The decidedly condescending tone with which many people use this simple phrase is often more than sufficient to initiate full-blown irritation, where I’m concerned. Like when the ushers say “Excuse me, you can’t smoke in here” during mass or “Excuse me, but that’s not an ashtray”. Also annoying is the ubiquitous “Pardon Me”. “Pardon Me, but the manufacture of explosives aboard commercial airliners is prohibited” and “Pardon me, you’re standing on my throat” are often all that is required to send me into a rage.
A little politeness is in order, I think. Far too many of Dr. Lechter’s “free-range rude” roaming around out there.
Billy <—smoke free for two months now and still in a really, really, really bad mood about it. No, I mean a REALLY bad mood. No, worse than that.