Sunday, July 29, 2007

Me and...

Stop it. Stop talking like that. You are an adult and you sound like a child when you say "me and..."

It's never me and... NEVER.

It's either _________ and I, or _______ and me.

If you say "Alicia and I" and you should have said "Alicia and me," I'll forgive that. You should certainly take it upon yourself to know when to say "I" and when to say "me," (the cheat is to drop all other people from the sentence but you, and then say it and see which one you need) but you're not completely embarrassing yourself.

When you say, "Me and Alicia were going to work on that," that's embarrassing.

No matter how talented and how intelligent you are, you're going to have a major blockade in front of you until you correct that shit. I'm never going to put you in an important client presentation, because I don't want them to think we have little kids working on their account.

Oh, on a related topic, all those "likes" you put in every sentence? Unless you want me to keep treating you as a sixth grader, cut that shit out too.

ADDENDUM: Some residents of Smartassia have left comments referencing the "me and..." structure used in song lyrics, such as "Me and My Shadow," "Me and Bobby McGee," and "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo." Obviously I was talking about everyday speaking, particularly within a business setting, but I tell you what: If you can sing like Janis, you get a pass on my "me and" rant. Of course, only when you're singing. And rhyming.

ADDENDUM 2: Just listened to "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo" for the first time in decades. That's a horrible song, Jodi. Almost makes me revoke my Janis pass. Fucking Kent Lavoie.

21 comments:

gekko said...

Me and my shadow
We're closer than pages that stick in a book
We're closer than ripples that play in a brook

Granny Snark said...

Yeah, I hate that too. I come back from the grocery store yesterday and seen it on someone's blog. It don't always bother me that much but the truth is, I don't like nobody who talks like that.

Deadman said...

Some people didn't need any help making it even though they said Me and...

I'm just, like, sayin'...

Looney said...

Oh, man, yesssssss... I *hate* that. I used to work with a guy who was freakin' illiterate. I had to obliterate... erm, I mean edit every one of his letters. Whenever one got out without my looksee, our bosses just put head in hands and hoped for the best...

May many listen and understand...

Jodie Kash said...

Like, what about "Me and Bobby McGee"? "Me and my shadow"? Me and you and a dog named Boo"?

Anonymous said...

*reads PJ's comment*

*immediately begins scouring own blog for transgressions*

Cheezy said...

The "Me and..." one doesn't bother me that much, although I agree I'd definitely make sure I didn't talk like that if trying to impress people e.g. clients or whoever.

It's the other one that you mentioned that tends to get on my tits:

"I was like..."

Aaaargh! Hate that one.

Granny Snark said...

OH -- thought of one more.

You ask someone where he's going, and he tells you, "I'm going to bring my son to school."

NO! Unless you're standing at the school at the time you say it, you're going to TAKE your son to school, not BRING him.

JD said...

Oh, don't even get my engine started on this, Jeff.

"So the other day, me and my friend were talking, and I'm like, 'let's go to the movies,' so he goes, 'Okay.'"

I had a guy working for me who resented the fact that I wanted to preview all his client correspondence for the first few months. Apparently, it damaged his self-esteem, even though I had to edit the shit out of every memo before it could be considered "Business Correspondence."

I dated a guy who once confronted me quite angrily for "using big words" (I had commented on a subway busker).

This is the state of the language today.

*sigh*

I won't say anything about people who use emoticons in business emails.

Deadman said...

Can we say "brung 'em" when referring to the young'ns, PJ???

Anonymous said...

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

As a second grade reading and writing teacher I work very hard to instill it in their little brains.

My husband's new pet peeve is the recent constant use of the reflexive (myself, herself, himself, yourself) when it is entirely unnecessary.

Jodie Kash said...

Yea, business use is bad.

Me and my boss agree.

Residents of Smartassia, unite!

Paticus said...

Wow, this place is like a regular liberry of information!

Kos said...

Watch the smartassity or I'll go nucular on your ass.

Granny Snark said...

Can we say "brung 'em" when referring to the young'ns, PJ???

I note a tinge of sarcasm in that, but I choose to ignore it and answer your question. Of course you can say "brung 'em" as long as you're already there. Here, allow me to illustrate:

"Yep, my young'ns is here, I know on accounta I brung 'em."
[quick spit of tobaccy on the ground]

Now, should you be referring to children who aren't currently with you, the following is proper language:

"Yep, takin' my young'ns to softball, done already took the little woman to one o' them there spa things, hopin' they can fix 'er up real purty like."

[quick spit of tobaccy on the ground]

No charge.

Deadman said...

Awesome! I'll inform my neighbors that their language passes muster.

By the way, anyone else see a problem with "Stop talking like that." instead of "Stop speaking like that."

The latter has always seemed more correct. Are they both acceptable?

PJ? You learned him how to talk like that...

Deadman said...

Couple things about LaVoie:

Me And You and a Dog Named Boo does suck ass. Candy ass.

He teamed up at one point with Gram Parsons, very early on. What the fuck happened? Obviously he didn't learn shit from Parsons.

Best of all (drumroll please), LaVoie was in a band called...

Wait for it...

It's coming...

Yer gonna love it...

ME AND THE OTHER GUYS!

Natsthename said...

Grammar nazi!!

Natsthename said...

Hey, he could have named that song "You and Me And A Dog Named Flea" or something. "Bobby McGee and Me" just has NO ring to it at all.

Granny Snark said...

PJ? You learned him how to talk like that...

Yup, shore 'nuff did.

Wanna make somethin' of it? Getcher dukes up, I'm ready fer ya.

Ole Blue The Heretic said...

Me I do not know about all dat. But I know dat I am me and you are you.