What is the deal with folks?

[ToesAndFingersCrossed]

I’m sure my first post on this board could/should have been something a lot more intelligent and thought provoking, but I’m desperate to know. It grinds my gears something rotten seeing “folk” written everywhere. Is “people” offensive now too?

I believe it is an affectation adopted by the sub culture.

We use 'folk' and 'folks' a lot in Scotland. It seems to have a different shading elsewhere. Lots of people on MN don't like it.

I find it fairly innocuous, but ymmv.

www.etymonline.com/word/folk?ref=etymonline_crossreference#etymonline_v_11740

Haha, couldn’t agree more. It’s always ‘transfolk’. So fucking twee.
But I remember hearing the term ‘pregnant person’ for the first time, spoken by Kourtney Kardashian, and I thought she was just being twee and over-mumsy as usual. I had NO IDEA it was part of an agenda...

Folks is very widely used in Scotland, its our "people". Different strokes for different folks, I can't see it being worth a coronary over.

I've always used it as I'm Scottish and as Scrimpshaw says it's commonly used up here but I try and avoid it now as it's been sullied in my eyes by the woke, like so much else...

I have to admit the thing that tickles me about it is when the yoof of today insist on spelling it with an "X" to underline their gender neutral credentials as if the word wasn't already gender neutral.

But "folks" and "y'all" are usually pretty good indicators that the opinion piece in which they are found will turn out to be a pile of wank.

As PP says it is a completely innocuous word to me (born in Scotland). There's a lot of scandi type words in Scots that are really common usage in Scotland - bairn, greet, folk (child, cry, people). It means people so I have no idea why people would take such offence!

Nothing wrong with the word itself. Winesalot is spot on.

Scottish folk use it 😂😂

[quote ScrimpshawTheSecond]We use 'folk' and 'folks' a lot in Scotland. It seems to have a different shading elsewhere. Lots of people on MN don't like it.

I find it fairly innocuous, but ymmv.

www.etymonline.com/word/folk?ref=etymonline_crossreference#etymonline_v_11740[/quote]
I’m from Scotland too. I don’t think I’ve actually noticed we use it more, but now I think about it you’re right! For some reason I don’t find it at all jarring when it’s my wee old neighbour saying it.

"Y'all" is the absolute frickin worst, like nails down a chalkboard to my ears Gaaahhhh!

'Folks' or "y'all" are absolutely fine if they're part of your normal vernacular.

Otherwise... cultural appropriation, surely?

God I hate folk, its so twee, and MN HQ have been amongst the worse offenders for many years. Apologies to Scotlan as I know its much more universal there, and folks isnt as bad as folk imo anyway.

Its just so effing twee and affected!!. Trying to be ethereal. Like fairy folk. Goes hand in hand with that affectation adopted by many hulking great middle aged transwomen, to be named something with fae in it, now tapped out I think thankfully. Again trying to give the impression that they are light and delicate creatures, whimsical and insubstantial and ethereal an delicate. Just like real women are of course - pretty to look at but pretty insubstantial ...

@FFSBringbackLangCleg

Haha, couldn’t agree more. It’s always ‘transfolk’. So fucking twee. But I remember hearing the term ‘pregnant person’ for the first time, spoken by Kourtney Kardashian, and I thought she was just being twee and over-mumsy as usual. I had NO IDEA it was part of an agenda...

I refuse to say pregnant person. I’m a midwife and I’ve never looked after anyone without a vagina so pregnant woman it is.

Are we having Scottish privilege 😂😂😂😂😂😂

Aye!

Yes Errol. I use it when I am with my family in the state I grew up in. But not anywhere else really in a social or social media setting.

Folk was good enough for fourteenth century William Langland and it's still good for me. So I shall be retaining its use when required. Hands off the language.

Good point Errol it's cultural appropriation for sure and yes if "y'all" is actually part of your everyday speech I'd accept it but it's not for the most part.

I really hate the cultural imperialism in so much

Whoops posted too soon!

Trying to say I hate the cultural imperialism of so much of the wokesters' language - restroom is another one...

Special dispensation, littl.

Long way off, are you Jacob Rees Mogg

The usual alternative to folk is 'guys' which I can't stand.

What about peeps?

Or there's 'you lot'. I think we're struggling to find a word that's acceptable to most of us here.