# A phrase that might need to be banned (outside The BBQ Pit) **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 9, 2024, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-phrase-that-might-need-to-be-banned-outside-the-bbq-pit/1005501 "2024-08-09T20:12:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-phrase-that-might-need-to-be-banned-outside-the-bbq-pit/1005501/1 "2024-08-09T20:12:56Z")
“People are saying…” (and close variations) without immediately pointing out who in particular those people are. It is used to be a checkless way to back up one’s own beliefs or, worse, to see what floats then declare one’s supposed beliefs after the fact. It is almost as bad as saying “I was just joking!” After a person’s comments fall flat. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-phrase-that-might-need-to-be-banned-outside-the-bbq-pit/1005501/2 "2024-08-09T22:22:08Z")
I love Charlie Brooker’s take on that sort of thing: [Newswipe with Charlie Brooker John Terry](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2kOxnBLcHk&t=0s) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-phrase-that-might-need-to-be-banned-outside-the-bbq-pit/1005501/3 "2024-08-09T23:34:07Z")
What about it’s use on this board? I am hard put to find a legitimate use for this phrase, a use that doesn’t beg the questions “_What_ people, and why aren’t you telling me to begin with?” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-phrase-that-might-need-to-be-banned-outside-the-bbq-pit/1005501/4 "2024-08-09T23:41:56Z")
Wait, are you relaying — without pointing out particular examples — that some people on this board are saying that sort of thing? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-phrase-that-might-need-to-be-banned-outside-the-bbq-pit/1005501/5 "2024-08-09T23:50:31Z")
I will sometimes honestly say that “I’ve heard” something, and cannot remember where or when I heard it, or from whom or what. But I don’t expect that to hold any weight either. I get the impression from @Czarcasm that the problem isn’t giving an unsupported argument (which we all do all the time, this isn’t Wikipedia and we don’t need to cite literally everything we say every single time), but rather some nebulous call to an unspecified authority which is supposed to somehow give your argument credence while also deflecting blame from yourself. “How can you argue against me, are you calling all of those people _liars_?!” In that particular sense, I agree that I don’t like it as a rhetorical tactic. That being said, I’m not sure what the utility of moderating it would be, if by bringing the issue to ATMB this is an attempt to institute some new rule. I don’t know that it’s really that disruptive; this argument just doesn’t work very well and if a person insists on people accepting it after pushback, that will probably violate one of our other existing rules (depending on where and how they are making that argument). ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-phrase-that-might-need-to-be-banned-outside-the-bbq-pit/1005501/6 "2024-08-10T01:57:46Z")
That’s right, all us babies should be protected from reading something that might convince our baby minds of something without proper evidence. Give me a fucking break. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-phrase-that-might-need-to-be-banned-outside-the-bbq-pit/1005501/7 "2024-08-10T02:04:21Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Wait, are you relaying — without pointing out particular examples — that some people on this board are saying that sort of thing? I’m pretty sure it is a reference to a skincare product. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-phrase-that-might-need-to-be-banned-outside-the-bbq-pit/1005501/8 "2024-08-10T02:23:16Z")
IMO, this is a solution in search of a problem. Unless we’re gonna start footnoting all our posts in MLA format, I don’t see why we can’t just have a conversation and mention things that we remember reading somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-phrase-that-might-need-to-be-banned-outside-the-bbq-pit/1005501/9 "2024-08-10T02:36:49Z")
Man, if we’re going to start threads on ways posters post than I don’t like, I can bring the server to a halt. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-phrase-that-might-need-to-be-banned-outside-the-bbq-pit/1005501/10 "2024-08-10T02:37:34Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > IMO, this is a solution in search of a problem. Pretty much my take on the issue. If we have posters who are being disingenuous, then we have other posters who will be happy to refute what they’re saying. Everyone gets to present their side of the argument and the people reading along at home will be able to spot who’s talking bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-phrase-that-might-need-to-be-banned-outside-the-bbq-pit/1005501/11 "2024-08-10T02:43:04Z")
