How to help without offending
Apr 12th 2004, 4:07 pm
#1
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How to help without offending
I would like some opinions on how to help someone out who has a british accent and could use a nudge in the right direction. I sometimes come across such people in line somewhere at a grocery store or a museum, etc. They obviously don't want to be noticed for the accent but you can see they are frustrated and dont know how to go about what they are trying to do.
Now, would I be the "pushy" american for trying to help or should I just ignore them? I am naturally a retiring type and I can see how hard it is for them to have to ask for help but they do and its not going well because they are asking the wrong questions. Is there a right way to intervene and end their embarassment?
Now, would I be the "pushy" american for trying to help or should I just ignore them? I am naturally a retiring type and I can see how hard it is for them to have to ask for help but they do and its not going well because they are asking the wrong questions. Is there a right way to intervene and end their embarassment?
Apr 12th 2004, 4:08 pm
#2
@matthewb76
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Missouri
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Re: How to help without offending
Originally posted by sterlingandjack
I would like some opinions on how to help someone out who has a british accent and could use a nudge in the right direction. I sometimes come across such people in line somewhere at a grocery store or a museum, etc. They obviously don't want to be noticed for the accent but you can see they are frustrated and dont know how to go about what they are trying to do.
Now, would I be the "pushy" american for trying to help or should I just ignore them? I am naturally a retiring type and I can see how hard it is for them to have to ask for help but they do and its not going well because they are asking the wrong questions. Is there a right way to intervene and end their embarassment?
I would like some opinions on how to help someone out who has a british accent and could use a nudge in the right direction. I sometimes come across such people in line somewhere at a grocery store or a museum, etc. They obviously don't want to be noticed for the accent but you can see they are frustrated and dont know how to go about what they are trying to do.
Now, would I be the "pushy" american for trying to help or should I just ignore them? I am naturally a retiring type and I can see how hard it is for them to have to ask for help but they do and its not going well because they are asking the wrong questions. Is there a right way to intervene and end their embarassment?
Apr 12th 2004, 5:11 pm
#3
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LMAO Oh please. Someone out there must seriously be having a laugh!
Apr 12th 2004, 5:43 pm
#4
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I'm with Manc on this one...
Ash
Ash
Apr 12th 2004, 6:17 pm
#5
@matthewb76
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Missouri
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yeah, why would we need help in a grocery store?
I mean, I can go shopping without too much fuss.
I mean, I can go shopping without too much fuss.
Apr 12th 2004, 6:24 pm
#6
Maltesers, Flake, Mars
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Yorkshire to Sarasota
Posts: 251
I think what they interpret as needing help is the long silence that we give when trying to work out, why they can't understand a word that is pronounced slightly different. Why they can't even take an educated guess as to what we might be asking for......
Apr 12th 2004, 6:28 pm
#7
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Location: Ann Arbor, MI
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Perhaps we might understand the question better if you gave a few examples? How can you tell if a complete stranger with a British accent is embarrassed and frustrated? Are you sure they're not Australian?
Apr 12th 2004, 6:29 pm
#8
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Originally posted by kazzuk
I think what they interpret as needing help is the long silence that we give when trying to work out, why they can't understand a word that is pronounced slightly different. Why they can't even take an educated guess as to what we might be asking for......
I think what they interpret as needing help is the long silence that we give when trying to work out, why they can't understand a word that is pronounced slightly different. Why they can't even take an educated guess as to what we might be asking for......
Perhaps the poster is referring to the stunned silence that follows "what language do you speak over there, then?"
Apr 12th 2004, 6:38 pm
#9
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Are you sure they're not Australian?
I'm ALWAYS confused with being Australian.
Apr 12th 2004, 6:42 pm
#10
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Re: How to help without offending
Originally posted by sterlingandjack
I would like some opinions on how to help someone out who has a british accent and could use a nudge in the right direction. I sometimes come across such people in line somewhere at a grocery store or a museum, etc. They obviously don't want to be noticed for the accent but you can see they are frustrated and dont know how to go about what they are trying to do.
Now, would I be the "pushy" american for trying to help or should I just ignore them? I am naturally a retiring type and I can see how hard it is for them to have to ask for help but they do and its not going well because they are asking the wrong questions. Is there a right way to intervene and end their embarassment?
I would like some opinions on how to help someone out who has a british accent and could use a nudge in the right direction. I sometimes come across such people in line somewhere at a grocery store or a museum, etc. They obviously don't want to be noticed for the accent but you can see they are frustrated and dont know how to go about what they are trying to do.
Now, would I be the "pushy" american for trying to help or should I just ignore them? I am naturally a retiring type and I can see how hard it is for them to have to ask for help but they do and its not going well because they are asking the wrong questions. Is there a right way to intervene and end their embarassment?
Apr 12th 2004, 6:42 pm
#11
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Ex: I am in a grocery store and a couple with british accent (not australian), are asking clerk how to "motor" to a destination in another county. The clerk doesnt have any idea what "motor" means or what city he is refering to because of the accent, he is unintelligible. They look very embarrassed, angry and uptight on the point of exploding -after repeating themselves for the 5th time. They obviously dont want to be noticed anymore than they already are. That is the sort of thing.
Apr 12th 2004, 6:43 pm
#12
Maltesers, Flake, Mars
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Yorkshire to Sarasota
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But you can't help but pick up some words. My mum went silent the other day when I called her and said that my fanny was 2 inches bigger since moving here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Apr 12th 2004, 6:44 pm
#13
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Originally posted by sterlingandjack
Ex: I am in a grocery store and a couple with british accent (not australian), are asking clerk how to "motor" to a destination in another county. The clerk doesnt have any idea what "motor" means or what city he is refering to because of the accent, he is unintelligible. They look very embarrassed, angry and uptight on the point of exploding -after repeating themselves for the 5th time. They obviously dont want to be noticed anymore than they already are. That is the sort of thing.
Ex: I am in a grocery store and a couple with british accent (not australian), are asking clerk how to "motor" to a destination in another county. The clerk doesnt have any idea what "motor" means or what city he is refering to because of the accent, he is unintelligible. They look very embarrassed, angry and uptight on the point of exploding -after repeating themselves for the 5th time. They obviously dont want to be noticed anymore than they already are. That is the sort of thing.
Apr 12th 2004, 6:46 pm
#14
WTF?
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Originally posted by sterlingandjack
Ex: I am in a grocery store and a couple with british accent (not australian), are asking clerk how to "motor" to a destination in another county. The clerk doesnt have any idea what "motor" means or what city he is refering to because of the accent, he is unintelligible. They look very embarrassed, angry and uptight on the point of exploding -after repeating themselves for the 5th time. They obviously dont want to be noticed anymore than they already are. That is the sort of thing.
Ex: I am in a grocery store and a couple with british accent (not australian), are asking clerk how to "motor" to a destination in another county. The clerk doesnt have any idea what "motor" means or what city he is refering to because of the accent, he is unintelligible. They look very embarrassed, angry and uptight on the point of exploding -after repeating themselves for the 5th time. They obviously dont want to be noticed anymore than they already are. That is the sort of thing.
Apr 12th 2004, 6:54 pm
#15
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Originally posted by kazzuk
But you can't help but pick up some words. My mum went silent the other day when I called her and said that my fanny was 2 inches bigger since moving here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But you can't help but pick up some words. My mum went silent the other day when I called her and said that my fanny was 2 inches bigger since moving here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hope that symptom of relocation is confined to Florida