Is that ever an appropriate way to begin a sentence?
Today my now-former friend said to me, "No offense, but . . ." and then a REALLY mean comment. I wish I had said, "No offense, but you're a jackass."
If you ever start a sentence with "No Offense, but . . ." JUST STOP TALKING.
2007-01-08 17:31:01 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
No offense but....I LOVE YOU !
2007-01-08 17:34:54 · answer #1 · answered by kid 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Whenever I hear someone say that at the beginning of a sentence, it's a sure bet that the speaker is just about to say something totally offensive. I agree with you - it's best to keep your mouth shut.
2007-01-08 19:59:35 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree that it is usually a nasty way to stick the knife and pretend that one is being concerned with one's feelings...
It's similar to the people who practice "one upsmanship" and if you say something like, "Such and such happened to me..." they say, "That's nothing, do you know what happened to me?" Well, by gum, it IS something... to me.
I'm glad you didn't say, "No offense, but you're a jackass"-- because 2 wrongs never make a right, and in the long run it is much better just to have let these barbs and snipes go and to find someone more worthy of our friendship to hang out with.
God bless!
2007-01-08 17:37:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, it is a bad way to start out a conversation. I agree with you. Whatever follows is usually going to be very offensive to the other person~
2007-01-08 17:35:00 · answer #4 · answered by Jaysangl 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Odd, the first thing I was going to respond with when I saw the headline was "No offense but- means " I wanna tell you something, but I don't want to hear the crap afterwards""
If someone says that to you, it's because they really don't care if you're offended or not, they want to say what's on their mind, and they don't want any backlash
2007-01-08 17:38:17 · answer #5 · answered by Honesty given here! 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree, and it annoys me when I hear it said. The idiot using it thinks that if he qualifies his offense by saying that, it negates the offense. So if you are offended, you are the cad.
"I don't mean to hurt your feelings, but.....(I AM, because I am an insensitive fool who wants you to think I am not)"
"I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but.....(YOU WILL, so who cares---I will say it anyway)
"I don't mean to change the subject, but....(I WILL, because what you are talking about totally bores me...)
Those phrases make me cringe.
2007-01-08 17:40:33 · answer #6 · answered by * 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can be used in a way that you are REALLY not wanting to offend someone.
Like. "No offense but why do you think that why"?
I might come out the wrong way if you would ask someone "why do you think that way."?
2007-01-08 18:05:17 · answer #7 · answered by LadyCatherine 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In the right context it's meant as a way to "soften the blow" of some true/harsh opinions. It has become a cliche now, like a way to dismis the rudeness of your remark. I do agree however, its rarely used sincerely anymore.
2007-01-08 17:36:09 · answer #8 · answered by Rachel Green 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think it depends on what she was telling you. Maybe she was trying to be a good friend by telling you something that people have been talking about behind your back and thought you should know. Like when someone has bad BO and no one wants to tell them, but they make fun of them behind their back.
2007-01-08 18:32:32 · answer #9 · answered by Ryan's mom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a tendency of saying no offense to people who offend me.
2007-01-08 17:35:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
when you start of the sentence that way you're supposed to respond like :none taken" or say that it did offend you
2007-01-08 17:39:06 · answer #11 · answered by MUERTE 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