# Um, fuck you, you condescending fuck. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 9, 2004, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-fuck-you-you-condescending-fuck/268413 "2004-10-09T23:19:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-fuck-you-you-condescending-fuck/268413/81 "2004-10-11T06:13:36Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > .especially among the salt-of-the-earth horse and stable set! You don’t use salt on horse meat. You use horseradish. Mm’kay? Seemed to come across perfectly well, even with no smilies, MOTHERFUCKER! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-fuck-you-you-condescending-fuck/268413/82 "2004-10-11T06:31:46Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > You don’t use salt on horse meat. You use horseradish. Mm’kay? You better be careful! **EddyTeddyFreddy** _will have your ass!_ Mm’kay? (Yeah, I gotcha smilies…right heah!) 😃😃😃😃 😃 ---
**Author:** ![hildea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ebca7d/32.png) [@hildea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hildea)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-fuck-you-you-condescending-fuck/268413/83 "2004-10-11T08:12:52Z")
Um, add me to the list of those who use um and er interchangably - to denote a small hesitation, one of those “I’m not really sure about this” sounds. If I wanted to be condescending, I certainly wouldn’t trust those two small anonymous letters to bring across that message. I realise that it can be hard to grasp when you sit safely at home in front of your computer, but this Internet-thing is a pretty big place. The people who write here aren’t just you and your neighbours, there are people from different parts of the world. Some of them might speak different dialects than you do. Some even speak _other languages_ as their mother toungues! So while “um” might have a crystal clear meaning in your back yard, you might want to consider the possibility that other people (feel free to substitute “ignorant furriners” for “other people” if it makes you feel better) just _might_ have different interpretations of that word. _One of the paragraphs above is meant to be condescending, the other one’s not. Determining which one is which is left as an excercise to the reader._ ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-fuck-you-you-condescending-fuck/268413/84 "2004-10-11T13:20:25Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > You better be careful! **EddyTeddyFreddy** _will have your ass!_ Thanks for the offer, but [I’ve already got one](http://community.webshots.com/photo/145850906/145853180cWLBhb). ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-fuck-you-you-condescending-fuck/268413/85 "2004-10-11T14:31:01Z")
And a mighty cute (although hairy) one it is, too. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-fuck-you-you-condescending-fuck/268413/86 "2004-10-11T14:57:02Z")
> [@chatelaine](#): > > I don’t mind it so much in arguments – it’s when it crops up during an absolute friendly conversation/thread that it bugs me. > > And I got your smilies right here, bub. > > :rolleyes: 😃 :mad: :dubious: :wally > > Hee. But yeah… overuse of smilies warrants a smiting, as well. Slight hijack, but with the smilies, not only does overuse bug me, it also really chaps my ass when people use smilies in the middle of a rant or put-down as though they’re trying to tone it down or give themselves an out in case people pile on them for going off on a particular poster for something completely inconsequential or nonsensical. That way they can say, “Well I was just joking. Duh. What do you think I used a smilie for?” or “Jeez, can’t you take a joke?” Don’t have an example, but I’ve seen a couple of people really hammer someone with insults over a perceived slight, then add a couple of smilies and an “in my opinion, anyway” as though that exempts them from being inaccurate or getting piled on for insulting someone out of left field. The “um, no” thing makes me nuts, too. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-fuck-you-you-condescending-fuck/268413/87 "2004-10-11T15:24:13Z")
Yarr, that steering wheel in me pants drives me nuts. As for **ETF** having my ass… no wonder my fields ain’t plowed. GIVE IT BACK! ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-fuck-you-you-condescending-fuck/268413/88 "2004-10-11T15:24:52Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > Clue-by-Four here I am so stealing this… ---
