# What words, when uttered, will cause your friend to run shrieking away from you?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-when-uttered-will-cause-your-friend-to-run-shrieking-away-from-you/458215>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [July 30, 2008, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-when-uttered-will-cause-your-friend-to-run-shrieking-away-from-you/458215 "2008-07-30T09:06:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![phil417](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@phil417](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phil417)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2008, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-when-uttered-will-cause-your-friend-to-run-shrieking-away-from-you/458215/41 "2008-08-03T23:09:13Z")

</div>

“Wouldn’t you like to be financially independent? I’d like to invite you & your lovely spouse to dinner, when we can discuss the advantages of mid/multilevel marketing.” Welcome to Amway, friends. This nonsense has broken up both friends & family in my circle.

Love, Phil

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-when-uttered-will-cause-your-friend-to-run-shrieking-away-from-you/458215/42 "2008-08-05T12:32:30Z")

</div>

I’ve never tried it but I would expect"I think I’ve shat myself,do you think you could give me hand to clean up because its awkward reaching back around there "to do the trick.

But being honest I suspect that when I utter the words"When I was in (name country here)" people start reaching for the pill bottle,or testing out razors on their wrists.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2008, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-when-uttered-will-cause-your-friend-to-run-shrieking-away-from-you/458215/43 "2008-08-05T15:05:07Z")

</div>

Not just my friends; this works for everybody:

“I’m moving the weekend after next. Can I get a hand? I just have some furniture and a few boxes I need help carrying to the truck. Please? Pizza and beer. Come on, people, it’s pizza and beer! Please?”

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-when-uttered-will-cause-your-friend-to-run-shrieking-away-from-you/458215.md?page=2)