home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- Newsgroups: alt.usage.english
- Path: sparky!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!jhoskins
- From: jhoskins@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (James M Hoskins)
- Subject: Re: "Have a Nice Day"
- Message-ID: <1993Jan21.194104.2088@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>
- Sender: news@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
- Nntp-Posting-Host: magnusug.magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
- Organization: The Ohio State University
- References: <C17nEE.EIC@mach1.wlu.ca>
- Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 19:41:04 GMT
- Lines: 70
-
- In article <C17nEE.EIC@mach1.wlu.ca> brea9430@mach1.wlu.ca (breadner ken u) wri
- tes:
-
- >This phrase is one of my biggest pet peeves. But its irritation factor
- >(IF) pales into insignificance when compared with the novel North American
- >conversation that I have to go through time after time and day after day:
- >
- >"Hi! How are you?"
- >"Fine. And how are you?"
- >"Fine"...
- >
- >Was there ever a time when people actually listened to each other? I
- >Frankly, I am amazed anyone noticed--because nobody ever listens to the
- >half-baked conversations that pass for "formalities".
- >
- >Does this crap happen only in English? Is it cultural--does it happen on
- >the other side of the Atlantic? Or is it universal?
-
-
- Two people approached each other on a path:
-
- Eh, you're here.
- Here peacefully.
- How's it going?
- Not bad.
- Your wife?
- In peace.
- Your entire family?
- In peace.
- Your children?
- In peace.
- Peace only.
- How's your family?
- Not bad, thank god.
- Thank god.
- Thank god.
- Praise god.
- Peace only.
- Thank god.
- Your health?
- Not bad.
- You are healthy?
- My body is fine.
- Your wife?
- She is healthy.
- Your wife's health?
- She is in peace only.
- Praise god.
- Thank god.
- God is good.
- Peace only.
- Say hello to your family for me.
- I will.
- Have a good day.
-
-
-
- I overheard this conversation in the Sahara Desert. These
- guys didn't know each other and never got past these standard
- formalities. Given your attitude you might want to consider
- yourself lucky.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- :
-