To say this is rude?

[PiedPiper558]

Replying with 'what?' when you have not heard what someone has said.

@Bluntness100

Is it just me or is there an obsession on here with rudeness. It’s thread after thread of general normal stuff and someone saying is it rude?

No it's not just you 😂

@tattleandbagels

I also said that in real life, adults don't say "what" when you call or speak to them in most settings. So if it's rude then, it's rude all the time. Easy.

Yes they do 😂 ‘what’ is a reflex for me, couldn’t change it if I tried.

I'm so glad I'm Australian, all of this lower/upper class posturing sounds exhausting!

But manners say "what" is the correct term. At the very least it makes sense. What does pardon even mean in the context of not hearing something?

It’s short for “I beg your pardon?” Which itself is shorthand for “sorry I didn’t catch that”. Or “I can’t believe you just said that” depending on the tone in which it’s said.

@Flipswhitefudge

I'm so glad I'm Australian, all of this lower/upper class posturing sounds exhausting!

Yes, everyone is equal in Australia!

Depends on the tone. If you’re shouting WHAAAATTT at someone like Kevin the teenager then yes, it’s rude. If you’re saying it politely then no, not rude.

@Flipswhitefudge

I'm so glad I'm Australian, all of this lower/upper class posturing sounds exhausting!

I think I would prefer the posturing over the racism!

I do teach DC to say Pardon rather than what but I admit it's something taught to me as being more polite. Probably no real basis in it but its habit.

In our house its pretty much

Pardon = polite

What? = Everyone is tired and someone is at the other end of the house (this is usually a child)

Sorry what did you say? = close friends and family (or we are in a good mood)

Excuse me ? = Always with an arched eyebrow , Always from me and sends both DP and DC running like scattered ants because they are in trouble

Actually I missed one. After the thirteenth explanation of how a boat outboard works and fuel ratios while I'm trying to work DP gets " What the hell do you want this time?"

Never works he just laughs and continues with an explanation of miniscule fuel changes while I consider banging my head on the desk i love the bones of him but dream about sabotaging that sodding engine

God, it’s like the shoes on/ shoes off debate. Both sides think it’s terribly rude to do the other thing. So what does rudeness even
Pardon is fine. What is fine. What isn’t fine is the pardoners claiming “what” is rude. They don’t get to just make up that one word is rude and one isn’t, especially when there’s a large body of people brought up the other way. And on the other hand in this day and age the whatters shouldn’t be sneering at the pardoners. It’s just a word.

What does rudeness even mean, that should have said.

If the queen can say it then why cor I?

"Pardon" is common. As with many things the people who say pardon think they are being polite but are mocked by the upper classes.

Does it really matter? Not unless you are socially aspirational.

@Snog

"Pardon" is common. As with many things the people who say pardon think they are being polite but are mocked by the upper classes.

Does it really matter? Not unless you are socially aspirational.

Upper class people know whether you’re one of them by your surname, where you went to school, what your father does, where you go skiing and how you speak about your childhood. They don’t need to mock anybody’s use of language, because it’s irrelevant to the situation.

You can be socially aspirational and say “what?” and “lavatory” all you like. It isn’t going to fool anybody to whom you think it matters into thinking you’re “one of them”: they’ll still just think you’re an ordinary working or middle class person whether you say “what?” or “pardon?”

Yes, very rude. It’s a class thing isn’t it?
I’m working class and was brought up to say “Pardon?”

@ComtesseDeSpair it's true that saying "what" instead of "pardon" isn't going to transform you from working class to upper class. Sadly nobody told my mother that.

It's not rude ffs get a grip. (see that WAS rude)

Anything but pardon!

But I agree that a lifetime of not saying pardon has not elevated me into the upper-class!

I grew up thinking it was rude and if ever my kids say 'what' they get corrected to 'pardon'. I say pardon or I'm sorry.

@3scape

Pardon? Is only uttered by those looking to argue with a manager or generally start a fight. Very aggressive. Be that overt or passive in tone.

What bollocks

@LST
I’ll second that!

As my Dad used to say, 'Don't say what say ay, ay makes bullshit'.

@AnyWhore

As my Dad used to say, 'Don't say what say ay, ay makes bullshit'.

How are you pronouncing ay?

I don't get that, however I say it it doesn't make sense

@ThursdayWeld

Saying Pardon is like saying Toilet. If you're happy with one, you'll be happy with the other.

what? Did you say you need the loo?