How to talk Minnesota Nice

larrybob — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 13:24:01 -0800

I grew up in Minnesota, home of a particular passive-aggressive communication style which is summed up nicely by this chart and subsequent comments. Of particular import is the difference between "that's different" and "that's sure different" (though there isn't mention of "that's real different," which I think means just about the same thing) and examples of Minnesota Enthusiastic Neutral. Also worth noting is the classic book by sometime A Prairie Home Companion regular Howard Mohr, How to Talk Minnesotan. An example:

"That's sure different": like "that's different" but really anybody ought to be able to SEE that I hate your choices what is WRONG with you do you not have a combination of manners and sarcasm on your planet. "That's different": your hair smells of coconut, and I personally hate coconut. "That's sure different": your hair smells of rotten coconut. "That's different" could be an honest difference of opinion; "that's sure different" indicates that no sane person could do what you have just done. But we don't want to be rude about it!

Passive-aggressive notes from roommates, neighbors, coworkers and strangers.

chunking express — Wed, 23 May 2007 08:32:48 -0800

Passive-aggressive notes from roommates, neighbors, coworkers and strangers.

Passive-aggressive bass guitar abuse.

basilwhite — Sun, 19 Feb 2006 20:45:37 -0800

Don't take your sexual frustration out on your bass guitar. The Bass Player Cycle of Abuse: 1) Bass player joins band. 2) Bass player resents getting less groupie sex than rest of band. 3) Bass player misdirects their resentment and creates one of these.

MetaFilter posts tagged with passive-aggressive

How to talk Minnesota Nice

Passive-aggressive notes from roommates, neighbors, coworkers and strangers.

Passive-aggressive bass guitar abuse.