You’ve made yourself clear.
Now make yourself gone.
FTR, I can almost hear it in a stadium “…Are You Ready For Some * Jerkball!?*”
Not quite the same thing but . . . I had a good boss in my last job, but he was prone to occasionally try a new “leadership style” based on something he read on the Internet. One time he explained something or other to me, then ended it with, “Now repeat what I just said back to me.” Sorry, we’re not in the military, and I couldn’t help but feel offended, although I couldn’t put my finger on just exactly why. No, I didn’t repeat it back to him, and he soon stopped that bit of foolishness.
I’ve never really gotten this thrown at me (despite years in customer-facing roles) but it seems like a bit of a trick question.
If you say, “yes”, then the person takes it as assent that you agree to the terms. If you say “no”, then the response is of course taken to mean “you’re unclear” rather than “not agreed”.
If someone tried this tactic with me, I’d say “You’ve made it very clear what you want”. Then I would treat him exactly as I treat all nasty, abusive people who throw their weight around with employees who can’t treat them nasty back: extremely carefully and with no special considerations given.
Because having to parrot back something that someone said upon demand is the level of treatment you’d expect as a toddler, not as a professional adult?
I use that one at work all the time usually when explaining something complicated to a client who I sense isn’t understanding what I’m saying. Does that mean I’m a jerkball?
When used by someone in legitimate authority, it can be rude, or not, depending on the circumstances. Bosses, parents, and cops are all allowed to give orders, at least some of the time. It can be used to make clear that a statement is an order, not a suggestion, acknowledging that objections exist but overriding them.
The response “Crystal” acknowledges that an order has been giving, and stresses that you still disagree, but are submitting.
When used by people who are NOT in legitimate authority, it’s usually either an attempt to deliberately bully someone, or by someone who thinks they have more authority than they do.
–
Such as customers, as mentioned. No, actually, people in retail don’t work for you personally. No, they’re not responsible for what you imagine you were promised or think you are entitled to. Yes, you are absolutely free to shop elsewhere, and honestly, everyone would prefer you did.
I suspect the reason people use phrases like this is that they have been trained to behave this way by bad TV and movies.
An unspoken premise underlying the concept of “hero” is that his mojo is so powerful that he can, by force of personality, bend people to his will. This reinforces the fantasy that shouting at people generally makes them do what you want.
As evidence, I tender the scene in the Paper Chase (law school movie) where the hero law students decide to set themselves up in a hotel room to cram for exams. The hotel staff see mountains of pizzas boxes and assorted crap around the place, and threaten to kick them out.
Hero law student yells abuse at the staff down the phone, using all sorts of legal jargon involving threatening to sue them for breach of contract, etc. Hotel staff member is cowed by this powerful display of macho chest-beating and leaves them to continue studying. Hero is immensely pleased with how good a lawyer he is rapidly becoming.
Except that in real life, abusing staff at hotels and the like gets you kicked out. They are not impressed by threats of lawsuits - it is the most obviously idle of all the idle threats (included in which collection are “I’ll go to the newspapers” and “I’m very good friends with the Mayor/your boss/Superman” etc).
But it has invaded the western cultural psyche that a man has to be able to stare down someone by force of confidence and will. So lines like “Here’s how this is going to happen” are taken from fictional entertainment (where they always work) and transposed to real life as imagined powerful tools to impress people that you know your shit and you always get your way.
Instead, you look like a dick. If you have no actual power, authority or strong bargaining position behind the words, the words ain’t got no magic. Bluffs rarely work in these situations.
All the “Do I make myself clear?” thing adds is an attempt to invite submission by presuming to compel a response. The inevitable sensible response is something like “Sir, shouting is unlikely to get either of us anywhere. Can you tell me what the last screen message said, please?” or whatever is the next line in the helpdesk script. Or the trick is inverted by asking a question back, “Have you quite finished?” until the dick is forced to say yes.
I know that most people who say “does that make sense?” mean no ill intent and are really just trying to make sure they have explained themselves well. But those who use it over and over when breaking down the simplest of ideas begin to sound a tad patronizing. Make sense?
Aye. The ‘scream like banshee at (usually black, female* ) civil servant, who then sniffs and shuffles off in compliance’ film trope. I always want to ask the drama screamers “So, who’s playing you in the TV movie?”
*Yeah. Why is that?
IS THAT CRYSTAL CLEAR???
“Well, Dark Crystal, with the scary muppets and all that…”
"Blahbitty-blahbitty blah, blah, blaaahh…"
“How’d I do?”