Ann.without.an.e Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 Does it seem like people these days are sometimes overly sensitive? A dear friend of mine (a single guy who is friends with our family), was headed out of town to a funeral. I simply texted him, "drive safe". He came back with, "why did you say that?" "that is demeaning" "you know I am a good driver so why talk down to me like that?" It started a strand of conversations that, well, got a little sticky. "Drive safe" to me is a term of endearment......like, "I care about you so be careful" and it has NOTHING to do with your ability to drive an automobile. Am I wrong? Was I rude or demeaning? Why does it seem that so many people are over-analyzing phrases and words these days? It is like we are seeking to be offended :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 I think it's a byproduct of politics and the broadcast media. Everyone's words are analyzed to the nth degree. And sadly it's carrying over into all facets of life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 Way too hypersensitive. I would chalk it up to being perhaps due to the fact that he's in mourning. That and the fact that text doesn't convey tone of voice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 That is a very strange reaction to a common phrase - almost combative. Perhaps he was tense due to the funeral? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 That is a very strange reaction to a common phrase - almost combative. Perhaps he was tense due to the funeral? I thought the same thing. Honestly, my other common send-off is "have fun!" but that would obviously not apply. Now I'll have to ask one of my young friends if she feels demeaned when I say such things. I'm guessing she doesn't, since she uses the same sort of language... It has to be the funeral stress. Right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ann.without.an.e Posted April 22, 2013 Author Share Posted April 22, 2013 That is a very strange reaction to a common phrase - almost combative. Perhaps he was tense due to the funeral? He went on to email me explaining why it was so demeaning, in an attempted apology, a few weeks later though and I just don't get it. All I said was "drive safe". Which I thought was a common phrase. He is not a young kid. He is actually eleven years older than me :confused1: Oh well, I just thought it all strange or wondered if I had missed a memo somehow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belacqua Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 So when Phil tells the Amazing Race contestants to "travel safe," he's being demeaning? That's just...odd. I get that there can be a cultural component to these things. I remember reading about Americans playing for a Japanese baseball team; when the manager would tell them to play their best, some would get offended ("Of course I'll do my best! Does he think I'm not trying?"), when it's just a common thing to say in that culture. The translator quickly figured out to say something like, "Good luck!" and everybody was happy. But barring a cultural divide like that, I can't imagine why somebody would get so peevish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marylou Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 Did he give up coffee or something :laugh: ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 I tell people, "safe home." It's an old old family expression. Ask your buddy how many points he has on his license. Maybe he just got a ticket!?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 At least he didn't go ape over you not using "safe" in its adverbial form :D Drive safely. Bill (who's hung around classical education forums too long) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 Does it seem like people these days are sometimes overly sensitive? A dear friend of mine (a single guy who is friends with our family), was headed out of town to a funeral. I simply texted him, "drive safe". He came back with, "why did you say that?" "that is demeaning" "you know I am a good driver so why talk down to me like that?" It started a strand of conversations that, well, got a little sticky. "Drive safe" to me is a term of endearment......like, "I care about you so be careful" and it has NOTHING to do with your ability to drive an automobile. Am I wrong? Was I rude or demeaning? Why does it seem that so many people are over-analyzing phrases and words these days? It is like we are seeking to be offended :confused: No definitely not! I have not seen any examples of people being hypersensitive lately. But "Drive safe" can be anagrammed to say "If Sad, Veer" and that's probably what he was objecting to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 At least he didn't go ape over you not using "safe" in its adverbial form :D Drive safely. Bill (who's hung around classical education forums too long) My "safe home" isn't grammatically correct, either. It's an Irish thing that translates that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 No definitely not! I have not seen any examples of people being hypersensitive lately. But "Drive safe" can be anagrammed to say "If Sad, Veer" and that's probably what he was objecting to. :confused: I honestly don't understand what you said here. Is this some kind of meme or do we have to stop and anagram everything we're going to say before saying it? (I'm not being snarky so I hope it doesn't come across as that. These are honest questions.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenaj Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 :confused: I honestly don't understand what you said here. Is this some kind of meme or do we have to stop and anagram everything we're going to say before saying it? (I'm not being snarky so I hope it doesn't come across as that. These are honest questions.) It's a reference to another thread where Trish ran into some hot water yesterday :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 He definitely over-reacted! I do think that because emails and texts do not carry the emotion, facial expressions, and other subtle messages that a live voice communication carries, and also because they usually happen so fast without a lot of thought, it's easier to misinterpret a text or email. (I don't think that of your text though. He's just too sensitive!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Geek Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 Maybe some one else has been giving him a hard time about his driving. I wouldn't take it personally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmeblue Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 Overreaction on his part. I've never heard anyone respond that way to "drive safe." I sometimes answer with, "Well, I was PLANNING to throw caution to the wind, but since you mentioned it specifically, I guess I'll be safe instead. ;)" In my family, it's "Remember the rules!" My youngest sister is 13 years younger than I am, and when I was in high school and about to leave the house, she would yell out this litany of things I was supposed to do while driving, adding "don't get in a wreck" after a time I was in a fender-bender (not my fault!) and "don't get a flat tire" after the time I got one. Eventually she got tired of saying everything and would just call out to me as I walked out the door, "Remember the rules!" So that's what we say to each other. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 I think your friend overreacted to an overused conversational phrase. Some while ago, the overused conversation end comment almost invariably was "Take care [of yourself]." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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