Americans - Do you say 'folks' instead of 'people'

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This is prompted by having Fox News as one of the channels on my Sky service. The people on Fox talk about 'these folks who're attacking us in Iraq' etc. And George Bush always says folks (never folk).
I always feel there's some kind of code here I'm not getting. Or is it a geographic thing?

(btw why is the only use of the word this side of the Atlantic in the expression Old Folks Home?)

― Joe Kay (feethurt), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 12:39 (twenty-one years ago)

"We're gonna get those folks who did this".
When he said that on 9-11, the whole room of people at work who were watching the tv in disbelief of the whole chain of events, burst out laughing, despite the tragedy. What a shitkicker.

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 12:45 (twenty-one years ago)

it usually carries a hint of endearment so is certainly bizarre in that context

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 12:47 (twenty-one years ago)

C'mon - the Bin Ladens were family friends.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 12:49 (twenty-one years ago)

.. until they borrowed their lawnmower and didn't return it.

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 12:50 (twenty-one years ago)

C'mon - the Bin Ladens were family friends.

Trudat. Now I get it.

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 12:50 (twenty-one years ago)

On one of the 9/11 megathreads there was discussion of this...

― Madchen (Madchen), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 12:55 (twenty-one years ago)

.. and so here is a snippet of a thread.

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 12:56 (twenty-one years ago)

C'mon - the Bin Ladens were family friends.

But wasn't Saddam responsible for 9/11?

― Dadaismus (Dada), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 12:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Terrorist action 11/9/2001 - Thread 3

Here it is.

― Madchen (Madchen), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 13:00 (twenty-one years ago)

folks don't have to be old, here.

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 13:00 (twenty-one years ago)

No,no, it was Germany and France, dontcha remember?

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 13:01 (twenty-one years ago)

i use it sometimes. it doesn't always denote endearment, either. don't know why they'd say it on fox news, wouldn't expect to hear it from a talking head. but then they worship bush on fox news, so perhaps they are imitating him.

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 13:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I've read the thread that Madchen linked to. It's interesting that it struck people as strange that Bush would say 'folks' that day, but people took it as a once off expression in the heat of the moment. But what do people think now that Bush keeps saying it?

― Joe Kay (feethurt), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 13:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I've been trying to think of a sentence where it doesn't, hazel, because I suspect you're right.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 13:16 (twenty-one years ago)

I think he's a clueless cunt with the slenderest hold on reality. Cunt.

― Markelby (Mark C), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 13:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Now that Bush keeps saying it, the media have given up replacing it with "those responsible" and just quote what he actually said.

― Madchen (Madchen), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 13:26 (twenty-one years ago)

well, do remember that bush isn't all that shit hot as a public speaker. so keep in mind the distinction between texas dialect features you're not familiar with and the lumpy word mush that bush brings forth from his mouth when talking to a video camera.

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 13:27 (twenty-one years ago)

personally, i think "folks" is kind of old-fashioned. but yah, means "people".

okay folks, settle down.

― Vermont Girl (Vermont Girl), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 13:28 (twenty-one years ago)

the former being an ingredient of the latter, not the recipe.

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 13:28 (twenty-one years ago)

It isn't necessarily a term of endearment, but it is informal (and old-fashioned) language. It's sort of a small-town word. I think Fox News uses it to appeal to the republican parts of rural America (as opposed to them high-fallutin' liberals who're always usin' big fancy words).

Folk without the s seems to be used more as an adjective (folk music, folk art) or as a noun that somewhat ambiguously refers to a sort of pastoral community of the past (the simple folk). Folks either means other people generally, or it refers specifically to one's parents (as in, I'm going to see my folks this weekend). It's definitely informal, and Fox News is the only news channel that would use it.

― alexandra s (alexandra s), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 13:37 (twenty-one years ago)

"Folks" is not a small-town, old-fashioned word where I live.

― Kerry (dymaxia), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 13:39 (twenty-one years ago)

it's not an old-fashioned word around here.

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 13:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, I use it pretty interchangeably for "people" and for "parents" as well. Doesn't necessarily have to contain a note of endearment, I would say.

― Hurlothrumbo (hurlothrumbo), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 14:05 (twenty-one years ago)

i say folks all the time, more so than people.

I've especially become accustomed to saying it in place of 'parents' since working here. i have no idea who my kids live with them and most of the time it isn't parents. so i just say things like 'i'm going to have to call your folks.'

― Ask For Samantha (thatgirl), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 14:49 (twenty-one years ago)

To be honest I thought it was a bit embarrassing when everyone got on Bush's back for saying 'folks'. It was a bit sneery. It's a perfectly good word, really.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 14:52 (twenty-one years ago)

I try to say "motherfuckers" in place of either. "Folks be trippin'" just doesn't sound right

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 14:52 (twenty-one years ago)

I say folks, but Dubya ain't one of my folks

― chris (chris), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 14:53 (twenty-one years ago)

"Folks" for "parents" covers step-parents, parents' spouses, etc., too, and I think I probably started using it in college, for that reason. (I've never liked "step-parent" for "the person your parent married after you moved out of the house," because their role isn't necessarily parental.)

― Tep (ktepi), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 14:55 (twenty-one years ago)

. . . and aunties, cousins, best friend's mom, big brother, baby's daddy and all the other forms of guardians i've encountered as a public school teacher.

― Ask For Samantha (thatgirl), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 14:57 (twenty-one years ago)

"hey folks" is a very friendly greeting to give when you've just arrived at the pub and your friends are there

― chris (chris), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 14:57 (twenty-one years ago)

I never hear it in the Northeast, except when black people say "white folks."

