""We" versus "I"" Topic

I've noticed a lot of advertisers here on TMP when referring to themselves us "we", when their participation in forum discussions seems to either state categorically or at least suggest they are one person operations. Now, there's nothing wrong with a one person operation, of course and these are the meat and potatoes for a lot of the supply of miniatures and related systems for some miniature gamers.

However, I have always found it a bit weird to hear the one person operations (or what I might think are one person operations) refer to themselves as "we". I think there are a lot reasons for it, among them:

* wanting to give the impression that service will be reliable because there is a "we", instead of just an "I";

* making the operation sound established, ie "we" have a large number of employees, so we can be counted on;

But in the case where an operations has previously identified itself as a one person show, I find the use of "we" to perhaps be a bit misrepresenting. Not overly so, but enough to make me raise an eyebrow.

So here's my proposed question:

Should a one person operation identify his or herself as such and use "I" as a first person pronoun or use "We"?

1 -> Yes

2 -> No

3 -> This is the dumbest question ever posed on a TMP poll

I think a lot of one person operations will end up identifying themselves as "we" anyway, because his/her spouse deals with order processing or dropping off packages at the mail office.

Anyway, FWIW…
--
Tim

If they are European then it might be a royal we…

I ran this question by the board of directors for Grenadier Books and both I and we think the answer is #3.

#3

We went so far as to send this to our branch office in Sedro Woolley. They concurred with our opinion here at Ambush Alley Games Towers:

We have no comment at this time.

I see number 3 being the winner by a large margin.

#3--As I be from Bristol my grammar isn't really better enough to worry!!!!

We think three to be option to choose.

There may be some with multiple personalities, or who hear voices.

Allen

Have you considered that the one-man bands might be saying 'we' to differentiate a business from an individual?

While not, perhaps, the silliest poll ever proposed, it does rank right down there in the bottom ten.

"I" might be construed as more personal, "we" might more imply just the business entity, which may be the intention.

"I" might be construed to imply the commitment of owners personal assets and resources while "we" is more likely to be interpreted as "limited liability".

My 2 cents.

edit
Neotacha got it clearer in 1 line.

3

We are not amused

I am a one man operation but I confer with several trusted and/or informative people in regards to rules, article and book writing. As well as opinions about the industry and my company. So I sometimes will use the 'imperial' we without thinking that it is incorrect.

#3

Have you considered that the one-man bands might be saying 'we' to differentiate a business from an individual?

Yes, though I've never heard of it except for here. My wife is involved with an artists' group, many of whom have their own businesses selling their art and I've never seen them express themselves as "we". I still think it's weird, but obviously I'm in the minority.

Apologies to those who might be offended.
--
Tim

4. As long as they have good products and give good service they can call themselves Shirley for all I care! 8)=

kyoteblue said:

Shirley you jest…..

I'm not jesting. And don't call me Shirley! (Somebody HAD to do it.)

BTW, "We" vote #3.

aecurtis

---There may be some with multiple personalities, or who hear voices.---

I did a poll and 9 of the 10 voices in my head said 'we' is the right word.

Cheers,

Pro…

We think it's a 3 too

Heh. I'm just waiting for all of you to realize that I made up Murphy and that he exists solely as an old Commodore 64 running a faulty AI program so that "I" could claim that Hawgleg is run by a "we."

And the beauty of it is, now that I've told you, NONE of you will believe me! Bwah hah hah.

-----------

Timbo: Not the silliest thing I've heard of… but I would still vote for #3.

Using "we" is also a good means of covering up somebody's mistake. "We messed things up" means you can't put the blame on somebody in particular etc …

I can't believe it – all these people saying option 3.

You guys have short memories if you think THIS is the dumbest poll ever.

As a random suggestion
TMP link

me myself and I make we.

3

We are not amused by those whould use the royal "we".

I think we should have a separate poll to determine the dumbest poll ever on TMP…

Yes !

3!

In my case, "I" do this a lot, too. "I" may give my opinion or view on a subject but also refer to the company as "we". That is because there are more folks involved that just "I". Since "I" also serve as the PR guy for "us", many may make an erroneous assumption that "we" are really just a one man show. I assure you that "we" are not!

Ever since day one for "us", "we" have NEVER been Minifigs USA! "We" have always been Game Figures Inc. (GFI). Despite saying this countless times over the last 11 years, (some of) "they" keep calling "us" "MF-USA"! Does it bother "us"? Not in the least, other than reminding "us" of how some seem to choose to remain living in the past! 8>)

(Did I use enough ""s to make the point the company consists of more than one person?) 8>)

Best
Tom Dye
GFI

I have difficulty imagining any but the crudest of operations truly being a one-person affair. "We" are as small as you can get. Its not a full time gig for any of us, several aren't even receiving cash compensation, but there are still about a dozen people involved in various aspects of bringing our games to the marketplace.

While I am the principle author, if I were to simply say "I" all the time, I would be discounting the tremendous amount of hard work put into the games by others -- artists, developers, playtesters, marketing & web developers, not to mention partnerships with distributors who themselves have a staff.

I am sure there are some people out there who can handle everything by themselves, but I am not one of them, and I wouldn't presume to imply that I was. Steel Dreadnought Games is very much a team effort founded for gamers, by gamers.

I think you also make an erroneous assumption that simply because a company participates in internet forums that it must be a single person operation. More companies would benefit if they had somebody whose job it was to prowl the internet forums, get the word out about their products, and see how they are being received by the consumers.

In today's day and age game/miniature companies that don't have at least one person whose job it is to interact with the internet community beyond simply making a passive website available are making a serious mistake and failing to capitalize on the single most powerful marketing tool since the invention of the television.

So. . . in short. . . sign me up for option 3.

I think it's a case of the Royal "We". So if they were French Royalty would it be "oui oui"

So if I am the sole rules smith but my office (we) publishes the stuff; and often my office assistant (we) will mail orders; but (at present) I am the only one taking orders . . .

should it be I or we?

mjc

Do we (and I mean it collectively on behalf of all of us reading the thread) really care?

I (meaning myself in the singular and not as part of an assumed collective) don't give a monkey's uncle.