Thank you for having me

[Jonathan Lighter]

I think the problem, if there is one, is that TV guests of the century gone
by generally said, "Thank you for inviting me," or "Thanks for having me on
(the show)."  (Fifty years ago they said things like, "You're very welcome.
I'm happy to be here.")

All of which seem rather more eloquent.

Watch for, by 2025: guests expressing their polite thanks with "Whatever!"

JL

On Wed, Dec 15, 2010 at 11:43 PM, Greg Pulliam <pulliam at iit.edu> wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Greg Pulliam <pulliam at IIT.EDU>
> Subject:      Re: Thank you for having me
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> There is nothing "smarmy" about this phrase. It is a gracious way so
> say "you're welcome." Windmills.
>
>
> >I'd like to nominate "Thank you for having me"
> >for smarmy expression of the year.
> >
> >This is often heard on programs like PBS Newshour
> >from people they have interviewed or had on a panel
> >of some sort.
> >
> >I haven't decided whether the phrase is
> >disingenuous
> >obsequious
> >or
> >just plain smarmy
> >but I keep waiting for the speakers to get down on their knees or
> something.
> >
> >On the other hand, it sounds like something a guy might say to a
> prostitute
> >on the way out the door.
> >
> >Who knows.
> >(Can't they just say the good old "You're welcome" after the host
> >says "Thank you for coming"?)
> >
> >Put it on the MOST SMARMY PHRASE OF THE YEAR list.
> >
> >akra
> >
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>
>
> --
> Gregory J. Pulliam
> Humanities Department
> SH 218 - 3301 S. Dearborn
> Illinois Institute of Technology
> Chicago, Illinois 60616
>
> 312.567.7968
>
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>



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