(no subject)

[cheekbones3]

When I see "hey" written down, or sometimes when I hear it even, it sounds like people are shouting for my attention, like something akin to "oi"! It feels almost rude. Am I the only one that thinks this way, or do you see it as the greeting that it often appears to be?

Comments

[ex-jetgrrrl855.livejournal.com]

I just see it as a greeting, like Hi is. But saying that I often write 'heya' instead as it seems more like Hi than Oi :)

[flickerswitch.livejournal.com]

Greeting. Unless followed by an exclamation mark, and even then it's context dependant i think.

[moosedevil.livejournal.com]

Hey ;)

I use it and regard it as a greeting :P

x

[fleurione.livejournal.com]

I think of it as a softer thing than "Hi" :)

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

That's not so bad then :)

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

Hmm.

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

Maybe I'm the weird one then...

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

Softer? Wow! How strange our perceptions can be.

[flickerswitch.livejournal.com]

I think i was getting attention in typing then it would be Oi! Rather than Hey! Hey is too much of agreeting. Perhaps it depends on the person who is writing it's accent or dialect...

[kymara.livejournal.com]

me too, I see it as a softly spoken gentle hello

[lyra.livejournal.com]

I don't use it very often.. I know what you mean about it sounding harsh, like shouting/calling for your attention. HEY, ARE YOU OK. I prefer the old fashioned hello :) I say Hi when I talk though.

[ripperlyn.livejournal.com]

It's slightly more casual than 'hi,' in my book. It's only shouting if it's HEY.

And oi is way ruder.

[silverclear.livejournal.com]

yeah, I also use "hey" as an informal "hi", normally when I'm feeling shy about talking to someone.

"oi" I would only ever use with a sarcastic tone, or if I were really cross.

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

Indeed.

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

This change in language seems to have just passed me by!

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

I used to use hi a lot, but now it's almost always hello!

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

Maybe to you :)

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

I've heard you use oi a lot, but then I know you're almost always sarky with it!

[silverclear.livejournal.com]

me? ;-)

[fleurione.livejournal.com]

well, that is how I use it at least :) as a kinds of "hey" to an intimate friend, rather than a "hi"... although I can see how it being shouted as "Hey!" is similar to "Oi!" like if someone was running off with your bag

[deililly.livejournal.com]

Hey is just a hello
Hey! is a more enthusiastic hello
HEY! is watch it you cheeky bugger for me.

In saying that though I tend to reply with hey rather than im someone with that first..

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

:D

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

I only ever picked up on the last usage it seems...

[deililly.livejournal.com]

What with forums, messengers and whatnot I think I tend to look more at how the word is written rather than what it is. Capitals really count for me!

[silverclear.livejournal.com]

CAPITALS REALLY COUNT FOR ME TOO. I LOVE TEH CAPSLOCK. :-)

[deililly.livejournal.com]

IT IS LIKE THE CRUISE CONTROL FOR AWESOME I HEAR. :P

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

HEY!

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

TEH KOOLZ XXX LOLZZZZ

[moosedevil.livejournal.com]

Yup :P

[http://users.livejournal.com/dee_/]

Eugh, horrible Americanism! ;-)

[rainstorm.livejournal.com]

I occasionally use it and then think "argh, I sound American" :>

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

That may be another reason why my brain has rejected it :P

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

Hold that thought!

[anjylle.livejournal.com]

I usually use 'heyyo' (cutesey 'hello') or 'hey there', though the latter is starting to fall out of use, unless I really am trying to get someone's attention.

[lostangel78.livejournal.com]

oops, i'm guilty of that one, it's meant as an affectionate greeting, never thought of it as shouting. Guess it could be taken the wrong way tho. :0)

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

They seem more logical.

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

Sounds like most people are used to it...

[angelevie.livejournal.com]

well in Sweden people will say Hej - pronounced Hey - as a non formal greeting a bit like Hi - but I will admit it does sound a little softer and nicer than the Americans.

[lostangel78.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm not someone that shouts anyway, so i'll have to bear that in mind for future reference, would hate to offend anyone,glad you brought it up:0)

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

Aye a Scandinavian lilt would certainly sound nicer!