Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Something For All You Good People To Ponder

In case I have not driven away the last remaining souls who once read this blog, here is yet another English lesson, or what I should just title "Stuff People Say That Really Irritates Me."

You ever hear this one? "He's good people."

I've been around folksy folks who like to say things like that. "I sure like ol' Buck Chapman. He's good people." Or, "That Slim T. Pronghorn feller sure is good people. His brother Lefty is good people too. They both are. They'd give you the shirt off their back any day of the week, and twice on Sunday." Or even, "You know who's good people? Cactus Jack Skalkaho. I've known CJ for a lotta years, and I've always said he's good people. It's too bad we can't all be as good a people as he is."

Don't get me wrong. I like old-timey, 19th century Western Americana-type stuff. On a scale where 1 is stubborn tradition and 10 is extreme progressiveness, I'm probably about a 1 1/2. No, make that 1 3/8.

I know there are expressions that don't conform to the usual rules for singular/pluralism. In Turkish, when you want to say "good day" (at a greeting or departure), the words you'd use translate directly as "good days." We sometimes speak of politics as a single thing, when clearly the word is plural. "The media" is likewise technically plural, but often used in a singular sense.

...but I don't care about any of that. I think calling one person good people is about the dumbest sounding thing you can say. Please don't ever say this around me.

5 comments:

  1. Well, why don't you put your feet up 'round the cracker barrel and we can jaw about it...

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    1. If we two could sit down and chew the fat, I'd be happier'n a old possum in a cellar full of fresh corn pones. Just remember, I tolerate most folk expressions and even use some myself, but this "good people" one will make me want to slap you so hard your grandkids will feel it.

      By the way, pardner, glad you moseyed in. It's always nice to see your kind around these parts.

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  2. This post is a little dangerous for me, see, I've got a little baby sleeping on me at the moment and reading this post makes me want to laugh so hard! As for blog readers, I think your blog deserves waaaaay more readers and comments and I highly recommend joining the group I joined on Facebook (kind of feel like you may not be on FB)Bloppy Bloggers. It's been one of the best things I've done for my blog and myself as a blogger.

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    1. Thanks, Katia! You're too kind.

      I may look into that Facebook group, because I'd like to see my words get out to more people. I have a Facebook account and occasionally post links to U by C on my wall. Often, however, I ignore FB for long periods. It's really not my favorite platform.

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    2. I think it's useful to keep your FB live. Yes, definitely check out the group, it made a huge difference for me.

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