Junk in your Trunk

Have you ever noticed how we all tend to use our buts to ease our collective conscience about the things we say? Like a warning...Toot Toot! Here comes an insult! Here comes some gossip! Like somehow qualifying that we aren’t trying to say what we’re about to say makes it ok. I’m nicer if I tell you that I don’t want to say these things – even though I’m going to say them anyway.

I don’t mean to be mean but...
I’m not trying to gossip but...
Not to talk about her but...
I’m not trying to hurt your feelings but...
I don’t mean to be rude but...

I wonder what would happen if I went to a co-worker and said “I’m trying to be mean when I say this, you look kinda bloated today.”