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Putting "I don't mean to insult you" before a mild phrase just makes it sound you actually want to insult but in a passive aggressive way.


I saw it more as “if you are insulted by this reasonable advice, then you are an immature idiot” rather than a more direct insult. Still passive-aggressive, but no insult intended if the reader isn't triggered.

Source: I use similar phrases this way.


You mean there’s a slippery slope from “I don’t mean to insult you” to passively aggressively insulting them? ;)




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