A Guide To British Etiquette: Do you mind if...?

Author: Chi_The_Cynic

Date: August 21, 2004

by Chi_The_Cynic
8-21-04
Ah, hello, I'll be right with you, but do you mind if I just nip out for a cigarette first?
Would it make any difference if I said I did mind?
Even if you do mind, you can't possibly say so! That's just not right!
So then why phrase it as a question? Why not just say that you're going out for a cigarette instead of asking me if I mind or not?
To keep up the pretence that I actually care about what you think, of course
Oh yes, silly me...