WTF in America
#842
Re: WTF in America
But they may be ok, they could just be having a bit of morning sickness, in which case they'd just say 'yeah I'm fine now thanks'. It's just showing a bit of human kindness. I wouldn't go up to a stranger and say 'what's wrong?' or 'what happened?'. I'd say 'are you ok?' I can be very annoying sometimes though so maybe you're on to something.
#843
Re: WTF in America
Well I'm sure you care when you ask. Maybe it's just me, but I find that question "are you OK" to be annoying because I don't get that sense of concern or a genuine desire to help from it.
Or maybe it's because I'm too literal. If I was having morning sickness my answer would still be "no, I'm not OK"!
Or maybe it's because I'm too literal. If I was having morning sickness my answer would still be "no, I'm not OK"!
#845
Re: WTF in America
But they may be ok, they could just be having a bit of morning sickness, in which case they'd just say 'yeah I'm fine now thanks'. It's just showing a bit of human kindness. I wouldn't go up to a stranger and say 'what's wrong?' or 'what happened?'. I'd say 'are you ok?' I can be very annoying sometimes though so maybe you're on to something.
As I see it my well being can be anywhere from "great, marvelous, never felt better", to lying on the ground choking or in convulsions. Somewhere in the middle is "OK", and any where between OK and "great, marvelous, never felt better" my health and well being is nobody else's dämn business, but if I am less than "OK", I might need assistance. It could be a drink of water, it might be a slap on the back, or I might need you to call 911. So when someone asks if I'm "OK" as I see it they're asking if I am sufficiently well to not need assistance.
#846
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: WTF in America
I don't understand. Your comment and the others, on this one. I don't.
In the case your child falls and is showing no outward signs of distress, the question - I think - is fine. But my comments were when this Q is asked when the person is obviously in distress.
To me, the question "are you OK", puts the pressure on the injured person to say, yes, I'm OK.
I would ask any one of the following, as appropriate
are you hurt
where does it hurt
what happened
can I help
what's wrong
etc
In the case your child falls and is showing no outward signs of distress, the question - I think - is fine. But my comments were when this Q is asked when the person is obviously in distress.
To me, the question "are you OK", puts the pressure on the injured person to say, yes, I'm OK.
I would ask any one of the following, as appropriate
are you hurt
where does it hurt
what happened
can I help
what's wrong
etc
#847
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: WTF in America
Well I'm sure you care when you ask. Maybe it's just me, but I find that question "are you OK" to be annoying because I don't get that sense of concern or a genuine desire to help from it.
Or maybe it's because I'm too literal. If I was having morning sickness my answer would still be "no, I'm not OK"!
Or maybe it's because I'm too literal. If I was having morning sickness my answer would still be "no, I'm not OK"!
#848
Re: WTF in America
Maybe, maybe, can I help you might be more efficient.
#849
Re: WTF in America
But why ask a question whose obvious answer is no. If they were obviously OK, you would not ask that question. In turn it means they are obviously not OK. It's almost an oxymoron. So I don't even see that it's efficient.
Maybe, maybe, can I help you might be more efficient.
Maybe, maybe, can I help you might be more efficient.
#850
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: WTF in America
But why ask a question whose obvious answer is no. If they were obviously OK, you would not ask that question. In turn it means they are obviously not OK. It's almost an oxymoron. So I don't even see that it's efficient.
Maybe, maybe, can I help you might be more efficient.
Maybe, maybe, can I help you might be more efficient.
Just because someone is apparently not OK to you doesn't make them obviously not OK. Maybe I'm just more perceptive than you.
#851
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: WTF in America
How often is this even happening?
#852
Re: WTF in America
Well, OK. I'll continue to be annoyed by myself at this question.
Everyone else seems to think it is fine.
Here's another one then. Doesn't anyone think the American question "How are you" as a greeting, i.e. not meaning to ask how you are, is a little annoying. Admittedly I'm now used to that question. Doesn't annoy me anymore like it used to in my first few years here.
But I think I'll never get used to the "are you OK" question. Sultan, I don't think it's a matter of being perceptive. I think its because I'm rather literal combined with my background in health care.
Everyone else seems to think it is fine.
Here's another one then. Doesn't anyone think the American question "How are you" as a greeting, i.e. not meaning to ask how you are, is a little annoying. Admittedly I'm now used to that question. Doesn't annoy me anymore like it used to in my first few years here.
But I think I'll never get used to the "are you OK" question. Sultan, I don't think it's a matter of being perceptive. I think its because I'm rather literal combined with my background in health care.
#853
Re: WTF in America
Well, OK. I'll continue to be annoyed by myself at this question.
Everyone else seems to think it is fine.
Here's another one then. Doesn't anyone think the American question "How are you" as a greeting, i.e. not meaning to ask how you are, is a little annoying. Admittedly I'm now used to that question. Doesn't annoy me anymore like it used to in my first few years here.
But I think I'll never get used to the "are you OK" question. Sultan, I don't think it's a matter of being perceptive. I think its because I'm rather literal combined with my background in health care.
Everyone else seems to think it is fine.
Here's another one then. Doesn't anyone think the American question "How are you" as a greeting, i.e. not meaning to ask how you are, is a little annoying. Admittedly I'm now used to that question. Doesn't annoy me anymore like it used to in my first few years here.
But I think I'll never get used to the "are you OK" question. Sultan, I don't think it's a matter of being perceptive. I think its because I'm rather literal combined with my background in health care.