-2007 03:56PM

NeMiSiS wrote:

From hence forth I shall say "Pardon me" or possibly "C'emere yung wan will ya give us a go on yer fanny" whichever I deem to be more polite out the time.

Remember... if the person in question is American you'd be asking to sodomise them.

zuutroy · 31-05-2007 03:57PM

monkeyfudge wrote:

she said "sorry" and I hadn't a clue what I was supposed to say in response so I just blurted out a "thank you" which made me sound like some sort of depraved masochist.

An oul 'no bother' would do the trick.

neGev · 31-05-2007 04:15PM

monkeyfudge wrote:

I remember once I was sitting on a bus and a woman hit me in the head with her bag as she was getting off... she said "sorry" and I hadn't a clue what I was supposed to say in response so I just blurted out a "thank you" which made me sound like some sort of depraved masochist.

Post of the day.

Sam Vimes · 31-05-2007 05:02PM

cson wrote:

Meh, just throw them a "Outta the ****ing way old timers!"

oooo la dee da. kick in the hole ftw

Hill Billy wrote:

To be pedantic for a moment...
"Sorry" implies that you did something wrong. (Which you didn't.)
"Excuse me" or "pardon me" would be be the correct term to use to get someone's attention, such as wanting to pass them on an escalator.

surely excuse me or pardon me is asking them to excuse you for something or pardon you for something. why would you have to be pardoned if you'd done nothing wrong?

Excuse me please

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