"Nancy Young" > wrote in message
...
> "Jack Schidt®" wrote:
> >
> > "Steve Calvin" > wrote in message
>
> > > > I think it's a regional/generational thing. I wouldn't think twice
> > > > about asking my female friends, you guys want to go out for lunch?
> > > > Doesn't offend me in the least if a waiter/bartender refers to me as
> > > > such. Having said that, "What can I get you?" does seem to suffice.
>
> > > I'm with you nancy. What bothers me more is being called sir <shudder>
> > > Am I getting that old? Well, I guess maybe I am...
>
> Yeah, I got 'lady' the a couple of weeks ago. Ouch.
>
> > It is a regional thing. In my neck of the woods, it's always 'you guys
> > wanna play cribbage?' or 'you guys wanna shoot pool?; feh, it's
colloquial,
> > and akin to 'ya'll'.
>
> Funny, in the original article I quoted, the restaurant critic was
> chastised by the manager ... "We say 'y'all' because it means you all
> and that's much nicer. You're being downright rude. Guys don't
> come in here. Gentlemen do."
>
> That struck me as kind of funny, some place that considers their
> customers Gentleman think it's okay to address the table as 'y'all.'
>
> > Calling me 'buddy' without knowing me from adam yanks my chain.
>
> Yeah, I can see that.
>
> nancy

I'm not sure I understand the problem that many people have with the word
"y'all."

"Y'all" is a contraction - a legitimate contraction of the words "you all,"
also a perfectly defensible snippet of grammar. Nobody gets regional about
other contractions, including "isn't," "couldn't" or "it's".

I also find "you guys" annoying, because I am not - nor have I ever been - a
guy, and when I am in a group that is addressed as "you guys," I mention
that to the person doing the addressing. I'd much rather hear "y'all" than
"you guys."

I also agree with other posters who say that what is used on common everyday
"around the house" speech is different than what I expect to hear from those
in more formal settings, like newscasters and newspapers. I don't want to
hear or see even "y'all" in those situations.A double standard, perhaps, but
still a distinction I make in my mind.

But my family already says I'm far too anal about correct word usage anyway.

Oh well. To each his own.

Miss Jean, 7M+