# Isn't it strange how "I'm not one to complain" is oft heard by serial complainers? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 25, 2008, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-strange-how-im-not-one-to-complain-is-oft-heard-by-serial-complainers/454248 "2008-06-25T23:48:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/59ef9b/32.png) [@Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_fight_the_hypothetical)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-strange-how-im-not-one-to-complain-is-oft-heard-by-serial-complainers/454248/41 "2008-06-28T00:34:21Z")
[QUOTE=Jragon] I vote we start using these qualifiers in a way to point out how ridiculous they are. [/QUOTE] Normally I don’t drink this much, could you pass me the nitroglycerin? ---
**Author:** ![Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-strange-how-im-not-one-to-complain-is-oft-heard-by-serial-complainers/454248/42 "2008-06-28T00:44:08Z")
I statement I often hear is “I Hate to tell you this but…” and then they tell you something hurtful or unpleasant with a huge grin on their face… Desk clerk:“I hate to tell you this, but we ran out of rooms 5 minutes ago…” Now if they looked sad, or solemn when they said it, it would be one thing, but with a dumb grin and a bitchy attitude it just adds insult to idiocy… The message they send is that they are actually enjoying their ability to inform someone of a distressing event or fact… FML ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-strange-how-im-not-one-to-complain-is-oft-heard-by-serial-complainers/454248/43 "2008-06-28T00:56:45Z")
[QUOTE=StarvingButStrong] Another one: Any sentence that starts with the phrase “To tell the truth” is 99% of the time a lie. [/QUOTE] Yeah I agree. When people say something like “Let me be perfectly honest with you . . . ,” I always cringe inwardly. Because more often then not, they are about to tell an obvious lie. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-strange-how-im-not-one-to-complain-is-oft-heard-by-serial-complainers/454248/44 "2008-06-28T01:34:11Z")
Every time I see this thread, I misread the title as: _Isn’t it strange how “I’m not one to complain” is oft heard by serial **KILLERS**?_ I guess my brain is expecting “killers” to oft follow “serial.” I’m not one to complain, but this Scotchgard totally isn’t working. I’m not one to complain, but the trunk space is AWFUL in my new Lexus hybrid. I’m not one to complain, but this police sketch makes me look really fat. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Ryle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8dc957/32.png) [@Mark\_Ryle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Ryle)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-strange-how-im-not-one-to-complain-is-oft-heard-by-serial-complainers/454248/45 "2008-06-28T03:17:59Z")
[Look, I’m not one to talk about too much posting.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=473384) ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-strange-how-im-not-one-to-complain-is-oft-heard-by-serial-complainers/454248/46 "2008-06-28T03:26:57Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] I have also noticed that. What’s that old saying? People who say, “To make a long story short…” never do. When he says that, do you ever chime in and say, “Too late!” [/QUOTE] Agreed, but if they say “long story short” it usually is the real deal. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-strange-how-im-not-one-to-complain-is-oft-heard-by-serial-complainers/454248/47 "2008-06-28T03:31:14Z")
[QUOTE=China Guy] Agreed, but if they say “long story short” it usually is the real deal. [/QUOTE] “Where did you get alien technology?” “There was this incident with an Alligator and the Kool-Aid Man and something to do with Blizzard Entertainment, it’s kind of complicated, anyway, long story short I’m now overlord of the Earth!” Yeah, long story short usually means “I don’t want to talk about it… you probably wouldn’t understand it anyway.” ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-strange-how-im-not-one-to-complain-is-oft-heard-by-serial-complainers/454248/48 "2008-06-28T04:07:52Z")
I’m not the type to complain… Howzit going with you? ETA - Crap, I missed **TDN** ’s post way back there. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-strange-how-im-not-one-to-complain-is-oft-heard-by-serial-complainers/454248/49 "2008-06-30T21:23:54Z")
[QUOTE=Wallenstein] “With all due respect…” means “I’m about to say something shockingly rude and chauvanistic and lacking utterly in respect” [/QUOTE] Well, to be fair, the listener may not be due any respect, so it works out. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-strange-how-im-not-one-to-complain-is-oft-heard-by-serial-complainers/454248/50 "2008-06-30T21:43:24Z")
[QUOTE=Vinyl Turnip] Not to shit my pants, but… _oof_. [/QUOTE] This is the third time I’ve popped into this thread, and this still makes me giggle. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-strange-how-im-not-one-to-complain-is-oft-heard-by-serial-complainers/454248.md?page=2)