More Than Welcome
I never understood the idea of the phrase You’re more than welcome, often uttered in response to a request, since welcome always seems the most accommodating invitation under any circumstances. Certainly, between welcome and not welcome there exists a continuous gradation, though it is one that goes unmentioned in civil discourse. For instance, “You’re less than welcome” is a response that is semantically possible even if hardly ever heard. Similarly, while “You’re not welcome” is a meaningful phrase it is so impolite that it only surfaces in Republican debates. But what kind of territory lies on the other side beyond “Welcome”? What exactly is the meaning of that “More”? Since the open invitation conveyed by “You’re welcome” cannot possibly be magnified, in the sense that beyond a certain opening width, the further opening of a door has no effect, the “more” in this phrase can only mean that there is some type of coercion at work, kidnapping for your own good, a forceful subjugation to the offered hospitality, a kick in the butt since the invited person can’t make up his/her mind. In that sense, and only in that sense, the phrase “You’re more than welcome” is not just thoughtless, it is positively offensive.
This entry was posted in Blog and tagged discourse, door, subjugation. Bookmark the permalink.
Leave a Reply