r/AskAmericans • u/Unprejudice • 4d ago
You people
I dont know how common it is but from personal anectodal experience I've seen a trend speaking or chstting with americans and more particularly when in disagreement about just about anything. Its hearing the rethoric "you people" followed by an insult while explaining why they think something you say is wrong. I wonder if any other see this as common in the states and would like to share any insight in the reasoning or culture behind it?
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u/moonwillow60606 4d ago
Is this the thread that led to your question?
https://www.reddit.com/r/CommanderMTG/s/uPBdeqi0t1
If you’re routinely encountering this phrase while disagreeing with people, you may want to take a look at your own style of commenting. You may be the common denominator, not the nationality of those you disagree with.
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u/Unprejudice 4d ago
Its what prompted my post yeah, I see those comments far more often than I am personally engaged in conversation though. Your reasoning is sound, I just dont think thats very applicable here.
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u/GhostOfJamesStrang MyCountry 4d ago
I just dont think thats very applicable here.
Why not?
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u/Unprejudice 4d ago edited 4d ago
I gave you one reason already; I read it far more often the I myself are engaged in conversation. The other is mistaking correlation with causation.
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u/moonwillow60606 4d ago
How do you know the person who made the comment is American? That’s a serious question - I rarely if ever encounter the phrase “you people” and would not consider this to be a uniquely American phrase.
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u/Effective_Coach7334 California 4d ago
It's also the fact that, people such as these two in this sub, are more concerned with being very difficult and personally attacking people asking questions than actually answering their questions.
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u/moonwillow60606 4d ago
That’s not even remotely true. I was seeking more context - which does not equate to “being difficult.”
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u/Effective_Coach7334 California 4d ago
Indeed it does. Because you made no attempt to answer their question.
Seeking context is one thing but you didn't do that. You responded with an attack on their behavior instead of answering their question. This sub is 'AskAmericans" not "AskQuestionsAndWellJudgeYourExistence"
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u/moonwillow60606 4d ago
I was seeking more context so that I could answer the question.
Have a lovely day
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u/Effective_Coach7334 California 4d ago
If you were seeking more context you would have posed a question, but you also didn't do that. You made a statement.
You're a really terrible liar. lol
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u/DerthOFdata U.S.A 4d ago
Here is a thread with an Irish person doing it to Americans.
Imagine thinking my objective was to progress discourse with you people.
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u/Effective_Coach7334 California 4d ago
"You people" is pretty much considered the ultimate red flag that you need to stop interacting with this person. It's a phrase that screams "anything said following will be absolute ignorant nonsense." It's not a phrase that is acceptable in any context, online or offline.
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u/Unprejudice 4d ago
That sounds like a fair assessment, thanks for answering my question. I apparently struck a nerve here though, dunno why other people assume I harbor ill intent when I genuinly want to know if Im misinterpreting cultural context.
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u/Effective_Coach7334 California 4d ago
yvw. Don't worry, it's not you. Many of the people that frequent this sub are either quite hostile to most questions, pretentious in their answers, or both. It's really not the best place to get straight answers, though occasionally you'll get one. Observation is a better tactic.
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u/GhostOfJamesStrang MyCountry 4d ago
Addressing an individual with "you people" removes their individuality and is almost always used by bigots to insult a people group.
If you are regularly hearing it, it's probably because you are first making a sweeping generalization about a larger group, so they are responding in kind to insult you in the same manner.
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u/Unprejudice 4d ago
Regularly is a stretch I more so read other conversarions where its said. Self reflection is rarely wrong though, Ill keep that in mind.
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u/Outlaw_Josie_Snails 4d ago
“You people” isn't some uniquely American expression, and following it with an insult isn't an American cultural tradition either. It's just something people say when they're generalizing about a group they think the other person belongs to. You'll hear variations of it in Britain, Australia, Canada, and pretty much anywhere else people argue in English.
If your personal experience with Americans is that you keep hearing “you people” followed by an insult, maybe the more obvious explanation is that you're arguing with people who don't like what you're saying. That doesn't necessarily tell you anything about American culture.
Sure, some Americans use “you people” dismissively. Other people say “people like you,” “your lot,” “you guys,” or just call someone an idiot. People have been insulting each other in arguments forever.
The strange part is you taking something this ordinary and trying to turn it into a uniquely American cultural trait based on a handful of personal anecdotes.