# Tagging "No offense" at the end of your offending remarks still make it offensive.... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 13, 2003, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tagging-no-offense-at-the-end-of-your-offending-remarks-still-make-it-offensive/181560 "2003-06-13T14:05:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tagging-no-offense-at-the-end-of-your-offending-remarks-still-make-it-offensive/181560/21 "2003-06-14T03:28:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shade \* > \*\*It’s sometimes appropriate, isn’t it? > > Sometimes you need to suggest to someone a positive change they can make. This is also a criticism, by definition. Saying “no offense” means no offense is _intended_. If you’re saying “No offense, but you’re a genocidal maniac” it’s offensive whether you mean it to be or not, but if you say “No offense, but you’re crowding me” it’s less offensive if I’m obviously trying to make a polite request than if I’m implying “and must be too fucking rude or stupid to realise.” > > Just because it’s often used sarcastically or inappropriately, doesn’t mean it always is. \*\* I believe it depends on a lot of things. Between close friends, tagging an “no offense” is usually enough; unless the two of them insult each other regularly to the extent of wanting to kill each other. It also depends on the way one says it, and the rest of the word it follows. Something like “No offense, but you are blocking my way” is nothing to get upset over, but “No offense, but you are an inconsiderate selfish moron who is blocking my way to greater enlightenment” is defintely something tactless. Even if that person is really such, saying that to him/her rarely would prompt any changes, so a well meaning friend could have to find another direction or a more tactful way to give advice. Maybe the point is just tagging “No offense”, “IMHO”, “Don’t take it personally” to something tactless and rude doesn’t make it easier to swallow, and doesn’t protect the speaker from the aftermaths of one’s wrath… Of course, all in IMHO 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tagging-no-offense-at-the-end-of-your-offending-remarks-still-make-it-offensive/181560/22 "2003-06-14T03:35:15Z")
No offense, but fuck off. There! I used it at the start. I’m different, I’m cool. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tagging-no-offense-at-the-end-of-your-offending-remarks-still-make-it-offensive/181560/23 "2003-06-14T03:58:12Z")
You’re an imbecile. Of course, I mean that in the best possible sense of the word. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tagging-no-offense-at-the-end-of-your-offending-remarks-still-make-it-offensive/181560/24 "2003-06-14T05:27:12Z")
I’m not saying, I’m just saying… ---
**Author:** ![Netbrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71e660/32.png) [@Netbrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Netbrian)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tagging-no-offense-at-the-end-of-your-offending-remarks-still-make-it-offensive/181560/25 "2003-06-15T02:39:33Z")
I have never understood that phrase. Were it to be excised from the English language, I would shed no tears. It seems to serve a purpose of solely convincing the speaker that he or she is being polite. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tagging-no-offense-at-the-end-of-your-offending-remarks-still-make-it-offensive/181560/26 "2003-06-15T05:55:36Z")
Now, don’t get me wrong… but you’re all jerks… offense intended. And I can say that because some of my best enemies are jerks. No offense to my enemies, of course. I’m just trying to say… I can’t imagine why any of you would have any reason to keep on living, let alone producing offspring like yourselves… but that’s just my opinion. Not that there’s anything wrong with being a jerk, it’s just not for me… more your style. I’m just trying to be helpful, because if your best acquaintance can’t point out your jerkiness to you, who can? ---
**Author:** ![RexDart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@RexDart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RexDart)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tagging-no-offense-at-the-end-of-your-offending-remarks-still-make-it-offensive/181560/27 "2003-06-15T06:12:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NoClueBoy \* > \*\*try using **bless his/her little heart** > > I can’t remember where I saw this… > > He’s just as stupid as the day is long, _bless his little heart._ > > She’s so ugly she makes the sun go away, _bless her little heart._ > > This is the stupidest Pit thread I’ve read all day, _bless your little heart._ > \*\* I vote for this one. It’s the most condescending and patronizing way to ridicule somebody, definitely the way to go if you’re interested in really ticking somebody off. ---
**Author:** ![Ferris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ferris/32/11573_2.png) [@Ferris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferris)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tagging-no-offense-at-the-end-of-your-offending-remarks-still-make-it-offensive/181560/28 "2003-06-16T03:46:22Z")
I had a friend who used to say, “Everything before the ‘but’ is bullshit”. Whether in the context of something like _“No offence, but…”_ or _“I meant to have that finished earlier, but…”_, I think it’s usually pretty accurate! ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tagging-no-offense-at-the-end-of-your-offending-remarks-still-make-it-offensive/181560/29 "2003-06-16T12:40:30Z")
Some of my best friends are \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tagging-no-offense-at-the-end-of-your-offending-remarks-still-make-it-offensive/181560/30 "2003-06-16T13:00:51Z")
You’re one of the good ones. ---
**Author:** ![Misery\_Loves\_Co](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@Misery\_Loves\_Co](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misery_Loves_Co)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tagging-no-offense-at-the-end-of-your-offending-remarks-still-make-it-offensive/181560/31 "2003-06-16T18:14:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gobear \* > \*\*You’re one of the good ones. \*\* _best rejoined with_ “ahhhh. . . and apparently you’re one of the bad ones.” ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tagging-no-offense-at-the-end-of-your-offending-remarks-still-make-it-offensive/181560/32 "2003-06-16T19:52:54Z")
I disagree with the OP. No offense. Regards, Shodan [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tagging-no-offense-at-the-end-of-your-offending-remarks-still-make-it-offensive/181560.md?page=1)