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People that say "we" instead of "you"

GaryGary 3,982 Posts
edited August 2013 in Strut Central
"and how are we doing today?"

I used to say "I'm doing fine and I don't know how you are doing" but it serves no purpose.

A few weeks ago
I saw a new doctor. She said "we". "so how are we feeling today?"

She looked at my paperwork.

"it says here we've had a colonoscopy. "

"uh, yes." I did not say "but I don't remember seeing you there."

"and where did we have that done?" she asked.

"in my colon" I said.

It's weird right?

  Comments

  • ElectrodeElectrode Los Angeles 3,085 Posts
    Seems like only doctors and passive aggressive middle management types ("can we please expedite this ASAP...uh, thank you") use this. I never understood "y'all" either. "You" and "all" doesn't really work since the "you" is already implied plural, making "all" redundant. And don't even get me started on imperfect past subjunctive. Good luck with the ass thing, though.
  • HorseleechHorseleech 3,830 Posts
    I would bet that doctors are trained to talk this way to put patients at ease and form an immediate 'rapport'.
  • GaryGary 3,982 Posts
    And how are we today?

    Well as we know, we took a Viagra four hours ago and our boner hasn't gone away, so we came here to see us as we were instructed by us when we prescribed it.
  • Controller_7Controller_7 4,052 Posts
    I bet a bunch of you goons say we on the regular while talking about your favorite sports team. Our too.

    "if we could only work on our defensive line we'd have a really good shot at taking the whole series."
    "we totally blew it on Sunday!"

    You ain't on the team brah.
  • toby.dtoby.d 254 Posts
    During my short time working as a primary school teacher I used to say things like "today we're going to be writing a character description" or whatever. Obviously I was never doing much of the writing myself or writing a whole piece anyway. I think I did it subconciously to make it seem like a collaborative effort and that I was there to support them in their endeavours - I guess doctors and managers do it for the same reason.

    But I cringe hard at this sort of thing too, kids are more forgiving.
  • leonleon 883 Posts
    It feels disrespectful (patronising), indeed as how a teacher would address his class.
    Related, also in my allergy zone: ppl talking about themselves in the third sense. "Robbie's been busy this weekend", Robbie said.

    F*ck off, Robbie.
  • ppadilhappadilha 2,236 Posts
    Portuguese people have a habit of speaking to you in the third person. Instead of asking "are you hungy?" they'll ask "is Robbie hungry?" (if your name is Robbie). I never know how to respond, am I supposed to answer in the third person?
  • tabiratabira 856 Posts
    ppadilha said:
    Portuguese people have a habit of speaking to you in the third person. Instead of asking "are you hungy?" they'll ask "is Robbie hungry?" (if your name is Robbie). I never know how to respond, am I supposed to answer in the third person?
    the Japanese do the same. "Is Robbie-san hungry"? Personally I quite like it. It feels a little reserved but in a really respectful way. On the other hand, as Leon says, addressing you as "we" is totally condescending and deserves a good taking down.
  • BeatChemistBeatChemist 1,465 Posts
    Yeah I find the "we" condescending and patronizing. In the case of teachers and their class, it could be argued that the teacher is helping the students write, so they can be included with a "we."
  • finelikewinefinelikewine "ONCE UPON A TIME, I HAD A VINYL." http://www.discogs.com/user/permabulker 1,416 Posts
    there is a similar annoying thing in the germn. In the german languge (as in french) there is polite form of address which is mostly used when you talk to older, more authoritative or unfamiliar people. Then you use "Sie" instead of "Du". Sometimes you meet people who cant evaluate the position and therfore they dont know whether they should use the polite form of address or not. Very often they try to get by by speaking to you in the third person singular or they use the german equivalent of "we". For example: "Will er diese Schallplatte kaufen?"
    Every time I hear it, I feel totally embarrassed for them.
  • The_NonThe_Non 5,691 Posts
    Controller_7 said:
    I bet a bunch of you goons say we on the regular while talking about your favorite sports team. Our too.

    "if we could only work on our defensive line we'd have a really good shot at taking the whole series."
    "we totally blew it on Sunday!"

    You ain't on the team brah.
    Hate that shit
    b/w NICEST COPY WE'VE SEEN!
  • Jean-ClaudeBanDamnedJean-ClaudeBanDamned 282 Posts
    People use the imperial "we" a lot on message boards to pump up their silly opinions.

    It always makes me laugh.

    It's almost always a lame move in real life, too. The sports fan example above is a good one.
  • PlantweedPlantweed 394 Posts
    Governor "Evil Eyes" Cuomo uses "we" instead of "I"; I'd like to know the psychological implications of that.
  • JectWonJectWon (@_@) 1,654 Posts
    Controller_7 said:
    I bet a bunch of you goons say we on the regular while talking about your favorite sports team. Our too.

    "if we could only work on our defensive line we'd have a really good shot at taking the whole series."
    "we totally blew it on Sunday!"

    You ain't on the team brah.

    Damn you....you're right. I don't wear a jersey, though...not sure if that helps.
  • Jean-ClaudeBanDamnedJean-ClaudeBanDamned 282 Posts
    Plantweed said:
    Governor "Evil Eyes" Cuomo uses "we" instead of "I"; I'd like to know the psychological implications of that.

    It's kind of a universal thing among politicians and sports managers/coaches.
  • skelskel You can't cheat karma 5,033 Posts
    See also: Teh Queen, Margaret Thatcher and Bon Vivant.
  • Jean-ClaudeBanDamnedJean-ClaudeBanDamned 282 Posts
    skel said:
    See also: Teh Queen, Margaret Thatcher and Bon Vivant.

    Also Teh skel. From Teh skel archives:

    It seems clear that these newer dudes have 'issues' - maybe psychological, maybe medical, probably all syndromic or certainly somewhere north of 'normal' on the autistic spectrum ( we are all on it somewhere, btw).

    In the week when the Paralympics starts, should we not be a little more rehab oriented, rather than punitive? Cf the Breivik case. I am opposed to the death penalty in all its forms, including Internet Siberia,

    And finally, ask not what SS can do for you etc etc, so put up some challenging, provocative, joyful, or just plain random threads to drown out the chaff.

    Alternatively, Batmod for block captain and let's waste some muthas.

    WE CAN DO THIS

    http://www.soulstrut.com/index.php/forums/viewthread/74436/#1044165
  • skelskel You can't cheat karma 5,033 Posts
    Note to self: we are being stalked

    ::
  • Jean-ClaudeBanDamnedJean-ClaudeBanDamned 282 Posts
    skel said:
    Note to self: we are being stalked

    ::

    Hypocrisy hurts, huh?

    b/w

    No stalking, just a skilled use of the search feature. Plus my NSA contacts...
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