I'm in IT, and for the longest time I used to trip Southerners up. When I came to fix an issue, rather than going through the long preamble of "How are you, and your kids, and all the relatives, and the weather, and the job, and did you see the game last night and...." ....I'd either just ask "So, what needs fixing" or, just sit down and start fixing the problem.
I just didn't know any better. Southerners just didn't know how to deal with it.
After a good bit down here, I've decided that slower *is* better. I'll live longer. But sometimes, I'd just like to communicate what needs to be communicated (like with my neighbor that I don't get along very well with...just say "shut your $#@#$ dog up") and skip all of the pleasantries.
There’s a time for work, but that comes after we get the really important issues out of the way, like how your Mama and all your family are doin’ , what you thought about State’s win last Sat and how the hot/cold temps and precipitation are affecting you and yours. LOL The computer isn’t going anywhere so it will still be broken and waiting for you after we have had our little visit.
“sometimes, I’d just like to communicate what needs to be communicated (like with my neighbor that I don’t get along very well with...just say “shut your $#@#$ dog up”) and skip all of the pleasantries.”
The pleasantries are signs of civilization. Back in the 60’s my grandmother used to counter the “let it all hang out” mantra with this rejoinder. “Why would we want to let it all hang out? It has taken us centuries to tuck it all in.”