Do you think this is rude?

Question

At work, I deal with a lot of people over the phone. I hate when people say "you people".
For an example, I got a call today like this:

"I never benefited from "you people" so that's why I thought I'd call you to see if you would help pay my premiums because I am low income". Well, "you people" send me this stuff every year and thought I would call you first.

Answer 1

I get that a lot too, and I can't stand it! It does sound rude, but some people don't view it that way. They also don't care if they're rude to you, because they don't know you. It's easier to be mean when that's the case.

Answer 2

I don't like that label, either. It is a bit rude, isn't it?

Try not to take offense. The caller is upset about the policies of the company, not you in particular. You just happened to answer the phone.

I am not sure how to respond to a caller like that except to send out the information without further comment. I suppose you can say, "Sure, I'll send out that information right away. Have a nice day."

These type of callers use that phrase all the time. I work in a library and sometimes we get calls like that, too. "You people sent out this overdue notice." "You people never have anything I want."

Oh well. Sorry! ;(

Answer 3

Some people just have a problem wording things. That person would have sounded nicer if she would have said "Your organization has sent me this information every year and now that I am in need this year I thought that I would call to see what options are being offered". I am sure having your job is not an easy one. Dealing with disgruntled people can be very frustrating.

Answer 4

It's dismissive, which is inconsiderate and impolite, therefore rude. It's also a simple form of referring to the company as a whole, since your callers are probably bright enough to realize the person answering the phone isn't responsible for the mail-outs or general policies/procedures. In most cases, it probably just means your caller can't be bothered to figure out another way of refering to the company - and isn't meant as an insult. So, rude or not, you probably shouldn't waste much time being seriously offended.

Answer 5

I am from Texas, and I know I have been guilty of saying something similar, just instead of "you people" I say "y'all." Around here, that is what we use in conversation to refer to any group of people (or to a company if we are speaking to a representative of the company). We use it to distinguish from the singular "you" so we don't sound like it is a personal statement to the one we are speaking to. I might say "Y'all have sent me this stuff" instead of "You have sent me this stuff" because I realize you personally probably didn't send it, but someone at your organization did.

I know that in other regions of the country, there are other phrases used, and the caller probably didn't mean to be rude. When in doubt, assume the best meaning and don't go looking for rudeness. What you think is rudeness might come from the person not being sure what to say or how to say it correctly. If you are getting paid to work with people over the phone, it is your job to try to please them, not their job to please you.

Answer 6

I don't think it is rude, necessarily. I think it is ignorant. Many people assume that everyone in a company knows what is going on in every branch and has some say in it. Like, for instance, when an airplane is delayed and the flight attendants get yelled at as if they should be doing something about it. If someone says "You people are idiots" or another negative comment, I would say that's rude. But inserting 'you people' in place of 'the company you work for' doesn't sound rude in itself.

Answer 7

It is rude to generalize a group of people because no two people are alike. You would never say something like that about a persons race or religion so saying that even to generalize about a persons profession is rude.

Answer 8

She probably can't pay her bill (not being derrogatory, just honest) and is frustrated and upset about it. Yes, it is rude. But, by the same token, it is kind of understandable, because she can't see the person she's talking to. People have a tendency to clump people together when they can't see them, or when it's a huge corporation. It stinks, and I certainly dislike it myself, but, unfortunetly, it's the nature of the business.

Answer 9

More ignorant than rude, really.

You people is an euphemism for "people like you" as in organizations (churches, charities etc.) or people in certain positions (social workers etc.) It really isn't meant as anything racial or sexist or relig-ist etc. unless specifically directed at such a trait (I won't go into details here - but I do hope you understand).

The "you people" I believe these callers are referring to have to do with your organization.

Don't take it personally, please. At least they called you and asked - And they (hopefully) didn't pepper their conversation with foul language.

Answer 10

It may not be the best of grammar but it's certainly better than being female and have someone say 'you guys'. It's hard to refer to the business and not have it sound as if you are referring to an action of the person you are speaking to. If I were to say "I called you before" it would mean that I called the business before not the person. That's probably why they said 'you people' to take it away from looking as though they were referring only to you.