O.K. then. forget it. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-phrase-that-might-need-to-be-banned-outside-the-bbq-pit/1005501/12 "2024-08-10T02:46:06Z")
You want to ban this phrase? I get why it is weak but banning language here seems anathema except in extreme cases (e.g. hate speech). This does not seem extreme. Just call out the person using it if it bugs you. Seems simple enough. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-phrase-that-might-need-to-be-banned-outside-the-bbq-pit/1005501/13 "2024-08-10T12:07:37Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Wait, are you relaying — without pointing out particular examples — that some people on this board are saying that sort of thing? Ha! > [@Atamasama](#): > > I agree that I don’t like it as a rhetorical tactic. That being said, I’m not sure what the utility of moderating it would be > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Just call out the person using it if it bugs you. This, I can get behind. Is there a word for it, that can be used when calling it out, the way there are terms for other things people do in online arguments (e.g. JAQing, sealioning, Godwin’s Law)? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-phrase-that-might-need-to-be-banned-outside-the-bbq-pit/1005501/14 "2024-08-10T20:08:38Z")
I admit that phrase can be a little annoying at times- but banning it? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-phrase-that-might-need-to-be-banned-outside-the-bbq-pit/1005501/15 "2024-08-10T20:21:11Z")
What “My Ol’ Granny said” can be taken as the ultimate truth. I promise. Well, in her head it was. But, “People are saying” is someone listening to back ground noise and flipping thru news bites online. It’s worse than spreading unfounded rumor. These are not “people saying” these are gullible people listening and believing and repeating. You can say anything. Lie, create out of whole cloth, got the facts wrong and a person overhearing repeats the garbage. It’s bad. I discount it for the most part. As far as banning the words? It’s not that big of a problem. IMO ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-phrase-that-might-need-to-be-banned-outside-the-bbq-pit/1005501/16 "2024-08-10T20:25:51Z")
I don’t recall anybody on this board using that phrase unless they were parodying Donald Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/section_maker_jupe/32/1424_2.png) [@Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Section_Maker_Jupe)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2024, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-phrase-that-might-need-to-be-banned-outside-the-bbq-pit/1005501/17 "2024-08-11T00:33:55Z")
I recently used it to do that very thing, parodying Mr Trump. Also “in two weeks time”. Hes such an inspiration. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2024, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-phrase-that-might-need-to-be-banned-outside-the-bbq-pit/1005501/18 "2024-08-11T13:18:38Z")
I can easily see legitimate uses in context. E.g., " People are saying that JD Vance wrote in his book that he did something naughty to a piece of furniture. Is this really true?" Is there really a need to provide a cite for something that was generally popping all over the Internet? Who would you specifically cite in such a case? That is, it’s not just something that _one_ particular person is saying but that a _lot_ of people are. That’s sort of the point of the question. That it is a lot of people. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2024, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-phrase-that-might-need-to-be-banned-outside-the-bbq-pit/1005501/19 "2024-08-11T14:04:02Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > E.g., " People are saying that JD Vance wrote in his book that he did something naughty to a piece of furniture. Is this really true?" Adding the “Is this really true” part changes it. It’s the difference between “I’m presenting this as fact” and “I heard/read this and I want to confirm it”. We have a few posters here that, while they may not use the exact phrase ‘people are saying’, will present things as fact that they “read somewhere”. It seems similar to JAQing off. They’re weasel words that people hide behind. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-phrase-that-might-need-to-be-banned-outside-the-bbq-pit/1005501/20 "2024-08-12T13:59:30Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > I don’t recall anybody on this board using that phrase unless they were parodying Donald Trump. How long a timeframe are we talking about? Thus is before my time but I’ve heard people say ( 😉 ) that there was a guy who used to start every thread with, “Manny people ask and now I wonder,” before asking a really stupid question. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-phrase-that-might-need-to-be-banned-outside-the-bbq-pit/1005501.md?page=2)