Ask Lemmy

"we" and other first-person-plurals

Depends on if I'm mad at myself...

"I should go get some food."

"You fucking idiot."

Typically “you” if it’s in my head, but if said out loud it’s “I”

Both. And often also by name for some sarcasms.

I tend to just leave them out all together. Don’t know why though, maybe it’s faster?
It feels a bit like when you read a book fast and skip over entire words.

“Need to do some cleaning.”
“How could this be done faster?”
Or a common one:
“Hungry” :)

Interesting that several people are reporting using "you" for negative sentiments, because I use "I" for those as well. E.G. "Well, I'm a fucking idiot."

Depends which part of myself I'm talking to. If it's just a general conversation, it's "we." If it's more of a direct conversation to a part of my mind, it's "you." If I'm talking about myself to a third-party, such as this response, it's "I."

It took me a moment to realise this was about inner monologues.

I, you, we and thou.

As in:

"What am I doing?!"

"You're getting older, not younger."

"Let's not do this again."

"Thou have lost the little bit of reasoning you had left."

And it scares people.

I call myself by name, like a parent scolding their child.

Both, but it also depends on if I’m winning the argument or they are.

The passive voice is often used.

3rd person.

We. You are a combination of all the entities living on or in you. We are Us.

'One'

If it's my internal monologue it's usually "I"

If I'm writing about myself (like a journal) then also "I"

If it's a note to remind myself of something then "you"

I have written letters to myself in the future and those are always "you"

I use I unless I'm insulting or denigrating myself, then it's usually you

In my languages we don't usually use pronouns because verbs conjugations make them redundant, but I use both first and second person.

I think I mix them interchangeably. Much to the chagrin of my English teachers.

I am an "I".

Mostly you

There are multiple voices, one says "I" while the others respond with "you" if they are disagreeing, or "we" if they agree.

• I should shave
• Yes we should
• No, you shouldn't. You look stupid.
• I think that's right, I'm not shaving.

I, we, you, they, kinda all of them. I kinda make up characters in my head and assign them positions and personalities based on the need of the moment, and address them as appropriate. I don't give them names or anything, it's more like 'that dick who keeps telling me to get off my ass and be productive can piss off', etc.

Always I. Didn't know other people didn't always use I apparently.

Both, with a slight preference for "I".

“We”. Not sure why. I guess it’s me and the person I’m talking to (who is also me)

Yes. I says to you.

Both. "I am an idiot." "You should know better."

"We"

"Do we think that leftover scree was important? Do we remember where it came from?"

"We need to get some more sleep."

Sometimes it's "You" when referring to the lazy, scared, or angry one.

"You're overreacting. You'll be fine. You're upset over nothing."

Never I.

It varies between people, but for me it alternates!

"I" or "we" in English, German is mostly reserved for deep thoughts where I rarely need to address myself but if I do I think I use "ich" ("I") as well. "You" wouldn't feel right for me personally.

Depends which side of myself is currently speaking.

We and us-- "let's go do blah, we ought to blah"

Always I

You. And also the pet name that my late husband used for me, if I'm feeling especially pitiful or otherwise in need of encouragement.