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[Closed] Folks

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(Green Ink) Has anyone noticed the new usage of 'Folks' by politicians and doctors? It appears to mean 'I have an empathy with you the general public (but really I have absolutely no understanding and a deep distain for the lot of you)'. I'm sure it works in the USA or Germany but in the UK it just sounds deeply patronising. (Green ink off)


 
Posted : 16/02/2022 8:20 am
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Folks probably stress too much about it.


 
Posted : 16/02/2022 8:26 am
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aloof distant type uses friendly reference to appear more in touch?

s/a 'hard working families' and other trite references to 'everyday people'


 
Posted : 16/02/2022 8:29 am
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#weareallamericansnow

How does OP sit with ‘peeps’?

I remember my grandfather using ‘folks’ regularly. He was a Bredon man. He’d use sentences such as ‘Some folks don’ understan’ what they’m a-doin!’


 
Posted : 16/02/2022 8:29 am
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I use ‘folk’ a fair bit.

Never ‘folks’ though.


 
Posted : 16/02/2022 8:30 am
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Peaked in the 1920s, been in sharp decline recently.

https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=folk%2C+folks


 
Posted : 16/02/2022 8:30 am
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I go to visit my folks. Is that allowed?


 
Posted : 16/02/2022 8:31 am
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How does OP sit with ‘peeps’?

We've never been introduced but by all accounts she's nice


 
Posted : 16/02/2022 8:33 am
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When I was still working I was encouraged to use 'folks' when addressing groups of people as a non-gendered alternative to 'guys'.


 
Posted : 16/02/2022 8:33 am
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When I was still working I was encouraged to use ‘folks’ when addressing groups of people as a non-gendered alternative to ‘guys’.

That's cunning. That way you can be a none genderist but still a patronising git.

It's probably the people using it, but to me it flags up a sentence telling me to do something that the speaker has no intention of following themselves


 
Posted : 16/02/2022 8:38 am
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I frequently get emails just addressed to "All," which really steams my goat. Would prefer "Folks" over that.


 
Posted : 16/02/2022 8:41 am
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When I was still working I was encouraged to use ‘folks’ when addressing groups of people as a non-gendered alternative to ‘guys’.

This. I use 'folks' a fair bit these days as I habitually used 'guys' or 'ladies and gents' when addressing large groups previously. Though, oddly, I was (am) more than happy to use 'guys' to a group of (making visual assumptions) exclusively women so, to me at least, it has a non-gendered use as a friendly collective. But assumed intent is judged by the ears of the audience and all that....

Suggestions for alternatives that makes (some) people's teeth itch less? For reference I am frequently talking to groups where I know a minority there are who identify non binary or gender fluid and are not 'colleagues' so I can't use that (though I wouldn't elect to even if I could).

Group
Gang
People
Rabble


 
Posted : 16/02/2022 8:44 am

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