AIBU to hate it when an interviewee starts his / her response with "Look,..."

[WetAugust]

It jars with me every time I hear it.

It sounds as though the personn responding to the questioner is exasperated, arrogant and trying to stake their authority. I think it's a very hostile way of starting a sentence and totally unnecessary.

If I hear another politician on the radio saying "Look....." I think I will screeeeaaammm!

Its very Tony Blair - in the end he was doing it all the time. I agree it sounds like the person is being a bit narky when they say it.

I think it is on par with saying "basically" which is designed to make whoever they are speaking to feel inferior.

yes, horrible

also people who say things like "here's what we'll do" and "here's how it is"

bullying tactics IMO

It is annoying. Sometimes, though, I think the person saying the "look" or "basically" or whatever is actually not sure of what they are going to say, and is filling the silence with a load of pointless words. YANBU.

If you're interviewing for the RNIB it's particularly inappropriate.

I don't like 'No offence but' as it usually means that someone is just about to do just that.

Hijack - Why did you flounce Greeny?

haed = head. Obviously.

Oh YANBU! I thought it was just me but it does seem more of a habit of interviewees recently.

'Basically' is a funny one though... it's the word of choice for someone that is not a confident speaker, or not confident in what they are saying.

I am a teacher, and once banned the word 'basically' from any verbal presentation the students gave to each other.

They were flummoxed. It serves the same purpose as 'errr...' I hate it!

Also hate it when politicians respond to a question with "That's not really the question" or "The real question is..."
-The question is the one you've just been asked!!!!! You, the interviewee, does not get to choose the questions!!!!
Total evasion.

sorry mummydragon, made the same point! x-post

poor wetaugust - are you as pissed off with Radio 4 as i am ?!

David Cameron is the king of this, but i think Tony Blair invented it. Oh, and don't forget 'Lets be perfectly clear on this...'

I hate 'listen' as well. Its so bloody rude!

My two eldest DCs picked up the 'isnt it' habit in primary i.e. isnt it you dont like peas?

I kept telling them to stop it and they would get very confused 'what do we say instead then?' NOTHING! They would get all puzzled bless em.

Great minds think alike tethersend

Yep totalmisfit - it was Radio 4 that got me going this morning when every bloody sentence that the guy talking about the West Ham / Millwall football violence started with "Look..." (and he had an annoying accent)

yo mrs august! back on form!

look, (!)

i dont listen to radio 4 so cant possibly comment! but if i did id probably find it irritating.

I dislike 'At the end of the day...'
Seems to be particluarly over-used by sports people being interviewd about football matches, I find.

Football... the setting of so many horrors...

You'll appreciate [http://crabfootball.wordpress.com/2009/08/19/premiership-literacy-test-results-?dissapointing?/ this] waitingforfanjo

try again THIS

Tsk*

so...now we got all the " I hate tat" out of the way...wehat do people think is fine/gppd...etc...just for future reference

Erm yes, I hate tat as well as people saying 'at the end of the day'

Especially plastic tat

I hate, "know what I mean" and "INIT" I also hate No offence and basicly too.

Haha, that is so frustrated politician! When I read the title I thought you meant interviewees for a job and couldn't imagine it! Sometimes when I hear poitical interviews (not often) I do feel a bit sorry for them when they start resorting to "Look..." accompanied by a face (imagined or seen!) that suggests they just want to go home!

lol I hate tat...now would that have been a freudian slip...of cause not....[whistle] wasn't on the red wine...not me...lol

Look... always sounds aggressive and angry, even if they are agreeing with you.

No offence ... is normally followed by something extremely offensive

I hate people who "are just being honest" and are so tactless that they hurt your feelings. It is not a badge of honour, "I am an honest person, I am fond of straight-talking, saying what I mean". No you are not. You are a rude, insensitive twat who does not care if you hurt my feelings.

Oops, sorry. We had vistors of this kind last week and he really really got on my nerves with his "honesty"

I'm glad you've asked me that
(buys time - I use it when asked awkward quetions and my mind has gone blank)

My personal favourite:
With all due respect....

MmeLindt totally agree about tell-it-like-it-is people. Twats.