― antexit (antexit), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 16:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Maybe they don't say it on the east coast? I live on the west coast
and it's a perfectly acceptable exact synonym for "people."

― jayhawk (Squirrel_Police), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 16:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Luc, I say "folks" all the damn time!

― Dickerson Pike (Dickerson Pike), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 17:03 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm from the east coast originally. I don't think this maps to broad geographic regions (to the extent anything really does, anymore).

― Tep (ktepi), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 17:12 (twenty-one years ago)

I say folks, but not as often as people. For some reason I've started using the word "folx" in e-mails. It's entered my lingo.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 17:48 (twenty-one years ago)

I use folks. Especially when I am trying to be folksy.

― christhamrin (christhamrin), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 18:01 (twenty-one years ago)

soylent green is folks!

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 18:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Terrorist action 11/9/2001 - Thread 3
Here it is.

What? What happened on November 9, 2001?

Signed,
Pleasant Plains, American

― Pleasant Plains (Pleasant Plains), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 18:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Here in the rural midwest, I regularly use "folks" in lieu of "people". I also admit to useing "kin" as both nound and adjective.

― briania, Wednesday, 7 April 2004 19:06 (twenty-one years ago)

corny indie folks

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 19:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I use "folks" once in a great while, but I use "corny indie fuxxx" much more often.

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 19:10 (twenty-one years ago)

hazel my entire father's side of the family is from Texas and Oklahoma!! Maybe "endearment" is the wrong word, but "folks" implies a familiarity with the people you're talking about - good or bad. You know the expression "jus' folks"? It's a way to whittle people down to size, in a way. You could use it angrily—"there's SOME folks round here think they can act like they please"—but it's a way of saying "you're not so different from me; I know what you're about." I'm ready to admit that this coloring may just be my personal bleed-over from the other definitions of the word like "parents" "relatives" "unpretentious people" but I bet some other folks get the same spin off it. If Bush should articulate this theory about Iraqi guerillas more consistently, i.e. that they're not crazy madmen who "hate freedom" but rather just ordinary people making a huge mistake

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 21:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I said 'folks' only when I was required to in the course of day to day job related duties, ie, 'good afternoon Ryan's, where the folks are friendly, this is Aimee, how can I help you?'.

― luna (luna.c), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 21:17 (twenty-one years ago)

I have resolved to use "trick-ass bitches" every time I am tempted to use the word "folks" except when I am referring to someone's parents unless said parents are, in fact, trick-ass bitches.

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 21:24 (twenty-one years ago)

If only Bush had said ""We're gonna get those corny indie fuxxx who did this".

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 21:27 (twenty-one years ago)

I wouldn't have minded a Bright Eyes concert or two being bombed.

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 21:30 (twenty-one years ago)

tracer, was it me you were replying to? i'm not sure what you're talking about.

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 23:12 (twenty-one years ago)

i was responding to --> "keep in mind the distinction between texas dialect features you're not familiar with and the lumpy word mush that bush brings forth from his mouth when talking to a video camera"

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 23:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Tracer, did you get my email. Are you coming out to play in Glasgow or not?

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 23:21 (twenty-one years ago)

ah, ok. makes sense now.

If Bush should articulate this theory about Iraqi guerillas more consistently, i.e. that they're not crazy madmen who "hate freedom" but rather just ordinary people making a huge mistake.

it's an interesting take, but i don't believe bush has anything near that level of rhetorical skill. i think he says "folks" either because he's nervous or because he thinks it plays up his regular joe image.

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 23:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Short answer: 1) no 2) YES!!!!!!!!!

xpost: yeah it's confusing!!

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 23:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Can you still pick up yr br0keland mail?

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 23:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Well I've sent my mobile no. to it again anyway. Going to bed now. Catch up with you soon I hope. Sorry for the thread hijack everyone.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 23:35 (twenty-one years ago)

maybe it was just a clumsy reference to the Roger Moore movie...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081809/combined

― jaymatter, Thursday, 8 April 2004 00:30 (twenty-one years ago)

I avoided saying folks (and y'all) for the longest time, but in a lot of instances people sounds a little more confrontational (read: East Coast yankee)

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Thursday, 8 April 2004 00:35 (twenty-one years ago)

well, you don't want to commit a folks pas.

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Thursday, 8 April 2004 00:52 (twenty-one years ago)

that may be the worst pun I've ever seen. Congrats!

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 8 April 2004 01:04 (twenty-one years ago)

I never, never say 'folks', and I certainly would doubly never say it if I were on television news or the president of the United States. It's like, what the fuck, this is not your fucking back porch! Talk normal talk mother fucker!

― Dan I., Thursday, 8 April 2004 01:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I never ever say 'folks' either, unless I'm talking bout rival gangs with my homeboys. I use 'guys' or 'dudes' or 'people' instead. 'Folks' makes me think of an imaginary Betty Ann from HR who makes friendship pillows and asks me how my day is going.

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 8 April 2004 01:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Just makes me think of Bugs Bunny every time I hear that shit.

― Dan I., Thursday, 8 April 2004 01:22 (twenty-one years ago)

We use the word Folk to refer the American nation as whole. Folkish concerns are those of blood and soil.

― A. Smirn, Thursday, 8 April 2004 06:08 (twenty-one years ago)

! Talk normal talk mother fucker!

That is normal talk for a lot of us you dumb muthafucka.

― Ask For Samantha (thatgirl), Thursday, 8 April 2004 13:21 (twenty-one years ago)

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