Latest news with #polite
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
5 Unintentionally Rude Things People Do
A lesson for the faux polite people of the world. Rude people either live in a vacuum of self-awareness — or just don't care. I fear I have been 'that guy' a few times. I've unintentionally ruffled feathers and burned bridges in my wake. Heck, I'm sure a few people have said, 'If Sean does that one more time, I will reach across this table." By the end of this article, you will know what to look out for — and how to avoid being an accidental fool. It will help you preserve friendships, and live a better, more seamless life. Getting a gauge on where they are 'really' from Some people are as subtle as a brick through a window. Especially here in the US. If someone is non-white, don't make it into your mission to find out where they are 'really' from. I see this cringefest commonly with Asian-Americans, some of whom have been here for two generations. They talk with no accent and couldn't be more American. But some stranger begins interrogating them like they just stepped off the boat on Ellis Island. The stranger stops just short of asking for their green card. And look — I'm not Mr. Perfect. I'm sure I've done this at some point. It's more out of curiosity as I'm into family heritage stuff. I've now seen it from the outside and realize it's generally a bad look. Questions about a stranger's heritage can wait until you know them a little better. A question that implies there's something wrong My spouse, Laura, says that men used to always ask her, 'So why are you still single?' They often asked it in this curious and doubtful tone — that implied something had to be wrong. 'She must be crazy or have some type of baggage.' If you think about it, that question is loaded with assumptions: that she is looking for a boyfriend, that she's getting rejected because she's broken, and that you know her well enough to ask that type of question. For the record, Laura was one of those women who spent most of her 20s single by choice. Their question was probably just their awkward way of saying she was super attractive. But they unintentionally send bad vibes. Commenting about anything bizarre on their appearance One of my guy friends has dark circles under his eyes naturally. That's just how he looks. Too often, people comment, 'You look tired.' 'Have you gotten sleep, buddy? You look sleepy.' He plays it off like it doesn't bother him. But I can tell it makes him insecure. In general, I'd refrain from commenting about someone's appearance in any negative or neutral light. Don't point out irregularities about their face. That includes telling them they should smile more. This is especially true with women. Years ago, my dad was in the car with me and I was only 10-years-old. We weren't even talking. And just out of the blue he said, 'I don't care how tall, beautiful, ugly, skinny, or fat a woman is — don't ever make a joke about her weight.' I suspect he'd witnessed some cringe. Dining habits from hell There's this habit of slurping amongst otherwise civilized people. They sound like a toddler using a straw for the first time. And I'm not just talking about soup. Literally, any liquid is grounds for a mouth concert. It's the drinking version of hearing someone chew with their mouth open. It also makes the person seem like they are finishing their drink in a frenzy of dehydration. Some people are repeat offenders. They moan in pleasure as they eat and smack their mouth like a cow and then unleash burps. One of my coworkers had this big bag of tortilla-style Doritos. Every day around 11, he sat behind me and spend a solid 20 minutes each day slowly crunching through these chips. Now granted, I know in some countries in Asia, slurping is normal — while blowing your nose in a restaurant would be hugely rude (it generally isn't in the US). I hate hearing the sound of other people eating and consuming food with no effort to conceal the noise. Please have the courtesy to limit the mouth noise. Culture math on our arrival time Years ago, one of my marketing professors, Professor Eric Ritter, told me people judge you by three things: Your personality. The quality of your work. Your punctuality. And it makes sense if you think about it. Some people are on time, have great personalities, but do shotty work. Others do great work, are on time, but total jerks. And there have been plenty of people who I liked and respected greatly, who drove me nuts on their habitual lateness. It's particularly aggravating when meeting someone for lunch or dinner. I don't like writing their tardiness off as being on Island Time. Perhaps this is my military upbringing making me a bit of a stiff. I don't like sitting alone at a lunch table for 15–20 minutes every time we get together. It tells me the other person doesn't respect my time. A friend suggested, 'Just lie to them and say you are meeting 15 minutes earlier than you actually are.' That feels convoluted and dishonest. I don't like doing culture math on the appropriate level of lateness to be. If we are meeting at 6, let's meet at 6. Cool? The worst one of all The Kingslayer unintentionally rude thing that I've had the non-pleasure of witnessing. Asking a woman how 'far along' she is—when she isn't pregnant. If you have to ask, go with something safe like, 'Do you have children?' Or make sure I'm out of earshot so I don't have to cohabitate the cringe grave with you. Stupid Bob to the non-pregnant girl: 'Wow! you look so regnant. When are you gonna pop that thing out?' It makes me want to shrivel up into a ball. Unless you are her doctor, and she is in front of you, in labor, avoid that question. Recap for memory: intentionally rude things people do Slurping and being a loud eater (with cultural exceptions). Commenting on someone's appearance or pointing out any abnormality. Interrogating a minority stranger's 'real' homeland. Being habitually late with no valid excuse. Asking a woman how far into her pregnancy she is. Solve the daily Crossword
