I dislike it when someone makes a statement, then says: “Discuss.”
You know, “Santa Claus is the world’s most acceptable child molester. Discuss.”
It just makes me want to plant a fist into that person’s face. I think it’s even worse when in text. Whenever I see “(whatnot) Discuss.” on Twitter, I have a fleeting thought: “Argh. I must unfollow that person right now!” but resist. There was one person a couple of years ago who did a “Discuss.” tweet almost every week. I had to unfollow. I did my best to ignore it every week, but it wasn’t worth feeling a moment of deep annoyance. Who do you think we are? Your students? I mean, the last time I accepted this style was an exam paper when I was eighteen at a sixth form school in Newcastle and I’ll be damned if I’m asked that now.
As you can guess, I’m annoyed with one person at the moment. This morning, there was a group of us at a cafe for a cuppa and chatter every other week. It started from a spur-of-the-moment meeting among parents who met outside our children’s school. While we made some chatter, he sat there with coffee, saying nothing. Then out of the blue he said, “British Education is failing our children. Discuss.”
For a moment I wanted to toss my drink at his face, but chose to be civilised and mature while saying nowt during the discussion. OK, I seethed through the chatter. Immature, I know.
I really, really can’t stand it. Especially when the questioner doesn’t even make a contribution to the discussion itself. I don’t know why that style rubs me the wrong way and so extremely, though.
I also dislike it when a person asks a question, then doesn’t bother making a contribution or acknowledging.. I’m always slightly surprised when I see this happen, though. I couldn’t help but think “Didn’t your elders teach you manners, you rude brat?” Even if someone’s older than me. Likewise for people who don’t say thank you and please. My best friend does think I’m silly, but I don’t care. I just believe that the moment people forget or stop saying it is the moment they begin to take good gestures for granted.
I feel I should buy a wooden crooked cane so that I can wave it in the air while I rant about this sort of thing. I feel like such an one-toothed hag who hasn’t anything better to do. Eep. 
I so agree! I can’t decided if these people are trying to stir things up or are trying to decide what the popular opinion of the moment is so they now how they should feel about the issue.
Ugh. I have no idea why they do that. It just makes me think of the SuperVillain, at a mile-long marble desk, with his fingers together as a steeple under his nose. “I see you all. I hear you all. I scheme it all. The world will be mine. *evil chuckle*”
Anyone who dared to use ‘Discuss.’ deserves a major eye roll from us minions.
I feel similarly when a blogger provides a link to a potentially controversial blog post/article/website without adding their own opinion. It invites people to duke it out in the comment thread of their blog, thus providing them with lots of hits and drama, but preventing them from offending anyone.
Is the guy you mentioned a teacher? It seems an odd way to start a conversation.
I hadn’t thought of it that way, but yeah, you’re right. It’s just as bad.
No, he’s a, as he puts it, “Resourcing Manager”. No idea what that is. Maybe something to do with Personnel Recruitment? Yes, it’s an odd way to start a conversation.
I wondered whether he was just shy, but then I remembered he had *no problem* expressing his opinions of some people’s comments or decisions. He didn’t even blink twice, a couple of weeks ago, when he waded into a conversation between two mothers about breastfeeding, which is – as we all know – a minefield, but he showed no fear.
So, I think he was just being a dickhead with that ‘Discuss.’ thing.
It seems strange that he didn’t preface that comment/order with an explanation of why he wanted it discussed. I have never had a person do it to me but if I encountered it I am sure I can’t imagine just discussing without finding out why I should discuss at his command.
Oh, don’t get me started on manners. Ever felt like committing violence on someone you held the door open for and they passed through with nary a thank you, nod, smile or kiss my arse?
The DH gets very squinty eyed at men who don’t remove their hats or caps inside.
You never had it done to you? Lucky cow. I had it happened to me too many times. Must be that TSTL tattoo across my forehead.
Hats and caps – I wear a hat every time I go out (I have a bald spot on back of my head) and I seem to be the only one who wears it. Does your DH get twitchy towards women who wear hats or caps indoors?
I love your irrepressible rage, toothless crone.
And I mean that very fondly.
Hah! So mischievous of you.