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ecstatic

(32,567 posts)
83. I've used both. Folks is more informal or
Mon Nov 16, 2015, 10:12 PM
Nov 2015

referring to specific people or people I'm very familiar with. "People" is more formal, detached. "Folks" has has a friendlier vibe--for example, if labeling a group by race, which phrase sounds less threatening: white people or white folks?

It's more folksy, and that is in politically of late. nt NutmegYankee Nov 2015 #1
I blame the Mighty Jingles One_Life_To_Give Nov 2015 #2
I dislike it when someone north of the line uses it. LiberalArkie Nov 2015 #3
+1 Go Vols Nov 2015 #11
Then you hate me. tazkcmo Nov 2015 #63
No Kalidurga Nov 2015 #4
Dubya Bush is responsible for that word n/t kskiska Nov 2015 #5
So Obama picked it up from W? former9thward Nov 2015 #72
Yep, it was a Bush favorite! n/t RKP5637 Nov 2015 #76
You folks are nuts. Atman Nov 2015 #6
I see it as personal idiosyncrasy of President Obama, doesn't really bother me TacoD Nov 2015 #7
According to a poster in this thread, Bush started it GummyBearz Nov 2015 #13
I actually don't mind when Prez Obama says it. redwitch Nov 2015 #32
I have. Almost everyone. I don't mind it when Obama uses it because it seems to merrily Nov 2015 #39
YES!!!!! redwitch Nov 2015 #8
Thank you! I HATE the word "folks". smirkymonkey Nov 2015 #9
include me in that club NJCher Nov 2015 #35
I blame Ann Romney and her use of "you people." It was cold and harsh... CTyankee Nov 2015 #10
What the heck was wrong with come on, people? merrily Nov 2015 #40
yeah, it was different in that context...we were all "people" then... CTyankee Nov 2015 #62
Oh, for folks sakes! Glassunion Nov 2015 #12
Oh, boy do I! I got over being folked about a year ago. merrily Nov 2015 #14
"you guys" is sexist, "you people" is racist and "you all" geek tragedy Nov 2015 #15
"you guys" is midwestern for y'all. nt sufrommich Nov 2015 #17
Midwestern for "y'all" is "y'all" Chitown Kev Nov 2015 #24
I don't know.I've lived in the Detroit burbs for sufrommich Nov 2015 #30
Mine is a Southern transplant (black migration) family Chitown Kev Nov 2015 #37
The I-75 corridor and our factories have blended the language sufrommich Nov 2015 #43
Also tonic, which is a Mass. term, while soda is a greater NY area term. merrily Nov 2015 #45
Interesting,does tonic mean any kind of pop? sufrommich Nov 2015 #47
Between NY and Mass, it means any kind of soda merrily Nov 2015 #50
lol. nt sufrommich Nov 2015 #52
I lived in Boston a few years ago Chitown Kev Nov 2015 #51
You could have broke out in song too! sufrommich Nov 2015 #54
One of the geratest commercials of all time! Chitown Kev Nov 2015 #64
I do too! nt sufrommich Nov 2015 #65
This should be an entire OP of its own GummyBearz Nov 2015 #70
People who use "coke" as the generic name for pop sufrommich Nov 2015 #73
First they came for "you guys", then they came for "you people", next they will come for... GummyBearz Nov 2015 #18
How is "you people" racist? If a white person says it to one black person to mean an merrily Nov 2015 #42
How about "your guys's?" TacoD Nov 2015 #57
My grandmother used "folks," as did most of the folks in my extended family . . . Journeyman Nov 2015 #16
If you think I made this OP to discuss how your family uses the word folks GummyBearz Nov 2015 #29
My folks taught me pintobean Nov 2015 #19
Are your folks high ranking figures in government? GummyBearz Nov 2015 #22
They're dead pintobean Nov 2015 #49
Thanks for the help GummyBearz Nov 2015 #75
Your folks should be proud of you. pintobean Nov 2015 #79
They are GummyBearz Nov 2015 #84
Ffs. For folks sake. N/t PowerToThePeople Nov 2015 #20
Folks, you ain't heard nothin' yet. Gidney N Cloyd Nov 2015 #21
I dislike its use almost as much as the use of "homeland." Vinca Nov 2015 #23
Goodness, gracious Chitown Kev Nov 2015 #25
This. /\ Ed Suspicious Nov 2015 #26
Okay, ignore my post above. redwitch Nov 2015 #34
I wonder what the FOLKS at DU think? still_one Nov 2015 #27
I hate it; it always seems condescending to me. WinkyDink Nov 2015 #28
Since I'm one of the folks Aerows Nov 2015 #31
Corporations Are Folks..... global1 Nov 2015 #33
Townfolk merrily Nov 2015 #44
so much anti-colloquialism here at DU Enrique Nov 2015 #36
Folks, I'd like to sing a song about the American Dream. . . Travis_0004 Nov 2015 #38
I prefer people to folks, Blue_In_AK Nov 2015 #41
Doesn't bother me too much, but I hate.. Laffy Kat Nov 2015 #46
Folks is OK with me KT2000 Nov 2015 #48
Me too matt819 Nov 2015 #53
I like folk music, folk culture, folk tales, folklore, folk art. Koinos Nov 2015 #55
And it's useful on twitter. GoneOffShore Nov 2015 #56
Yes yes and more yes. I loathe that term especially since Shrub used it to snagglepuss Nov 2015 #58
Folk is old English, people is middle english gollygee Nov 2015 #59
and here we go! Chitown Kev Nov 2015 #66
Another etymology geek! gollygee Nov 2015 #68
No. bigwillq Nov 2015 #60
Probably for the sake of word variety Android3.14 Nov 2015 #61
Why would anyone have a problem with "folks?" I've heard it and used it all my life. Zen Democrat Nov 2015 #67
Dubya Bush and his spinners did that after 911. Greybnk48 Nov 2015 #69
It's just one of the words I didn't shake off from the south. Neoma Nov 2015 #71
I'll take folks over peacefreak Nov 2015 #74
Another word that is overused is "stuff". nt ladjf Nov 2015 #77
People and Folks are the main gang factions in Chicago. AngryAmish Nov 2015 #78
I think "people" and "persons" now implies corporations. "Folks" implies humans. nt valerief Nov 2015 #80
unfortunately choie Nov 2015 #81
When certain people use it forsaken mortal Nov 2015 #82
I've used both. Folks is more informal or ecstatic Nov 2015 #83
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