I can see this both ways… I was at Sea World, and a guy asked what kind of fish it was that were being thrown to the Sea Lions. The docent said, “Smelt.” The guy said, “They sure do!”
The docent looked at me, half peeved, half philosophical, and muttered, “Gosh, first time I’ve ever heard that one.”
It would be nice if people gave a little more thought to what they say. But, as you note, it’s the 999th time the poor docent has heard that joke, but for the tourist, it’s a really rare opportunity to cut loose with a pun.
I feel like that’s slightly different. The tourist could think for a minute and figure that he wasn’t the first comedian to think up that witty repartee. The person asking, “is that a labradoodle?” doesn’t even know it’s an offensive question. Because on its face, it’s not offensive.
It’s like the guy who was posting a few weeks ago about how people should “stop fucking asking how old my baby is.” How is anyone to know that’s a question worthy of scorn?
Oops; you’re right. It’s a slightly different example.
Much better example. It’s such a perfectly natural question to ask, and, yeah, one might get darn tired of it, but there really isn’t any way around it. It’s a way of trying to show interest and be engaging.
(I often engage in conversation with strangers, but in a declarative form, not a question. If I’m waiting in line with someone who has really remarkable tattoos, I’ll sometimes say, “Nice ink!” If I meet someone on the hiking path with a dog on a leash, I’ll say, “What a lovely dog!” Very few people will take a random compliment amiss!)
I prolly shouldn’t have raised them as an example, as it isn’t really that much of an issue there. It does happen…but there is so much good, and fun, and real education, also, that, on balance, the benefits WAY outweigh the drawbacks.
I could have mentioned Mensa, or some science fiction conventions, or even the SDMB…
(". . . Major idiosyncracies can be properly ascribed to the mass.* Traces of nobility, gentleness and courage persist in all people, do what we will to stamp out the trend. So, too, do those characteristics which are ugly. . . .
Quimby’s Law (passed by the town of Quimby after the trouble with Harold Porch in 1897)." Walt Kelly, Pogo.)
To all the good SCAdians out there, my apologies.
It isn’t all awful. Really. I mean, yes, there are the snarkers, but while I was never a member, I often go to their dance classes and on the whole they are very welcoming. Plus they want you to get involved. People trying to lend me garb and all.
The biggest complaint I have is that they don’t have a mixer or any kind of welcoming event in which you don’t have to wear garb. All of the events require garb, and it becomes a vicious circle. I don’t want to get garb unless I see if I like the events, but to go to the event…etc.
I really didn’t get the guy who was irritated about people asking how old the kid was. That is one of my favorite questions! Look, you have this little human, and there is only so much I can ask.
Besides, aren’t new parents supposed to bore the socks off everyone around them with anything and everything about their child? I know I would if I had a kid.