What or Pardon-Neither!!!!

There are no 'shoulds' about what words to use when you didn't hear something, except that one should be polite. If one's manner is not impolite then whatever one says is not impolite. This principle is really quite simple. I don't understand why so many people seem to think the words matter more than the manner.

PS What is Miranda, please?

Comedy show on TV- Miranda Hart. She has a very posh friend who is always answering her mobile and telling the others-"bear with, bear with"

Ah! Thanks, trisher.

Wouldn't use either! I just say "Sorry" and people seem to understand.

What??

I was taught to say 'what' by a very grammatically correct English teacher at a grammar school in the 60's!!
She commented that common people (the hoi poloi) said 'pardon'!!
Reminds me of the toilet and lavatory debate! Thankfully someone invented the loo!!!

Pardon every time! I cannot believe some of the comments made by other Gransnetters! I do say Sorry with an enquiring look on some occasions but What- never ! Rude rude rude and if someone was to say that to me I would ignore them completely and would certainly not repeat myself!!

Pardon is an absolute no no for all occasions, pardon me is even worse.
What kind of person say's 'what', this is very vulgar.
Class system is alive and kicking, I'm afraid!.
Poor Roxannediane, teacher not so grammatically correct after all but 'loo' is fine.

Pardon???

Havers (pronounced hayvers; Scottish for 'nonsense'!)

Don't you mean Nigel Havers?, didn't know he was Scottish. He doesn't speak with a Scottish accent, sounds quite post really

Forget to add that Nigel Havers would NEVER say 'pardon' or 'what' did you say or 'pardon'!!!!.

Who is Nigel Havers?

Oh, him. Just googled. Shrug.

Actually, I suspect he would say any of those if it were in his script.

You know when threads get quite surreal?

You mean when everyone starts havering, alea?

Good bit o' 'averin' never did nobody no 'arm.

Oh 'eck! Apostrophes are taking over.

Good bit of 'averin'....

See! I told you! They're takin' over.

Exactly Elegran and when "havering" leads to Nigel Havers, which I always thought more of a statement than a proper name . . . .

I must say that Nigel Havers is one of the bits of posh totty on TV (or used to be, I don't think I've seen him in anything lately. Is he getting past it?)

It is the stream of consciousness, alea

Though sometimes the stream does go down the drain.

And it goes down with a gurgling chuckle mc-chuckle.