Ding ding ding! We have a winner for THE MOST passive-aggressive phrase used in Facebook and Twitter posts.
Coming in at number one: “some people…”.
As in posting “Some people tear down everything positive we try to do for our community” instead of “Cindy habitually encourages people to think critically before jumping on dubious social media bandwagons with wild enthusiasm!”
Or “Some people overreact to everything!” instead of “Greg seems empathetic & usually writes passionately when he believes that oppressed people are being harmed.”
Photo Credit: OddSock
For the legions of “some people” and “everything” posters out there, please note: there is but one letter of difference between “posting” and “pouting”. You can make a stronger case if you write with specificity as well as passion. Engaging directly with folks who think differently can help you adjust or strengthen your point of view.
Keeping your sense of humor can help, too.
What are your runner-ups for the most counterproductive phrases you’ve seen in Twitterville and Facebookland lately?
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I just thought “some people” was Internetese for the Midwestern expression “A lotta guys woulda …” which means “You moron, you didn’t …”
As in “A lotta guys woulda tied that down first. You got a favorite emergency room?”
Or “A lotta guys woulda asked her out as soon as they knew they liked her. Maybe she’ll get divorced after those kids are grown.”
Or “A lotta guys woulda unplugged that or at least took it down from the roof before they tried to saw into the box.” (Second sentence left as exercise for the reader)
In the south, the most passive aggressive word would be y’all. And yes, I do habitually encourage stuff like sushi lunches with fellow redheads.
Oh, y’all.
Is y’all southern talk for “you guys”?
I like y’all better. Think us yanks should adopt it. Except that we’d wreck its natural charm, somehow. (As a lotta guys would, John.)
I just read your post today at fuzzyredrobe blog, Cindy. It’s like we’re on a redheaded wavelength. We need brain food.
Even the pros use it as a crutch … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYA9ufivbDw
But for personal postings, if you are just blowing steam (pouting), for the reader’s sake, be as short and generic as possible. “WTF” is perfect. I don’t think I really want to know who did what. Just how you feel.
Wow, John. I hadn’t seen that video. Thanks for pointing it out.
The Fox “news” persistent use of “some people say” is not only passive-aggressive, it’s also highly unethical and manipulative.
Also, it’s not “news” or reporting or journalism.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYA9ufivbDw
I’m not sure it hurts to be “passive-aggressive” when your readers don’t know who you’re talking about and it’s the point in general you’re trying to make, not the person in particular you’re trying to identify. If you’re tweeting about a group get-together and you are reminding the group in a tongue-in-cheek way that “Some people habitually forget to leave a tip before they leave the table – ahem, Jack!” then saying, “Jack, of course, left us leaving a bigger tip again” would be better. But commenting to the public in general something to the effect that “Some people are just down right stingy about tipping waiters” suffices.
Oh, golly Alan: who said being passive-aggressive hurts? I like to think that I can be ironically passive-aggressive when the situation warrants. But that’s me: I love irony.
Authenticity is the name of the game in social media, right? If you have an authentically passive-aggressive personality/brand — I’m sure you can make it work for you!
I’ll see what I can do to make ironic PA work for me!
The video says it well — hey, there *is* a place for the phrase, but it’s overused. Now, how about that debate over “ironic” vs. “sarcastic”
Sarcastic. The root of that word is Greek, right? And it means “to tear flesh.”
I prefer ironic to sarcasm. It’s nicer.
Also, it’s Canada Day.