There are many terms that people say that sound good in principle but once you break them down you will quickly notice that they are not very good or kind at all. I have made mention to some of these in the past, and am now bringing them up in greater detail.

1. “I am sorry to hear that.” This does not mean what you think it means. You heard that the person who said that feels badly for you, or whomever it was directed at. What they really meant was “I am sorry you told me that.” If they really felt badly they would have said “I am sorry that happened to you.”
2. “I am just saying.” This is one of many dismissal terms I will bring up. This sentence is a vague attempt at someone dismissing the crappy thing that they just said to you as if everyone was thinking what they said but they alone had the courage to say it out loud. Example: “You look terrible in that outfit. I am just saying.”
3. “Don’t take this the wrong way…” This term puts the blame of the reaction incurred by the statement that follows directly on the shoulders of the person the statement is directed at. This is not a fair thing to do. Basically you can call someone anything after that term is used and if they get upset you have indicated that it is there fault for being upset. Example: “Don’t take this the wrong way, your wife is a bit of a whore.”
4. “I mean that as a compliment” is a great way of putting someone down indirectly and then informing them that they should take that put down as a positive thing. This allows you to say pretty much anything and leave the positive interpretation of what you said to anyone on any level, absolving you of all wrong doing. Example: “I bet you are a very buoyant person. I mean that as a compliment.”
5. “Don’t mind me saying…” Another great dismissal. I am about to say something completely offensive but you should just dismiss that fact and move on. Example: “Don’t mind me saying that your house looks like a shanty I saw once in a third world country.”
6. “Allow me to interject here.” This is a way for someone to ask themselves to make a comment. Nothing like inviting yourself to interrupt someone else so that you may make some ridiculous comment. Example: “Allow me to interject here, Bob you couldn’t be more incorrect if your head was shoved completely up your ass and you were winning an ass kicking contest.”
7. “This is a break down in communication.” This means that you screwed up. I love it when people say that communication broke down – normally they are trying to tell you that you f’d things up but really don’t want a conflict. Example: “If you had told me that then we would not have bombed Iraq to powder. This is a breakdown in communication.”
8. “Wow, this is interesting!” Normally made in reference to food that people hate. Your eggplant ice cream went over like the Hindenburg at a Dried Straw Festival, congrats.
9. “I have had such a bad day….” This is a trap. A leader statement. This person wants you to ask them about their day so that they may do you the favor of telling you about it. Catch here is you really don’t care whatsoever and thus should have really done number 10. This has become a plague on Facebook where it is called many thing such as VagueBooking, Facefishing and Facebegging.
10. “Ok.” and “That sucks.” This is a conversation ender. Someone hits you with a leader statement like “I have had the worst day ever!” you say back “ok.” DONE.