Poll: Please?

[Chipperz]

So, the event that made me snap on politeness happened today;

Requesting a room to do photoshop for college, I went to one of the mythical custodians of the room keys to ask her to unlock a door. I asked the following question, which I feel I delivered in a pleasant, neutral-to-happy tone that people seem to like;

"Hey, I need to do some quick photoshop work and my tutors not in, could I borrow you for a second to unlock a door for me?"

The woman then turned to me and started glaring, clearly trying to kill me with her mind. We were there for a good few seconds before I twigged that I hadn't shown my ID, so I got it out, politely apologised and showed her it. At this point, I got what may be the stupidest response of my life;

"It's a considered a sign of respect to say 'please'!"

After a few more seconds of stunned silence on my part, I sighed and let out a long, drawn out

"I'm sorry. May I please. Please. Pretty, pretty please. Please borrow you to open a door for me?"
"Of course dear. Was that so hard?"

I'm still in some kind of shock over the entire incident, but it's got me thinking - would you rather be a genuine request for help, without a please, or do you need the please before you do something to help, even if it's dripping with sarcasm?

Also, before you post, yes, yes I'm very aware that some of you are going to go on about how you don't help your fellow man because at all you hate them all. Yes, we're all very impressed at your fake misanthropy that you've put on so a bunch of strangers will think you're cool. Now, just once, try acting like a grown up. For me. Please.

tl;dr? Read it, ya lazy gobshite.

 

[TheNamlessGuy]

DELETED

 

[Zenn3k]

My requests are always dripping with sarcasm, with or without a please. Its mostly because I hate human beings.

 

[El Poncho]

Aslong as they ask nicely or atleast not in a nasty I demand you to do it or you should do it because it's me way then i'm fine if they don't say please, but i'm still not doing it for them if they say it nasty to me even if they do say please.

 

[Cherry Cola]

Wow, there's still people like that around?

I thought they all died around 1930...

They developed time-machines then. Didn't you know? Tons of them got into our time.

 

[Cabisco]

I barely ever say please when i think about it. Yet i nearly always try to be nice and well mannered, so i reckon who you met just wasn't a nice person. Please isn't a magic word. I'm not sure why, but doesn't saying please sound slightly childish to anyone but me?


A heartfelt request with no pleasantries ftw.

 

[ThreeWords]

Wow, there's still people like that around?

I thought they all died around 1930...

They developed time-machines then. Didn't you know? Tons of them got into our time.

Stupid people form olden times, coming here and taking our jobs. Someone oughta do something about it!

 

[Trilby]

The thing is, there are more ways of politely asking than simply saying the world "please", but a lot of people are brought up with the misguided idea that good manners begins and ends at the magic words "please" and "thank you".

And, as anyone with any social awareness knows, the only thing worse than a breach of manners is to point out a breach by someone else.

 

[Spaghetti]

As much as I like to hear a please when someone asks, you're right, saying please doesn't cover the fact that the person asking is being a complete wanker about it.

But it's still nice to say please even if its truly heartfelt and an awe inspiring request. It's not like it will kill you.

 

[Davey Woo]

I think it's stupid when people ask for a please, by the time you've forgotten to say it, it has lost it's meaning.
I don't need people to say please if they ask me for something, if it's within my abilities to do it, I probably will.

 

[TheNumber1Zero]

Considering that the please would be sarcastic, while the kind request would be pleasent, I would choose the kind request.

 

[rokkolpo]

i'm always polite until i don't get respect.

i wear a fedora hat so most adults think i'm some kind of punk.
big mistake, because if they try to disrespect me with that they will get BURNED.

i usually attack them with the power of the dictionary,making them unable to think because their mind is still processing the words.

and after that i always get what i want.(***** trying to disrespect me because i'm young)



but otherwise i'm always polite and smile

 

[Primee133]

My parents do the same.

 

[rokkolpo]

i'm always polite until i don't get respect.

i wear a fedora hat so most adults think i'm some kind of punk.
big mistake, because if they try to disrespect me with that they will get BURNED.

i usually attack them with the power of the dictionary,making them unable to think because their mind is still processing the words.

and after that i always get what i want.(***** trying to disrespect me because i'm young)



but otherwise i'm always polite and smile

wow, you're full of yourself aren't you?

i just fail at expressing what i think thru writing. gets me a lot of bad grades.

 

[Cado_Deus]

Heartfelt is always great. Please, while very nice to hear, isn't a must. You were in the right and they were having a bad day were just down right crotchety.

 

[Jared]

As long as someone says something with all the heart they can, and mean what they are saying. It dosnt matter if they say please, or thank you. Because, at the end of the day they mean what they are saying and you can see it...plus, it appeases to my gentle nature so my honour wouldnt let me not help, lol.

A sarcastic request would end up with that individual been blanked, no matter how much they asked please

 

[Mozared]

Wow, there's still people like that around?

I thought they all died around 1930...

*Giggles*

That, basically. The idea of pleasantries like 'please' is to show how much you'd like another person to do your bidding and how much you'd appriciate it if they did. That's not to say that can't be done without using the word please - I'd just find it harder.

 

[Croaker42]

Wow, there's still people like that around?

I thought they all died around 1930...

I missed a few of them.

OT;
It goes the other way as well. What must be two days ago some uber ***** actually got mad at me for holding open a door for her.

I think some people just enjoy being douchbags. Its not a politeness/gender issue, its a mental issue.

 

[Kinguendo]

I would simply say "NO! You will do it because of the simple fact that me talking to you is more than you deserve now mush you stupid cu...", I cant say the rest for fear of the ban hammer.

 

[ObsessiveSketch]

Wow, there's still people like that around?

I thought they all died around 1930...

Nope, they're still around. And if I'm asking for something that would explicitly benefit me, and would require them to go out of their way to help, I think that a please should be offered.