**Author:** ![Genghis\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/45deac/32.png) [@Genghis\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genghis_Bob)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-fuck-you-you-condescending-fuck/268413/89 "2004-10-11T15:28:03Z")
> [@1920s Style "Death Ray"](#): > > I think _um…_ can sound a little like fake hesitation. Like “um… [let me think about that] no, YOUR WRONG”. It is subtle but _um_ can definitely sound negative. No doubt it depends a lot on your ability to pick tone from written words. Some people hear it when it’s not there others are completely oblivious YMMV. Um, I think you meant “no, \*\*you’re \*\* wrong.” Just sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![Greathouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greathouse/32/2992_2.png) [@Greathouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greathouse)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-fuck-you-you-condescending-fuck/268413/90 "2004-10-11T17:03:04Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Nope. It’s Mr. Mackey, the counselor. :smack: D’oh ---
**Author:** ![GomiBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@GomiBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GomiBoy)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-fuck-you-you-condescending-fuck/268413/91 "2004-10-11T17:07:16Z")
um, sorry? If I promise to only use it on idiots, can I still do it, please? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-fuck-you-you-condescending-fuck/268413/92 "2004-10-11T17:48:55Z")
> [@snermy](#): > > But thank _you_ for using your chance to correct us in a public forum. Since you aren’t in it to feel superior, I hope it made you feel just a little more petty today! See? Now THAT’S condescending! Real condescension is only subtle if the receiver is a hopeless dullard. Seeing condescension in er, uh, or um _when there is no like tone in the rest of the sentence_ indicates the person is overly sensitive to nuances that do not, in actuality, exist. Perhaps she skipped a dose today. ← real condescension ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-fuck-you-you-condescending-fuck/268413/93 "2004-10-12T00:48:43Z")
You don’t like “Um”? I think “Listen” is much, much worse than “Um”. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-fuck-you-you-condescending-fuck/268413/94 "2004-10-12T02:05:47Z")
‘Nope’ and ‘Yep’ feature strongly in putdowns. ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-fuck-you-you-condescending-fuck/268413/95 "2004-10-12T07:20:34Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > Like I’ve ever seen _South Park_ or had even heard of it until a few days ago. First time I heard it, I thought it was the place JR and Sue-Ellen (?) lived. Listen, um, nope. I’m fairly sure it was South _Fork_. Yep, definitely South _Fork_.😉 ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-fuck-you-you-condescending-fuck/268413/96 "2004-10-12T07:53:37Z")
> [@TeaElle](#): > > Listen, um, nope. I’m fairly sure it was South _Fork_. Yep, definitely South _Fork_.😉 Like I care. It was merely an analogy, but the irony seems to be a tad too subtle for some people around here. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-fuck-you-you-condescending-fuck/268413/97 "2004-10-12T08:06:43Z")
> [@Genghis Bob](#): > > Um, I think you meant “no, \*\*you’re \*\* wrong.” > > Just sayin’. Um, no, I meant “ **your** wrong” as in the wrong that belongs to you. Kind of like " **my** bad"except it’s not a “bad” it’s a “wrong” and it’s not mine it’s yours, m’kay? Yeah, ok, I meant **you’re**. ---
**Author:** ![Genghis\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/45deac/32.png) [@Genghis\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genghis_Bob)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-fuck-you-you-condescending-fuck/268413/98 "2004-10-12T11:39:09Z")
[QUOTE=1920s Style “Death Ray”] Um, no, I meant “ **your** wrong” as in the wrong that belongs to you. Kind of like " **my** bad"except it’s not a “bad” it’s a “wrong” and it’s not mine it’s yours, m’kay?. . . [QUOTE] Um, er, uh. . . “thank you?” ---
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-fuck-you-you-condescending-fuck/268413/99 "2004-10-12T15:42:03Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > > [@TeaElle](#): > > > > Listen, um, nope. I’m fairly sure it was South Fork. Yep, definitely South Fork.Like I care. It was merely an analogy, but the irony seems to be a tad too subtle for some people around here. > > Like I care. It was merely an analogy, but the irony seems to be a tad too subtle for some people around here. Um … nice whoosh there **TeaElle**. 😉 Anyhoo … ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-fuck-you-you-condescending-fuck/268413/100 "2004-10-12T21:58:57Z")
Thank you, **Shrinking Violet**. You know, in my 3+ years on this board, that’s my first intentional whooshing. It felt awfully good. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/um-fuck-you-you-condescending-fuck/268413.md?page=4)