Responding what when someone calls you

[TheStatutoryApe]

Believe me, all this spitting really is fairly new.

That's odd. I've never known a time when it wasn't happening. And apparently back in the olden days bodily fluids in the streets was pretty common. I've often even still seen people urinating in public.

 

[DaveC426913]

I've often even still seen people urinating in public.

And is it then acceptable behavior?

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

And is it then acceptable behavior?

I'm not arguing the acceptability. Only that there was a time when people didn't do these things.

We could go back to the matter of "What?" but I already decided we could argue that back and forth and be in the same place we are now. Its simply a matter of preference.

 

[BobG]

I've often even still seen people urinating in public.

And is it then acceptable behavior?

Depends on who wins - and the temperature, of course.

 

[SticksandStones]

Suppose you went over to your neighbor's house to talk to them about something, and in the middle of the conversation, you turned and spit on their porch. Now that's not polite, is it? You're thinking, of course not (I hope). It's rude. And if it's rude to spit on someone's porch, why is it OK to spit in a park? On a sidewalk? Anywhere where you share space with the public?

Nope, can't say I'd care. I wouldn't care if they spit on my porch either. The rain will wash it away, or it'll evaporate, or whatever. Either way I got better things to worry about.

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

Probably "What?" is short for "What's up?" which is what I always say in this situation. I try to convey by my tone of voice that I am genuinely interested in knowing what is up. I can't remember when I called out to someone and they responded "What?", but if they did, I obviously didn't get upset enough to remember it.

 

[Evo]

Nope, can't say I'd care. I wouldn't care if they spit on my porch either. The rain will wash it away, or it'll evaporate, or whatever. Either way I got better things to worry about.

Expectorating and deficating on areas which other people will walk and sit on and then carry that into their own homes where they are exposed to it is not only the epitome of rudeness, we're talking about spreading disease. Whether you personally approve of it is beside the point when it comes to impinging on other's rights. I can't believe anyone is defending this practice.

 

[DaveC426913]

Probably "What?" is short for "What's up?"

I insist that it is short for "What do you want?"

 

[DaveC426913]

Expectorating and deficating on areas which other people will walk and sit on and then carry that into their own homes where they are exposed to it is not only the epitome of rudeness, we're talking about spreading disease. Whether you personally approve of it is beside the point when it comes to impinging on other's rights. I can't believe anyone is defending this practice.

In his defense:
- as Huckleberry wittily said "There's a lot of straw in that poo." i.e. I've raised the stakes to spitting and poo in an attempt to illuminate the slippery slope of public manners. This was originally about saying 'what'.
- S&S is not defending it, he's merely saying he sets his "worry threshold" higher than spitting.

Still, I too find his indifference to someone spitting on his porch to be quite ... troubling. This starts down the road to other publicly-apathetic habits I see: littering, casual defacement or destruction of public property...

 

[jtbell]

Who's here?

No, he's on first.

 

[tiny-tim]

No, he's on first.

That took a long time!

111 posts and 11 days for someone with sufficient knowledge of the classics to be able to answer my question!

Who's on first? ​

 

[WhiteTim]

Probably "What?" is short for "What's up?" which is what I always say in this situation.

If there were a shorthand version of "What's up?", it would be "What's?", not "What?" People don't say "What is up?"; they say "What's up" with the contraction.

Nobody responds "What's?" They say "What?"

Like Dave, I also insist that "What?" is short for "What do you want?"

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

If there were a shorthand version of "What's up?", it would be "What's?", not "What?" People don't say "What is up?"; they say "What's up" with the contraction.

Nobody responds "What's?" They say "What?"

Like Dave, I also insist that "What?" is short for "What do you want?"

Just to be annoying I would like to point out that people do actually say "What up?" and I have heard the use of "Whut! Whuut!" ;-p

 

[Evo]

Just to be annoying I would like to point out that people do actually say "What up?" and I have heard the use of "Whut! Whuut!" ;-p

You know someone that says "what up"? Did you correct them?

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

You know someone that says "what up"? Did you correct them?

Its far too common around here. If grammar were a topic of conversation though I would point it out in a heart beat. ;-)

 

[WhoWee]

You know someone that says "what up"? Did you correct them?

I went to a home improvement store over the weekend to price some building materials (starting another home improvement project that I'll undoubtedly need help to finish) and was greeted with a "Whut Uup" by the specialist.

I didn't correct him...but I did ask to speak to "the manager in charge". When the manager was summoned, she asked if there was a problem...and my response was NO...that I was considering a major purchase and wanted to speak with an adult.

They seemed to understand.