SBS Australia
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
SBS Learn English 에피소드 91: 잡 추천서 요청하기 (중급)
이 내용은 중상급 이상 학습자에게 적합합니다. 먼저 팟캐스트를 들으신 후 간단한 퀴즈를 풀어보세요. Learning notes Lesson learning objective: Learn polite ways to request a job reference from managers or colleagues. Different phrases you can use when asking for a job reference: Could I list you as a reference on my job application? Would you mind being a reference for me? I wanted to ask if you would feel comfortable providing a reference for me? I was wondering if you would be willing to serve as a referee for me? Can I use your name as a reference? I'd really appreciate it if you could put in a good word for me. Would it be okay if I passed on your mobile number? Could you pass on my resumé to the hiring manager? If possible, please mention my ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines. I'd appreciate it if you could talk about my communication skills. It would be very helpful if you could focus on my experience with client relations. Practise speaking dialogue from this episode: SBS English 22/07/2025 02:54 English To toot your own horn , or to blow your own trumpet , means to talk proudly about yourself and your achievements. To job hunt is to look for a new job. To touch base with someone means to check in with them and see how they are doing. To put in a good word for someone means to say positive things about them to help them get a job or some sort of opportunity. To pass on means to give or share information with someone else. A job referee in the context of applying for a job is a person who can speak about your work experience, skills, and character when you apply for a job. A reference is the opinion that a referee offers about your suitability for a job. To fix up means to make something is properly done and up to date. We say feel free when we give someone permission to do something. In the context of this episode, highlight means to focus on or talk more about something important — like your skills, experience, or strengths. Asking someone to do something for you can be complicated, especially if they are your boss or someone you don't know very well. Knowing how to strike the right balance between being polite and being friendly can be particularly confusing in Australia, where people often use informal language even at work. It can also be a little hard to know just how willing people are to do what you are asking, that is, whether it is a 'little' ask (something they are very happy to do) or a 'big ask' (something that may be difficult or time consuming for them to do). Often the 'bigger' the ask, the more polite we have to be. In the text we see a range of different ways of asking. Notice that the verb form changes according to the request phrase that you use: Could I list you as a referee (could + I/ You + verb) Would you it okay if I / you passed on (would it be ok if + I/you + verb + ed) Can you put in a good word for me (can + you + verb) These are simple ways of asking someone you know well to do something 'little': Would you mind being a referee for me? (would + you + mind + verb + ing) This is a little more formal: I wanted to ask if you would feel comfortable providing a reference for me? (I + wanted + to ask if + you + would + be comfortable with/ be able to…) I was wondering if you would be willing to serve as a referee for me. (I + was wondering if + you + would + be willing to …..) These requests are more formal and acknowledge that the request might be a 'bigger' ask. Notice that the phrases used to introduce the request are in the past tense and therefore more polite: I'd really appreciate it if you could ………. (I + would + really appreciate it if + you + could) This is another more formal and polite way of asking someone to do something, but is a little more insistent and implies that the person you are asking is likely to agree. Sign up for previews, updates and to provide feedback. A big thank you to our guests Vidya Griffin and Kate Onomichi. Paul Nicholson and Lily O'Sullivan voiced the characters of Allan and Claire, and Professor Lynda Yates was our educational consultant. 상단의 오디오를 재생하시면 다시 들으실 수 있습니다. 호주 공영방송 SBS(Special Broadcasting Service) 한국어 프로그램의 페이스북 과 인스타그램 을 팔로우하세요. 구글플레이 와 애플 앱스토어 에서 SBS Audio 앱을 다운로드할 수 있습니다. 매일 방송되는 한국어 프로그램 전체 다시듣기를 선택하시려면 이곳 을 클릭하세요. SBS 한국어 프로그램 팟캐스트는 여기 에서 찾으실 수 있습니다.
Times
11-07-2025
- General
- Times
The 15 ways Britons say sorry — and only one of them means regret
Sorry seems to be the hardest word, sang Elton John — but not for British people it appears, for whom it has 15 different uses (and only one of them expressing true regret). Linguists have analysed the context in which we say sorry and identified multiple meanings. They say it often causes confusion for foreign people moving to the UK, who take it as a literal apology rather than decoding what is truly being expressed. Karen Grainger, a lecturer in linguistics at Sheffield Hallam University, says the word has become a reflex to be polite, soften disagreement, ease awkwardness and navigate social norms. She was commissioned by Babbel, a language learning site, to analyse use of the word, so that its learners could better understand its different meanings.
