this post was submitted on 22 May 2025
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[–] Nemo@slrpnk.net 35 points 1 month ago (1 children)

"we" and other first-person-plurals

[–] boatswain@infosec.pub 15 points 1 month ago

We're right there with y'all.

[–] Jerb322@lemmy.world 22 points 1 month ago

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

"I should go get some food."

"You fucking idiot."

[–] thesohoriots@lemmy.world 20 points 1 month ago (1 children)

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

[–] toy_boat_toy_boat@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago

i use "ye", too, but only at renaissance festivals

[–] kubica@fedia.io 13 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Both. And often also by name for some sarcasms.

[–] stinky@redlemmy.com 1 points 1 month ago

Yeah this l me too. it depends on the context

[–] thelsim@sh.itjust.works 12 points 1 month ago (1 children)

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” :)

[–] JakenVeina@lemm.ee 11 points 1 month ago

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."

[–] darkmarx@lemmy.world 9 points 1 month ago

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."

[–] Flamekebab@piefed.social 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)

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

[–] snek_boi@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 month ago

Could be thinking out loud or reflection via writing 🤷‍♂️

[–] qyron@sopuli.xyz 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

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.

[–] CandleTiger@programming.dev 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] Gloomy@mander.xyz 3 points 1 month ago

Thou hast mich

[–] RadicalEagle@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

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

[–] KingOogaBooga@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago

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

[–] icerunner_origin@startrek.website 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] will_a113@lemm.ee 4 points 1 month ago

“One” for me as well. No need to be so informal just because it’s all in my head.

[–] Inucune@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] JackGreenEarth@lemm.ee 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Distancing yourself from yourself, like an external narrator

[–] Inucune@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

More the equivalent of a parent using your full name before telling you to do something... But it is your own mental monologue.

[–] callyral@pawb.social 6 points 1 month ago

The passive voice is often used.

[–] Devmapall@lemm.ee 5 points 1 month ago

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"

[–] OmegaLemmy@discuss.online 4 points 1 month ago
[–] chickenf622@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 month ago

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

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

I am an "I".

[–] quediuspayu@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

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

[–] toomanypancakes@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

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

[–] josefo@leminal.space 4 points 1 month ago

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.
[–] Venus_Ziegenfalle@feddit.org 3 points 1 month ago

"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.

[–] Libra@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 month ago

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.

[–] Brewchin@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

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

[–] TriflingToad@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

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

[–] taxiiiii@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

I get "you" and "I". I'm still astonished that some people seem to use "we".

[–] uhmbah@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 month ago

Yes. I says to you.

[–] squinky@lemm.ee 3 points 1 month ago

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

[–] BradleyUffner@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Both, with a slight preference for "I".

[–] Corno@lemm.ee 3 points 1 month ago

It varies between people, but for me it alternates!

[–] Agent641@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

"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.

[–] grysbok@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 1 month ago

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

[–] fantine9@lemm.ee 2 points 1 month ago

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.

[–] embed_me@programming.dev 2 points 1 month ago
[–] PillowTalk420@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Depends which side of myself is currently speaking.