Is " EXCUSE YOU" proper ettiquite?

Question

I live in new york and ride the subway to work like over 2 million other new yorker. i swiped my metrocard to enter the station this was at 6:30 in the a.m. on sunday. no sooner i cleared the turnstyle i came to a complete stop to put my card away when a lady said loudly " excuse you" amazed at the statement i turned around and smiled as if to wait for some sign to indicate that she was only kidding. well there was no smile and even anger in her voice as she walked onto the platform. even though there were two other turnsyles she could have used, i know and recognize that i was in the way, but is it proper to use that term in an sarcastic tone?

Answer 1

She was pretty rude. She could've just said, "excuse me" politely. But, if I were you, I would always be sure to stand clear of the way before you come to a complete stop to put something away. Thats what I do. I get irritated sometimes when people will enter or leave someplace, and as soon as they get inside or outside the doorway, they stop, stand there for whatever reason with no consideration that others are right behind them trying to get through.

Answer 2

Excuse you is NEVER polite!
She could have used the other turnstiles, she could have politely waited or simply said "oh, excuse me, I didn't know you were stopping" (politely, not in a sarcastic tone).
This was at 6:30 am on a SUNDAY people...no one is in that big of a hurry at that time of day & if they are, they can use the other lane!

Answer 3

Etiquette is what we use to lubricate social functioning. Typical of less-educated people is their manner of indicating that *their* importance in the world is greater than yours. (The rationale for this might stem from an inner belief that they are, in fact, less worthy, so they compensate by being rude.)

"Excuse you" was her way of indicating that you had wronged her in some manner (perhaps by going to slowly through the turnstile) so she used this rhetorical cuteness to let you know that you are beneath her social level because you made her slow down.

Let it go- she needs more help than you can provide.

Answer 4

This is what I like to refer to as a "No you didn't' moment!

No it is not proper, Consider your self blessed in the fact that you do not belong to what I like to refer to as the less fortunate, Lucky for you that had the grace, dignity, and veracity to handle this most ill advised act of aggression, and hostility, and I am willing to bet that she was wearing ugly shoes. As of late it seems that poor people are always bitter and wear ugly shoes, but I cant help but wonder what came first, the bitterness or ugly shoes?

Answer 5

While it's never a good idea to come to a complete stop if there are people behind you and you can continue walking, she now has a few extra centuries in purgatory awaiting her. A more appropriate entreaty on her part would have been "May I come in?"

Answer 6

Is it proper for you to just stand there when there are people behind you? I don't think that the woman was out of line at all; in fact I wouldn't begrudge her for physically shoving you out of the way, since you don't seem to have any regard for anyone but yourself.

Answer 7

Why on earth would you come to a dead stop in the middle of the pathway? THAT seems exceptionally rude. Her comment was considerably nicer than mine would have been.

Answer 8

630am is very busy in the subway and you 'came to a complete stop'. You were probable in the ladys ways...

Harsh, maybe, rude, maybe.

Answer 9

Its certainly not proper - but isn't it sad that we've grown accustomed to it to the point people think it might be?

Answer 10

no i think "excuse you" can only be used rudely. i cannot think of one example where "excuse you" is polite... it is usually only said to correct someone else.