[HPforGrownups] prof-student etiquitte + Potions master stuff (was: Re: Master of This School)

[annegirl11 at juno.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 111863

On Thu, 02 Sep 2004 03:24:16 -0000 "potioncat" <willsonkmom at msn.com>
writes:
> Potioncat:
> I do think it's a cultural thing.  I say that because I grew up in 
> the Southern U.S. where "Ma'am and Sir" were used always when 
> speaking to an adult, even to parents.  Movies almost always get it 
> wrong.  It's made to be a demeaning, bullying sort of behavior, to 
> expect someone to address you that way.  But is wasn't like that at 
> all.

I just meant the "Please" part, not the sir/ma'am. I do know that in the
South, sir and ma'am are common, while southerners who move elsewhere get
funny looks if they say it a lot. 

But I meant the way that Hermione almost always preceedes a question in
Potions (especially if she's sort of interrupting) with "If you please."
I was wondering if "if you please" is one of those phrases that isn't
taken literally, like "all right?" for "what's up?" and "beg your
pardon?" for "repeat that?"

If so, does "if you please" preceeding a question mean "excuse me for
interrupting" or "don't think I'm dumb, but...?" or something else?

Aura

~*~
Well that's a horse of a different color.
Fanfic and original stuff at www.homepage-host.uni.cc/w/ofnone

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