"You're a man of the world, can I ask you a question?"

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A colleague opened a conversation with me like this the other week. I was flattered and intrigued but disappointingly it was about how you address Japanese people. Have you ever been called a 'man of the world'? And if not what would you ask one?

(I am not a man of the world so I cannot promise replies.)

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 09:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Also can you be a woman of the world? Or is this one of those double standard things?

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 09:28 (twenty-two years ago)

I too am sad about never being called a man of the world. But I suppose it's the same as being called mundane, which isn't so good. So maybe I am not sad and am instead happy to be a citizen of the universe, or maybe even that is too restrictive.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 09:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I've been called a Woman of the World. Unfortunately, it has rather a negative connotation. Double standards, great, aren't they?

― kate, Wednesday, 7 May 2003 09:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Someone who had never met me once saw a letter in my handwriting and told my friend "he seems like a man of the world". This is amusing not only because I am in no way a MotW, but also because even the most amateur graphologist would agree that my handwriting is that of an irredeemable ponce.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 09:34 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think I've even been called a man yet. or of this world.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 09:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Was the letter about filthy dolphin sex?

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 09:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Dolphin sex is never filthy.

On a related note, a feckless ex-colleague once began a conversation with the words "You're a wise man, can I ask you a question...". I think it has everything to do with a) the eye of the beholder & all that and b) buttering you up before they tell you they want to borrow money/they've slept with your bf/gf/they've crashed your car.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 09:38 (twenty-two years ago)

i hooked up once, in orlando
i was pretty drunk, could have been a man tho

― gareth (gareth), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 09:43 (twenty-two years ago)

is their anything that can't be reduced to american girls?

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 10:02 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't know about IRL, but in the movies starting a conversation with 'you're a man of the world' usually means someone's about to a) tell you some crap story/ask advice about some illicit sex they had/want to have, or b) ask you to collude with something illegal.

― Archel (Archel), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 10:03 (twenty-two years ago)

i am an omniperson of space

― mark s (mark s), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 10:31 (twenty-two years ago)

so how do you address Japanese people?

― ken c, Wednesday, 7 May 2003 12:54 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't know! (Well beyond "Hello" or "Good Morning" or "Dear ____" in a letter) Even at this I am a failure as a man of the world.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 12:55 (twenty-two years ago)

why not just try to be a man of the wold? Move to stow.

― alix (alix), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 13:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Nipper - had they crashed your car?

― the pinefox, Wednesday, 7 May 2003 13:40 (twenty-two years ago)

this is how to address the japanese (and indeed everyone else): "TREMBLE PUNY EARTHLINGS!"

― mark s (mark s), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 13:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, I thought it was just children I should address like that..

― alix (alix), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 14:00 (twenty-two years ago)

That's "EARTHLETS" Alix.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 14:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Every little thing the reflex does leaves you answered with a question mark.

― jel -- (jel), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 14:48 (twenty-two years ago)

*points at jel*

DURANIE!

― Dee the Semi-Lurker (Dee the Lurker), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 15:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Dee, trust me -- there are many of us here and we aren't afraid to hide it. ;-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 15:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I was bought up in a pro-duran household!

― jel -- (jel), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 15:17 (twenty-two years ago)

i am a boy in a hole

― jess (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 15:19 (twenty-two years ago)

At work I often get, "Sarah, you're smart - what do you know about this...?" or "Sarah, you know about computers... Show me how to..." I generally assume they're just trying to butter me up so I'll help them with something.

― Sarah McLUsky (coco), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 15:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Do you need a ladder?

― jel -- (jel), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 15:21 (twenty-two years ago)

no i like it here my hole

― jess (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 15:21 (twenty-two years ago)

"We are all passengers
On Spaceship Earth"
This was spraypainted on my apartment building.

― Fivvy (Fivvy), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 15:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Cool! Fair enough.

― jel -- (jel), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 15:22 (twenty-two years ago)

I know when one of my bosses is trying to get something out of me when he comes to me and the first words out of his mouth are "Aimee DARLING..."

― luna (luna.c), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 19:56 (twenty-two years ago)

some girl at work e-mailed me with "did i tell you you look very nice today?" before asking me for a favour. It was very much buttering before the actual thing rather than a geniue compliment. I just realised how many innuendos can be assumed from this paragraph.

Unfortunately none of those would reflect what I meant. Serious thread drift, but.. Flirting in the office C/D?

― ken c, Wednesday, 7 May 2003 23:43 (twenty-two years ago)

classic of course

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 23:47 (twenty-two years ago)

must.not.revive.ugh.

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 23:50 (twenty-two years ago)

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