The ideal complaint

The actual words don't matter. What counts is the lightness of tone that comes from an impression of the legitimacy or our position. For example:

• I love this song as well, but at the moment, I need to get some sleep (when someone is playing their music loudly near you)
• I know it's not your fault, but a fly does seem to have entangled itself in the minestrone (when you're in a restaurant and you found something inappropriate in your food)