Sigh.
If you ever want to wave a conversational red flag in my face, just say “they” did it or said or thought it. Be ready, for I will ask you, “Who are ‘they’?”
I rise forth from a lifetime of blame from a tattletailing little sis along with the mischievous misinformation of the unseen and unnamed in small town communities where I grew up. With a party line, where the childhood game of “Telephone Gossip” was played out in realtime.
At least with current media, one is in control of one’s own story – if we all stay away from the vague dispersion of ‘they’.
Besides being impersonal transgression, it’s a basic violation of story telling with Who did What When Where and Why data omitted. It’s unholy crap – and I call it out without fail. Let’s advocate responsible, reliable facts. Less vague, unaccountable trash and more truth to tell.
Overuse of ‘they’= character and idea assassination. Do you have any red flag words guaranteed to ignite challenge and/or make you jump up in place?
I feel the same way.
SOCIETY is my ‘red flag’ word. Students use it in place of ‘they’ – but, essentially, used in the same way. “Society tells us what’s beautiful.” “Society puts pressure on us.”
Really? Society – or your parents? Society or clothing marketing? Society or your facebook friends?
Ha, Jessica. My older-minded peers blame “The Media” instead of society. Your comments evoked my college day memories of “The System” being blamed. The saying that fits solid for all of these blame-shifters is from the same era: “If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.”
I had collar buttons made – want some?