Quote Originally Posted by Mavrias View Post
I don't think you should have to word things like you're speaking to a small child just to tell someone that there's a better way they should be doing things.
Although I agree with your idea (below), I don't agree with this phrase.
I'm not sure exactly how you're using it, but in general such a phrase is tossed about whenever someone wants to defend being a jerk.
And the answer is always the same - yes, you do have to be nice to everyone all the time. You don't get "time off" from being nice so you can be jerk "just this once."

I don't think that's how you meant it, because it doesn't jive quite with the next thing you say.
So I don't mean that as a reprimand with you... just wanted to vent my general distaste for that particular statement

I'm not advocating cursing someone out, but, "why aren't you using X?" is a perfectly valid question. Instead of getting all defensive that person should instead be thinking "Oh, I should be using that ability, then?" or maybe explain their thought process to the rest of the class.
With this, I completely agree.
I think saying "why aren't you using X?" is being nice.

Of course, it's quite easy for the rest of the conversation-from-here to either "stay nice" or become a jerk.
Just stay nice. All the time. To everyone. No one, ever, gets a free pass to be a jerk.