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I think it is worth pointing out that there is a cultural factor in the ordering of the reasons - in the UK, the most important item in a list is often placed l

I think it is worth pointing out that there is a cultural factor in the ordering of the reasons - in the UK, the most important item in a list is often placed last. For example - a work colleague drops by. You discuss multiple things. On his way out he says "And by the way ...". That last point is the real reason he came to see you.

hnedeotes 6y ago
That's interesting and I didn't know that it was a common occurrence, although, still, in the example you showed wouldn't that be because it's being used in a face to face situation (or in writing if you're narrating human discourse, like in a novel, or something along those lines), the 'and by the way' has the effect of highlighting what comes after (and I would guess it isn't unique to British English but a common occurrence in many more languages/cultures). Anyway, I just found it ironic in the context and I still see it as, consciously or not, that idea is projected by the choice of their words, specially given it's in written form, if this were two blokes talking to each other it would be different - and there's nothing wrong with it either way, plus, I can be wrong, which is fine too - the same way I don't want thought police for me I don't want it for anyone else either.