A Bit of a Peeve

You know what I'm not really a big fan of? The use of the term "people." Not that I don't like "people" in of itself, but I don't like the usage of that term in a specific context.

One thing that always gets me is when "people" say the word "people" when describing a general tendency, behavior, or attitude. For example, "people say that they don't like spaghetti because its too noodlely." "People are not happy with the way things are going." "People have not have had a good response to the speech."

Here's a question? Who are these "PEOPLE"?!?!

I say it with a bit of light-heartedness, but genuinely trying to make a point, that term always gets me. I posit that usually when one says the word "people" they are asserting their own personal opinion, rather than a true general observation about how everyone is. One uses that term to add some more legitimacy to their assertion or generalization. After all, if someone said, "I'm not happy about ____," that would seem to carry less weight than "People are not happy about ______." When one says the world "people," perhaps that would be something that needs to be addressed, thereby advancing the position without ever really having to lay oneself out there on the "idea island."

Something else that the word "people" is used to achieve is to create the appearance of "consensus" when there really isn't any. For example, sitting in a business meeting of upper level staff, one staff member says, "people want to move in this direction" when in fact, only he and a couple of others want that policy change. The rhetorical fluff is the way for a minority to impose its views on a majority.

It's an intellectually dishonest way of supporting one's position. I'd much rather make an assertion, support that with evidence and a well thought out position. Sure, it takes a little more courage and accountability for what one has to say, but isn't that a good that can be achieved? Not to hide behind rhetorical fluff, but to have a statement parsed and proposition analyzed for truthfulness is not a bad thing. It's good for those who share an opinion with AND good for you. There's no harm in having an observation critically analyzed. If one's opinion is correct, then a deep introspective observation will help that to be taken into account in a more effective way. If one's observation has no basis, it can be corrected. It's not "bad" to be told you're wrong sometimes.

My advice. You have an opinion? That's great! It's awesome! It's good to think critically, objectively, and express that! But when you do, make sure you're being straightforward about how you go about expressing that. Have a general observation? Just say, "I have an observation, it seems like..." That way, we all can learn to think and express ourselves in a much more effective and productive way.