To hate the phrase "suffer fools gladly"

[CruCru]

When someone says "I don't suffer fools gladly" it usually means they are happy enough to be unpleasant to others but are rather upset when people are unpleasant back. I used to have a boss who said it. Ugh. He was a tosspot.

Agree with you completely. And every time I hear someone say it, I think "tosspot". FIL says it all the time - he is the poster child for tosspots.

Spot on. Ditto when (some) people claim to be sensitive. Often means you have to tiptoe around them while they say what the frig they like!

Apart from anything else the example you give Cru is totally nonsensical (not you, the phrase!) I mean, have you ever met anyone who said 'Oh a fool....yipppeeeeee'

When people tell you what they are personality-wise then it sets off all sorts of alarms!

Exactly. I think it is quite offensive, particularly if it is given as the reason for unpleasantness. I am not a fool.

Me too, it's usually the fools saying it and it ALWYAS sounds ridiculous and pompous.

I hate it too. I take it to mean the person is an intolerant bastard.

poster child for tosspots.

It's a clue that you should avoid the person at all costs, so it's useful in that way.

Most of these phrases 'I don't suffer fools gladly' 'I call a spade a spade' 'I tell it how it is' etc etc. translate as 'I'm a rude self absorbed git with no social awareness whatsoever'.

Yes, see also 'I speak as I find'.

yy to all of those above - and, "I shoot from the hip, me".

The answer to "I don't suffer fools gladly" is "gosh, how do you live with yourself?".

If you're lucky enough to have someone say "I can't bear fools" you can reply "your mother obviously could".

In the same vein as 'my house my rules' - all thinly disguised rudeness and intolerance. Just ugh.

What movingtimes said.
I find "You can dish it out, but you can't take it" to be quite apt for these people.

Nice generalizations on this thread. I think I'll hide it since it's full of fools and, guess what? I don't suffer fools gladly.

In the same vein I am also very wary of people who habitually start sentences with 'No offense, but...'
I find the rest of the sentence generally contains something exceedingly offensive.

YY - see also
"I'm not being racist but...." always followed up by a gobsmackingly racist remark.
"I'm not being rude but ...." followed by a deliberately rude comment.
And
"With all due respect"...... ", now this one is rarely followed with anything near respectful.

I'm not being funny but...

Eddie Izzard does a funny piece about this! Google it!

'I've got a pig in my trousers...'

'come in!!!!'

[Grin] lotta Yippe....a fool. I so need to use that.

I don't think this is something you are meant to say about yourself.

It's something you say about a third party.

To give another perspective on "suffer fools gladly" about the age of 8 my father told me, you certainly don't suffer fools gladly so this was in my personality from a very young age. It is only recently as a 60 year old woman I have wondered about this comment and I would have to agree with his observation.I see it as a strength and quality of my personality. I am told I am an immensely tolerant and forgiving individual but when I have had enough that's it, someone will get blasted but I have to be pushed to the extreme . So quite on the contrary to all the other statements I see it as a strength.

I was going to mention Eddie Izzard too. "Come in, you fool!"

But seriously, yes, it is a v good indicator of a dickhead. A fool, no less.