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Conference thebay::joyoflex

Title:	The Joy of Lex
Notice:	A Notes File even your grammar could love
Moderator:	THEBAY::SYSTEM

Created:	Fri Feb 28 1986
Last Modified:	Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	1192
Total number of notes:	42769

931.0. "'Hey, it works for me!' <= Howcum Dat Funny?" by RDVAX::KALIKOW ([Harvard]�) Sun Nov 24 1991 05:44

    Here's another bit of pop culcha in the USA that's amusing yet subtle. 
    I use it rather often -- but sometimes wonder just what are the
    requisite conditions for its humor.
    
    It has _something_ to do with using it in a situation where something
    is achieving some sort of desirable result, but the claim "Hey, it
    works for me!" evokes the idea that some action or choice was made on
    the speaker's part that was inadvertent or natural, and yet claim is
    made for its aptness, choice by volition, or inherent rightness. 
    Weird.  I know I'm missing something in the above abstractions.  I have
    the feeling that some sort of subtle conceptual or linguistic "hook" is
    being pulled here, but I can't quite figure it out.
    
    But Hey, it _works_ for me! :-)
    
    Discuss.

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
931.1		SSDEVO::EGGERS	Anybody can fly with an engine.	`Sun Nov 24 1991 10:00`	13
	I've heard it used in scenarios like the following: Speaker X describes problem he is having. Speaker Y tells how he handles similar situations. Speaker X says that won't work for him. Speaker Y says, "Hey, it works for me!" I've understood the expression to be a polite, formula way for Y to not get into an argument about his proposed solution. It does sound to me more polite than, "Take it or leave it."
931.2		MCIS5::WOOLNER	Photographer is fuzzy, underdeveloped and dense	`Mon Nov 25 1991 12:32`	13
	Although .1 "works for me" (heh heh), I think that's the straight- forward, traditional (unfunny) usage. I've seen it as a response to an absurd solution: Speaker L: Jeez, I can't get this garage door opener to close right. Speaker M: Wow, sounds like your only option is to burn the house to the ground, climb a mountain and contemplate your navel! Speaker L: Works for me. Leslie
931.3		SSDEVO::EGGERS	Anybody can fly with an engine.	`Mon Nov 25 1991 13:14`	1
	Is there a line missing in .-1?
931.4	Hey .3, I don't think so; .2 Worked For Me!! :-)	RDVAX::KALIKOW	[Harvard]�	`Mon Nov 25 1991 13:23`	1
	(-: or was that your point, ::EGGERS and didja sucker me in?? :-)
931.5		MCIS5::WOOLNER	Photographer is fuzzy, underdeveloped and dense	`Mon Nov 25 1991 14:01`	5
	Nope, no lines missing (maybe a couple of marbles, though). My point was that "it works for me" is a rejoinder to/acknowledgement of an absurdity. Leslie
931.6		SSDEVO::EGGERS	Anybody can fly with an engine.	`Mon Nov 25 1991 20:50`	3
	I think I was the one who got confused. A missing line was an easier explanation for me than taking the note as written as an example of the expression's use. I completely missed the intent of the note.
931.7	serious or humorous	SMAUG::MILLER	Valerie Miller	`Tue Dec 03 1991 07:22`	20
	In my experience, "works for me" is used as an agreement-phrase, meaning approximately the same thing as "sounds good to me". It can be used either in response to a serious suggestion, e.g. person A: We have so many errands to run today -- how about if you take all the ones downtown and I'll take the rest. person B: Works for me. Or in response to an obviously absurd suggestion, e.g. person A: Digital has so many problems -- they should just fire everybody and start from scratch! person B: Works for me.