I agree that many of the above phrases, but “you need to” tops the irritant list for me. It drives me nuts when, instead of “have to”, “must”, “should”, “ought”, or whatever it is they really mean, people use the imprecise and bossy-sounding “need to” in a misguided attempt to give more weight and authority to their words. As in, “You need to come with me, Sir”. Why not just say “Please come with me, Sir.”? Not only more courteous and professional-sounding, but it has the incidental advantage of being precisely what is meant.
See now, you shouldn’t have got me going...
I heartily agree with you. I believe the use of "need to" in this manner must have arisen relatively recently. At least, I first noticed it during a brief return to the States in the 1990s. (Living abroad makes one more sensitive to changes in the language.)
I find it irritating because it represents a phony kind of politeness. I'd much rather have someone bark "You must..." or "It is prohibited..." or "I order you..." at me in an authoritative voice than whine "Uh, sir: You NEED TO..." and pretend that it is a request.
Regards,