October 26, 2006You People (Reader Contribution)
I recently stumbled on a poison phrase that I hear my customers use when they are unhappy with the company I work for or one of our partners. It’s starting or ending a sentence with,
- You people
I find when this is said to me I want to react because it feels like a passive aggressive action. I slow down and ask for who exactly in the “you people” statement they are referring too.
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A person very close to me says this all the time, and it is very hurtful. It is almost as if the person is sterotyping. They are lumping you personally in with the group or action they don’t care for.
Comment by Savannah — October 26, 2006 @ 1:06 pm
I work in customer service for a governmental agency. “You people” gets thrown around a lot by irritated and frustrated people. The phrase does put one on the defensive because no one wants to be lumped in with a group in a negative light without justification. I have had to learn to grind and bear it as this phrase is a trigger for me. On the bright side, at least, I am being referred to as a person rather than something not as complimentary.
Comment by Kathleen — October 26, 2006 @ 1:31 pm