Toyota Yaris Forums - Ultimate Yaris Enthusiast Site
 

 


 
Go Back   Toyota Yaris Forums - Ultimate Yaris Enthusiast Site > Members Area > Off-topic / Other Cars / Everything else Discussions
  The Tire Rack

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-22-2009, 01:21 PM   #1
SIPNGAS
I LOVE my Yaris!
 
SIPNGAS's Avatar
 
Drives: 2007 Polar White LB
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Southeast Wisconsin
Posts: 5,164
Send a message via MSN to SIPNGAS Send a message via Yahoo to SIPNGAS
Reason versus Excuse...

what IS the difference?

The two seem like they could be used in place of the other...but I think a reason given by someone could sound like an excuse to another. And an excuse isn't always a bad thing, but it sort of has the that feel.

Thoughts?
__________________
We don't see things as THEY are...we see them as WE are.

Lisa
aka SIPNGAS
SIPNGAS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2009, 01:24 PM   #2
SailDesign
 
Drives: .
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: .
Posts: 1,931
A reason is the "Why did you do this?" thing. There is only one answer.
An excuse is the public front you put on the reason.

Teacher: Jimmy, why did you punch Pete?
Jimmy: 'Coz he called me a poopy-head (this is the "excuse")

The REASON was that Pete called him a poopy-head for stealing his lunch money.
SailDesign is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2009, 02:31 PM   #3
mrbond
 
mrbond's Avatar
 
Drives: 2008 meteorite hatchback
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Illinois
Posts: 960
Send a message via AIM to mrbond
^ that is true.

I actually heard a discussion about this on NPR a few weeks ago. The difference is very subjective. Excuses aren't always a bad thing - it apparently depends on the context, the content, and what its goal is.
Whether something is viewed as an excuse as opposed to a reason would depend on who is getting the excuse/reason.
__________________
- HOOOEY! That's one tahny little cawr! What the heck kinda toy is that?
- A Toyota Yaris
- A whut Yaris?
mrbond is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2009, 02:32 PM   #4
SIPNGAS
I LOVE my Yaris!
 
SIPNGAS's Avatar
 
Drives: 2007 Polar White LB
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Southeast Wisconsin
Posts: 5,164
Send a message via MSN to SIPNGAS Send a message via Yahoo to SIPNGAS
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrbond View Post
^ that is true.

I actually heard a discussion about this on NPR a few weeks ago. The difference is very subjective. Excuses aren't always a bad thing - it apparently depends on the context, the content, and what its goal is.
Whether something is viewed as an excuse as opposed to a reason would depend on who is getting the excuse/reason.
That's what I think, too.

It's all about perception and the two sides could view a reason/excuse as one or the other.
__________________
We don't see things as THEY are...we see them as WE are.

Lisa
aka SIPNGAS
SIPNGAS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2009, 02:46 PM   #5
Shroomster
'07 to '12:2 wipers to 1?
 
Shroomster's Avatar
 
Drives: '12 5-door LE & '14 5-door LE
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Orlando
Posts: 1,999
I always ask myself like this:

Do I have a reason or am I making an excuse?
Shroomster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2009, 08:47 PM   #6
GeneW
Banned
 
Drives: 2008 Yaris
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,034
Quote:
Originally Posted by SIPNGAS View Post
what IS the difference?

The two seem like they could be used in place of the other...but I think a reason given by someone could sound like an excuse to another. And an excuse isn't always a bad thing, but it sort of has the that feel.

Thoughts?
The difference is probably the sophistication of the explanation....

If Bill Clinton got busted with an Intern in the Oval Office his excuse was his "Alpha Male" status. His explanation is that he was a sex addict, if not "an appetite in a suit" (so said Jesse Jackson).

Gene
GeneW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2009, 09:05 PM   #7
YarisOwnersDad
Is now a Corolla S Owner
 
Drives: 2010 Corolla S
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Western Kentucky
Posts: 460
All reasons that sound good are not necessarily good, sound reasons.
YarisOwnersDad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2009, 09:14 PM   #8
supmet
Banned
 
Drives: 2007 4 Door Yaris
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,357
I have reasons, everyone else has excuses
supmet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2009, 09:16 PM   #9
Tamago
Start another Oil Thread!
 
Tamago's Avatar
 
Drives: ZZW30
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: South FL
Posts: 4,890
Send a message via AIM to Tamago Send a message via Yahoo to Tamago
reasons are based on facts
excuses are based on feelings

for example:

why are you late?

reason: there was an accident on the 826
excuse: i wasn't certain what the traffic was going to be like, so i didn't leave as early as i should have
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by xnamerxx
I hate people like you (xbgod) because your the reason I don't come to this board. You spout nonsense and lies and people who don't know any better hold you in high regards because they can't tell the wheat from the chaff.
you nailed it sir.

