Monday, August 26, 2019

The Genteel Curse

I'm not certain, but I think I've devised the most genteel curse ever:

"I hope that I'm in a position to help you one day."

Much like Bless Your Heart, its vagueness is its versatility. Said nicely, they won't even know it's a curse; said with verbal stink, it's obviously a curse but multi-layered:

  • Does it mean they are so screwed up that their dysfunction outstrips your ability to provide aid to them?
  • Does it mean that you sincerely hope that in the future they will ask for help from you, giving you the pleasure of telling them "No, I won't help you" ?
  • Does it mean that you look forward to the day when they come to you on their knees, apologizing and begging for help?

The answer, of course, is that it could mean any or all of them, depending on the speaker's mood, or it could mean just what was said: a sincere desire to help in the future. Context is the only clue.

1 comment:

  1. Lololol! Exceedingly versatile, my dear. The mark of a true classic!

    ReplyDelete

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