Re: to show/see sb. to the door? [AmE]

Użytkownik "HVS" <usenet@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> napisał w wiadomości news:Xns9A61A32C1AC15whhvans@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On 13 Mar 2008, Ricardo wrote

Hello again,
Which version of the phrase would you choose as preferential:
"to show sb to the door" or "to see sb to the door"?
Can I say "I will get the door for you" as an equivalent for "I
will show/see you to the door"?

May I ask you a question that's unrelated to your question, Ricardo?

As you may have noticed, one of our regular posters took great
exception to Oleg and Matthew's responses to you, in which they noted
that the abbreviations "sb" and "sth" are seldom encountered outside
of specialist language settings, and recommended that they be avoided
in everyday writing.

I was wondering how *you* reacted to their comments: did you find
them insulting and patronising? Helpful? Irrelevant? Something
else?

I am writing this note with my hands trembling from fear of making a spelling mistake that could be taken for another awkward abbreviation :) Well, I found Tony's reply kind of amusing and offensive at the same time, as it did not come to my mind that such abbreviations so commonly used in bilingual English dictionaries worldwide could be a problem, especially for the native speakers of English. However, if they do cause the problem, it suggests that the English is probably the only language you have learned, which I kindly accept and will try not to be that demanding from now on.
Anyway, I've had lots of fun going through the big discussion and found it very didactic for many reasons. Moreover, I have finally gotten a few merciful answers expressed in plain English with no sarcasm hidden between the lines, which was of practical value to me. BTW, thank you, nice EFL teachers, and specifically Franke, for your support as well as professional and very humane understanding of the problems that non-native speakers encounter learning a foreign language.
Summing up, I believe that both sides of discussants have their points and there is no need to fight on. However, I am in favor of Franke's approach and not necessarily because I feel kind of supported by him. The reason is more philosophical, I guess. It is always much harder to give somebody (!) a hand and encourage to learn than just do the opposite and be unnecessarily brutal with too harsh criticism.
Technically, I understand that many non-native speakers' questions can look dumb or be annoying to people fluent in their mother tongue. It's not that I am that dumb (hopefully :) every time I ask such a question. Many a time it's just a little doubt, like say 5% uncertainty about some kind of surprising nuance, that is still very annoying and often even a short, laconic answer would do. Of course, more verbose replies will be very much welcomed.
I can only hope that my desire to improve my English and true passion for the language, will be appreciated by the anglophones (as you call yourselves) ruling here and make them at least tolerate my humble existence in this newsgroup. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer. I have already learned a lot!!! Thank you all.
Kindest regards from Poland,
Ricardo
P.S. Are smileys allowed here? :)

.

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