Apropos of a conversation on Reddit, the British etiquette of offering tea/coffee three times, and refusing on the first two, thus:
Can I get you a tea or coffee?
Oh, no thank you.
You sure?
Yes, I'm good.
I'm making one anyway.
Oh go on then.
Now here's the thing: most of my social circle are geeks with some type of neurodiversity going on, and one thing we value is a straight bloody answer.
So it will go something like this:
Can I get you a tea or coffee?
Oh, no thank you.
OK.
I wonder how many thirsty tradespeople I've annoyed in my life?
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Tathar is dragons! (public)
in reply to Sarah Brown • • •Sarah Brown
in reply to Tathar is dragons! (public) • •@Tathar is dragons! (public) My wife’s grandparents were like this when they were alive. Persuading them you really meant “no” to anything was like trench-sodding-warfare.
I found it very tedious.
Tathar is dragons! (public)
in reply to Sarah Brown • • •Sarah Brown
in reply to Tathar is dragons! (public) • •Tathar is dragons! (public)
in reply to Sarah Brown • • •Kathryn Karnage
in reply to Sarah Brown • • •Bad Gardener
in reply to Sarah Brown • • •Trust me, we tend to be more annoyed with ourselves: my former brother in law (a joiner) once told me that you *never* refuse the first cup of tea, because if you do, there won’t ever be another one. It’s a rookie error (and it’s true).
I’ve drunk more than my own body weight in deeply execrable tea over the years, just to keep the flow coming.
Sarah Brown
in reply to Bad Gardener • •like this
Alexandra Lanes likes this.
Bad Gardener
in reply to Sarah Brown • • •And either you're completely right, or it's their first day at work.
We all, to be fair, want Schrodinger's client: the one who leaves you completely alone to get on, whilst *at the same time* being ever-present with tea and snacks. They're rare, but they do exist...
Alexandra Lanes likes this.
Fiona Craig
in reply to Sarah Brown • • •Andy H3
in reply to Sarah Brown • • •@Sarah Brown
Sarah Brown likes this.
kianryan ☑️🐙🏳️🌈
in reply to Sarah Brown • • •Most trades people up here value a straight single question/answer.
Cuppa?
Please. Tea, one two sugar. You're a darling (I've been called darling more than once. It makes me smile).
Cuppa?
Please. Coffee, black please.
Cuppa?
I'm good for now thanks. (implied ask later).
Cuppa?
I'm good for now thanks, but I left X at home. Can I borrow yours? (Save an hour everyone happy. Tea later.)
Ailbhe
in reply to Sarah Brown • • •Sarah Brown likes this.