"Can I have a word?"

My eyes keep being drawn to the Latest from Gransnet column where they invite us to have a 'sneak peak' at February book of the month.

That is just WRONG!!!

JOKE GNHQ

Don't fuckin' delete!

Mwah.

orf

Stuff

words

other

In

My apologies to all who I have upset with my few, brief, posts. It was sleepy bedtime posting.

Just R E L A X.

Phoenix

Someone's stays need loosening off? Just a teeny bit?

Amusingly, my grandson, aged 9, has absorbed the message about 'can' and 'may' a bit too thoroughly. He has taken to saying - for example - 'Please may you pass me the mayonnaise?' He is an exceptionally polite child.

Buggering off for a bit now.

More jerky thinking. Keep away if it bugs you! (We need a "Polite Alert! Keep away if feeling irritable" emoticon)

I was reading something else totally unconnected, not even on GN, when I remembered that my archery coach says "Can I have a word?" in the kindest possible way. When he has coached me, which is rarely because I don't fit the "normal" pattern in archery either, what he has said has always been useful and it has always been said kindly and respectfully. Another reason for not minding the expression at all.

I can see why it would annoy someone who'd only had ticking off kinds of experiences though.

Exactly, ffinn.

I realise one isn't supposed to be irritating but unfortunately one often is without meaning to be so, as are quite a lot of other gransnet posters on occasion. I suggest we live with it #tolerance

Jerky thinking, phoenix. It's quite irritating for the thinker as well.

When wanting to leave the table, my kids just said "Can I get down now?"

The way I see it, as they were polite enough to ask, I wasn't about to correct them about the niceties of grammar.

Actually I think the most youareinforabollocking version is, "Might I have a word?"
Minefield indeed. I used to say "Ah bon" in response to information until I was told that it was used to express disapproval.

Innit. (shudder)

Quite irritating

Is actually.

This business of 1 line posts.

Not that nerdiness is always wrong, but in this case it's just nagging.