I’ve never understood them. I mean - not sexual, but, you know. Emotional. When somebody says to you - “Oh, look, my father’s just died”, or “I’ve lost my purse”, or “Dude, I’m gay” -

- and you are supposed to reply “OH BABY!” -

- and open your arms -

- and you embrace each other crying or pretending to be crying -

- keeping saying “OH BABY! I’M SO SORRY!” -

if this is not a nightmare, then what is?

Must be a cultural difference. Also, I don’t like this expression, “I’m sorry” because it can mean two things, mixed in English but very different in Russian: (1) “I am ashamed, I did something wrong and regret it”, (2) “I feel pity for you”.

Posted by Nadya in English, psychology, words