What causes a person to speak in the third person? "Me, mine, my, I" phobia? (people)

[North Beach Person]

North Beach Person just saw this thread and has no idea. However we are amused with some of the answers.

[goodheathen]

Originally Posted by TracySam

I'm always confused by parents, grandparents, etc, who talk about themselves to little kids in the third person, as if little kids aren't going to understand the pronouns "I" and "me."

Come sit here with Mommy (said by Mommy).
Give that to Daddy (said by Daddy himself).
Give Grandma a kiss (said by Grandma).
Do you want to draw a picture with Aunt Tracy? (asked by Aunt Tracy).


I've never had kids, but I see people, even in my own family, doing this all the time.
Really, if you say "I" or "me" even to a toddler, they WILL know what you mean. Try it. No need to speak in this artificially cute way.

Sometimes, they're trying to reinforce the names they want to be called.

[Tracysherm]

But to do it with a 4 year old, who already knows the names to call people? Makes no sense.

[goodheathen]

I don't know if 4 is old enough to remember, especially if not seeing someone regularly. It might be an instance of "Err on the side of caution." Also, those adult relatives probably take pleasure in announcing their elder-relative status, similar to how some men like to be called "Daddy" by women.

[Green0]

Interestingly, there is a new psychological study that shows that such a habit helps people to develop wisdom and empathy.

[Bootsamillion]

Originally Posted by Miss Hepburn

This is a true mystery to me...I understand many pathologies...and
have much compassion...but this one truly stumps me.
Am I wrong to think childhood trauma? Some sort of disassociation?

Any insights?
And why does it give me the heebee jeebeeis!!!!?
I want to get over that and view it clinically.
Thank you.

You are over-thinking this I think. Woops! I said the "I" word........ hope that didn't offend YOU.


Maybe you are thinking that people who usually use a lot of those words is maybe a self centered person? Have never heard of anyone that got the heebee jeebeeis ...maybe YOU were traumatized as a child.

Here's an everyday sentence:

I will be more than happy to look that up for you. I'm driving right now, let me get to my house and I'll look it up on my computer and call you right back.

So... what's wrong with that ? Could it be that you are looking for things to give you the heebee jeebees?

Your question is "What causes a person to speak in the third person?" The correct use of the English language.

I could swith it around and say "Would YOU mind looking on YOUR phone and telling me tomorrow's weather? Do you find heeebeeee jeeebeees in that ?

[Cinebar]

Originally Posted by Green0

Interestingly, there is a new psychological study that shows that such a habit helps people to develop wisdom and empathy.

Yeah. I don't know about that.

There used to be somebody on this forum who always referred to himself in the third person. He had neither empathy OR wisdom.

He was just a troll who posted things to try to stir **** up and for attention. lol

[Spuggy]

Seems rather narcissistic or egocentric.

[Kophi]

Originally Posted by Miss Hepburn

This is a true mystery to me...I understand many pathologies...and
have much compassion...but this one truly stumps me.
Am I wrong to think childhood trauma? Some sort of disassociation?

Any insights?
And why does it give me the heebee jeebeeis!!!!?
I want to get over that and view it clinically.
Thank you.

Back in the early 2000's there was someone I encountered on another forum who regularly did this in their posts. I don't remember the specifics, but I think the explanation in this case was that it was due to being demonically afflicted at the time (this person identified as Christian). They had other peculiarities in their use of some words, but aside from that their content was very articulate and insightful.




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[Kophi]

Originally Posted by Bootsamillion

You are over-thinking this I think. Woops! I said the "I" word........ hope that didn't offend YOU.


Maybe you are thinking that people who usually use a lot of those words is maybe a self centered person? Have never heard of anyone that got the heebee jeebeeis ...maybe YOU were traumatized as a child.

Here's an everyday sentence:

I will be more than happy to look that up for you. I'm driving right now, let me get to my house and I'll look it up on my computer and call you right back.

So... what's wrong with that ? Could it be that you are looking for things to give you the heebee jeebees?

Your question is "What causes a person to speak in the third person?" The correct use of the English language.

I could swith it around and say "Would YOU mind looking on YOUR phone and telling me tomorrow's weather? Do you find heeebeeee jeeebeees in that ?

She's talking about when someone refers to themselves in the third person.

So, taking your example sentence above, if you, Bootsamillion, had phrased it as "Bootsamillion will be more than happy to look that up for you. He is driving right now..." when referring to yourself, that's the sort of phraseology that Miss Hepburn is referring to (please correct me if I'm wrong, Miss H.).




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