Random things you hate

[bsantaclaus9]

Why do people tack the phrase "to be honest" on to every other sentence these days?
It used to be used as an apology for being blunt or possibly offensive. Now it seems to carry no connotation at all - unless it means that being honest is unusual for them.

True-- if you want to be honest about something, just say what's on your mind; no need for the preface.

 

[DallasFanForever]

Why do people tack the phrase "to be honest" on to every other sentence these days?
It used to be used as an apology for being blunt or possibly offensive. Now it seems to carry no connotation at all - unless it means that being honest is unusual for them.

I’ll throw “to be clear” in there as well. I think it gets overused also. I feel like asking “well, what exactly is not clear? I’m standing here listening to everything you’re saying.”

 

[lbf522]

True-- if you want to be honest about something, just say what's on your mind; no need for the preface.

Its like when people say, "With all due respect" right before they are about to say something nasty.

 

[Treeviewer]

When I was a kid, raspberry jam had a consistency like paste; it was easy to spread. On American shows they called it "jelly", a word we reserve for the rubbery dessert but I just figured that was a case of differences in usage. Over more recent years, the "jam" has become more like a "jelly" as we would call it - and it's now impossible to spread. Instead it just breaks up into pieces. Was it always like that in America?

 

[Avery Merry Christmas]

I recall reading an article describing the differences between jelly, jam, preserves, marmalade, etc. but I could not explain them if my life depended on it.

 

[Sparkly Ornaments!]

When I was a kid, raspberry jam had a consistency like paste; it was easy to spread. On American shows they called it "jelly", a word we reserve for the rubbery dessert but I just figured that was a case of differences in usage. Over more recent years, the "jam" has become more like a "jelly" as we would call it - and it's now impossible to spread. Instead it just breaks up into pieces. Was it always like that in America?

I recall reading an article describing the differences between jelly, jam, preserves, marmalade, etc. but I could not explain them if my life depended on it.

Like "fall" and "autumn," I always got the impression that "jelly" and "jam" were interchangeable.... But never, ever hold me to that.

I think I've only heard "marmalade" used in the context of orange. But that, too, could be a misinterpretation.

"Preserves" is only a term I've heard used when jelly/jam/marmalade was made by Grandma. Or when your store-bought jelly wound up shoved into the back of the refrigerator and, once located a few years later, you're unable to determine the expiration date, and so decide to take a spoon to it anyway.

 

[DallasFanForever]

I’ve never understood the difference between jelly, jam, marmalade, preserves, etc. I was always under the impression that they were pretty much the same thing but I’ve also heard it explained as being four different things, none of which I understand.

 

[Treeviewer]

The fact that the seasons in Australia officially start on the first of the month instead of the twenty-first. Almost every year at the beginning of December someone will complain that "it's summer but it's still cold." Conversely, there will be widespread wonder at the fact that the first half of March is still hot.

 

[Sparkly Ornaments!]

the seasons in Australia officially start on the first of the month instead of the twenty-first.

Is that, like, legal??

 

[Avery Merry Christmas]

I assume it's similar to how the Queen's Birthday was in April, but it was celebrated in June.
[/squints]

 

[Treeviewer]

Is that, like, legal??

It's more than legal. It just is.

I assume it's similar to how the Queen's Birthday was in April, but it was celebrated in June.
[/squints]

That holiday is now of course called the King's Birthday. I understand that the April date is actually George V's birthday and they just never changed it.

 

[Avery Merry Christmas]

Something happened to the Queen?????

 

[Treeviewer]

Something happened to the Queen?????

Sorry to break it to you. And of course I meant that JUNE was George V's birthday, not April.

 

[Avery Merry Christmas]

Speaking of the royals, I hate how so many of the press still refer to Princess Kate as "Kate Middleton". She's been married to Prince William for ages. Do these writers really think that if they say "Kate" or "Princess Kate" that no one will know who they're talking about? I don't recall them referring to her mother-in-law as "Diana Spencer" for years after she married Charles, nor do we hear anyone refer to the Duchess of Edinburgh as "Sophie Rhys-Jones" any more....