Last edited by Tamago; 05-23-2009 at 12:22 AM. Reason: bad grammar
Tamago is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2009, 09:43 PM   #10
TLyttle
 
TLyttle's Avatar
 
Drives: 07 Yaris sedan
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Keremeos BC
Posts: 986
Hey, Lisa, is there background to this question? Just asking....
TLyttle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2009, 12:11 AM   #11
jdinrc
 
jdinrc's Avatar
 
Drives: 2009 Yaris Blazing Blue 3dr
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Southern California
Posts: 466
I like these definitions from Webster's

Reason: a statement offered in explanation or justification, a rational ground or motive, a sufficient ground of explanation or of logical defense ; especially : something (as a principle or law) that supports a conclusion or explains a fact

Excuse: : something offered as justification or as grounds for being excused, an expression of regret for failure to do something, to try to remove blame from

Therefore:
A reason is a factual, logical explanation of a rational motive and is based on facts.

An excuse is an expression of regret and request for being excused (not an apology, but a request that no blame be assigned).
jdinrc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2009, 01:09 AM   #12
TheRealEnth
Beast
 
TheRealEnth's Avatar
 
Drives: 2007 Blz Blu LB
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 1,365
Send a message via AIM to TheRealEnth
Quote:
Therefore:
A reason is a factual, logical explanation of a rational motive and is based on facts.

An excuse is an expression of regret and request for being excused (not an apology, but a request that no blame be assigned).
thats just what tamago said =D
__________________

One you've taken a yaris for a spin, there's no turning back.
Its a Chao!!!
TheRealEnth is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2009, 01:26 AM   #13
Giobatera
 
Giobatera's Avatar
 
Drives: Yaris Sedan
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Coral Springs, FL
Posts: 246
Come on now, what is the reason for all these excuses????????:biggrin :
__________________
GioBatera
Giobatera is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2009, 01:39 AM   #14
FunctionSpec
Super Newbie
 
FunctionSpec's Avatar
 
Drives: 2007 Yaris Liftback White
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: 626, Southern California
Posts: 180
An excuse is our reason for doing something "wrong". Whether if we are telling the truth or telling a lie, the end result is still the same, we did something "wrong".

"Katie was late for class"<~~What she did wrong
"I had to save a dying puppy"<~~the truth
"There was traffic on the freeway"<~~the lie

Whether she lied or told the truth, even if it's good or bad, in the end she still did something "wrong", being late for class, which makes her reason for doing something wrong an "excuse".

Now if Katie saved her neighbors dying puppy, would the neighbor ask her "What's your excuse for saving my dog?" Is Katie's reason for doing something "right" an excuse? Only if you do something "wrong" would it be considered an excuse.

To Katie's teacher she did something "wrong" since she came late to class and to her neighbor she did something "right" since she saved her puppy. So her reason to her teacher is an excuse and her reason to her neighbor is..........a reason......lol
FunctionSpec is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2009, 04:05 AM   #15
SIPNGAS
I LOVE my Yaris!
 
SIPNGAS's Avatar
 
Drives: 2007 Polar White LB
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Southeast Wisconsin
Posts: 5,164
Send a message via MSN to SIPNGAS Send a message via Yahoo to SIPNGAS
ooo..this was VERY interesting!

And it comes from a question posed to me by a friend. He said I was making an excuse for something I didn't do....(and he thought I should have)...where I felt I was stating a reason. I still think I had a good REASON....and that's where my thinking is the two have a lot to do with perception.

Thanks guys for some interesting and insightful answers.
__________________
We don't see things as THEY are...we see them as WE are.

Lisa
aka SIPNGAS
SIPNGAS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2009, 08:51 AM   #16
SailDesign
 
Drives: .
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: .
Posts: 1,931
Quote:
Originally Posted by SIPNGAS View Post
ooo..this was VERY interesting!

And it comes from a question posed to me by a friend. He said I was making an excuse for something I didn't do....(and he thought I should have)...where I felt I was stating a reason. I still think I had a good REASON....and that's where my thinking is the two have a lot to do with perception.

Thanks guys for some interesting and insightful answers.
Now, Lisa - you're only adding fuel to the "curiosity" fire.
SailDesign is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2009, 11:41 AM   #17
cdavidhess
 
cdavidhess's Avatar
 
Drives: 2008 White Yaris Sedan 5 speed
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 46
Then there's the statement:

Everyone has two reasons for doing something--- a "good" reason and the "real" reason.
__________________
cdavidhess is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2009, 05:14 PM   #18
MadMax
 
MadMax's Avatar
 
Drives: 2008 Yaris Liftback (Sprocket)
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: San Antonio, Texas!
Posts: 2,799
A reason is an explanation of how something happened, and excuse is an explanation as to why it happened.

In the military, you can give a reason for something going wrong, but there had never be an excuse for it. The bottom line is that if it was your responsibility, then you will be held accountable for it no matter why it happened.
MadMax is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
The real reason you did not get everything Bob_VT Off-topic / Other Cars / Everything else Discussions 4 12-26-2008 10:49 PM
Transmission versus Gears caveatipse General Yaris / Vitz Discussion 3 09-23-2007 03:50 PM
Mobil 1 versus Royal Purple caveatipse DIY / Maintenance / Service 6 09-08-2007 08:54 PM
Yaris versus Yaris Concert Tour Thirty-Nine General Yaris / Vitz Discussion 3 06-07-2007 06:12 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:41 AM.




YarisWorld
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.