You know what they say...

@miamilady (4910)
United States
May 26, 2009 9:22pm CST
Who the heck is "they" anyway? And just what ARE they saying? I've heard the expression "you know what they say about the shy ones"... But no...what DO they say about the shy ones. I never did get the rest of the story. How would you finish the sentence "you know what they say about..." And do you actually know WHAT they say? And can you please tell me who "they" are??
5 people like this
15 responses
@meandmy3 (2227)
• United States
27 May 09
Better yet how do you become a "they" and would you really want to be a "they"
1 person likes this
@miamilady (4910)
• United States
27 May 09
lol I don't think I want to be a "they". I've never been much of a joiner. I'm a bit more of a loner. I prefer to be "me" or "she" not a "they".
2 people like this
@meandmy3 (2227)
• United States
27 May 09
I could not agree with you more and seeing how "they" seem to be know it all's as well I bet that "they" would not be very fun to hang out with.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
27 May 09
I suspect "They" are the experts of the world who know about everything---"They" consists of a very large family whose origins go back to caveman days and have populated the world in masses to this day (LOL) As for How would you finish the sentence "you know what they say about. How about this famous one "They" have said? "You know what "they" say..girls with glasses don't get passes?" so I take it, that "They" are predominantly with 20/20 vision but have had a few girls that had to wear glasses, and wound up as old maids
1 person likes this
• Canada
27 May 09
"you know what they say" is a line that people use to intimidate or talk others into thinking they are right (the person talking) by trying to convince them that they (they being the majority of society) think a certain way and that the person in question is rather dumb, if they don't follow the majority. When someone tells me "you knwo what they say" I tell that person that "they" can kiss my @SS.
@miamilady (4910)
• United States
27 May 09
"When someone tells me "you knwo what they say" I tell that person that "they" can kiss my @SS." I like that! I'm definitely going to have to borrow it.
• United States
14 Jun 09
" They" are people that came before or the common people who are around. "They say what doesn't kill you , makes yo stronger."It is a common way of saying an old , common used proverb.
@celticeagle (157593)
• Boise, Idaho
27 May 09
"They" would be the silent majority I am thinking. I think you need to just play along. Maybe you could go online and see if there is an explanation of who "they" is. I don't know what they say. It makes sense that it is just a way to make your point when in a discussion. It makes even more sense that it is just something to bug thinkers and has no real rhyme or reason.
1 person likes this
• United States
27 May 09
I don't usually use that 'they" in those context. I save that '''they" for the poweres that be. Gov. agencies, higher powers etc. Thay who "they" are to me.
@miamilady (4910)
• United States
27 May 09
Oh yeah. THOSE "they'". They are the scariest "theys" of all. The ones in charge! ;-)
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
27 May 09
they refers to popular belief. I don't know why it came down to they, maybe because it is just faster to say they instead of according to popular belief, or according to the old wives tale, etc.
@Darkwing (21583)
30 May 09
"They", is people in general, and they say that "The shy ones are the worst." lol. Yes, I know what people in general say. I guess it could always be "the ones in the know". Now ask me what that means! Brightest Blessings, my friend.
@DavidReedy (2378)
• United States
3 Jun 09
I've often wondered who "they" are. (Even when I've suspected "they" were following me. [yuk yuk]). I've wondered about the Dickens' (it's always hotter than them) and the Joneses (who were all trying to keep up with apparently.) I also wonder about the one out of three dentists who doesn't suggest Trident--is he maybe a pragmatist who wants to keep the steady business coming? "They say..." just about everything don't they, sometimes with and sometimes without the use of statistics. Then there's common sense--you wonder just how common it is. I've seen people respond to elections and referendums, and when "they" got "their" way on the issue it was because "democracy prevailed" but when the majority ruled against their desired outcome, it was because the mass is a bunch of uninformed bigots or idiots... I must say, this has been one of the funnest threads to respond to, so far. Thanks for that!
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
27 May 09
Funny... I guess the "they" is us ,if you were to ask ten people about something "they" would give you an answer. Or maybe "they" are those elusive experts to know all there is to know about everything?
@Beertjie (976)
• South Africa
27 May 09
Well, you know what 'they' say when you ask 'them' who the 'they' that says whatever... If someone says "they say", and you ask them who is "they", then the person usualy cannot answer. But I must confess, I have also used the "they say" phrase... guilty. Anyway, it does not realy matter what they say, what matters is waht you know. 'I say' many blessings to you.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
27 May 09
Great post!! You know who "they" are...it's "THEM", the ones that know everything about everything. Nobody knows exactly who they are or who they know what they know but we all know what they say... Annie
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
27 May 09
Hey miamilady! That is such a great question! And I would love to know the answer to it myself! I have no idea who is "they" and "what" "they" are saying! "Who" are the people that were the ones to start that up in the first place? And why do we follow "them" anyway? We don't know who they are and why they say what they do and here we all are following them without even knowing who they are? There is definitely something wrong with this picture!
@savypat (20216)
• United States
27 May 09
around here we call them THE GREAT THEY IN THE SKY. It's those magical people that all the bean counters have invented to prove what ever they want to prove. Or the others that wish to influence us have numbered to convince us that everybody but us have this new dodad or that fancy thingding and that our lives are not worth living without it.
@dropofrain (1167)
• India
27 May 09
Some people are into the habit of referring others as they. They is being referred to all those people who can not be named. So stop being so frustrated and try and get out of this category of people who are called they.