Technically, this is an issue of first-person plural pronouns. And while I’m sure the words “Foundation Disc Golf” and “pronouns” would generate a crap-ton of clicks in a headline, I’m fairly certain they’d mislead most readers. I’m a fan of Foundation Disc Golf; I love their work.
Hard pass.
This gripe stems from Foundation Disc Golf’s “Breaking Bad” series on YouTube. In it, members of the Foundation team attempt to break a set score on a difficult course. Konner Kennedy did a Break-86 challenge. Trevor Staub’s now in the middle of a Break-57 battle. Hunter Thomas’ year-long quest to Break 68 at New London was a viewer favorite, too.
This includes yours truly.
However, there was one tiny thing that made my skin crawl every episode. One thing that, if I could go back and bleep-censor it into oblivion, I totally would. One word, specifically …
“We.”
Talk about the epitome of petty.
These are the sorts of phrases I’m talking about …
Word-for-word, I’ve plucked them from actual videos:
- “We’re trying to throw like 300 feet here.”
- “Realistically, we’ve got two shots to get there.”
- “I feel really good about our chances coming into next month.”
- “I think we’re going to leave the course with our heads held high.”
The reality of this challenge, though?
WE are doing nothing.
YOU are doing everything.
Trevor, Hunter, Konner, etc.
Hunter will play along. Trevor’s a bit worse. When Brodie’s there, he’s heavily into it. But throw Robbie C. into the mix, and you’d think the round was a feel-good Saturday at church camp.
And yes, I get it …
The argument for this kind of verbiage is one of support.
It lends itself to the whole “we’re-all-in-this-together” mindset. Born and raised in the Sooner State, I’m a die-hard supporter of the Oklahoma City Thunder. And still, for as much as I live and die with each trip up and down the court, I never loop myself into the outcome of a contest.
You know, the sort of wild stuff that know-it-all uncle of yours says while stuffing his face-hole with a seemingly endless supply of pepperoni pizza, Hot Cheetos and Mountain Dew …
On the couch.
In his underwear:
- “We need to play tougher defense.”
- “We turned the ball over way too much.”
- “We got outworked on the offensive glass.”
- “We can’t compete without the three in this league.”
It feels silly writing (and reading) these kinds of phrases.
Imagine voluntarily saying them.
And worse, being serious about it.
I hope one day to attempt a Break-106 video of my own at New London. I know it’s unrealistic, but having the Lynchburg boys there would be even better. I’d let them lead me, guide me and walk beside me. But don’t you dare put my shoddy play on your shoulders, when it’s mine. Because if I take home a One-Wheel (click here) at the end of the day, I’m not sharing it.
I rest my case.
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Gripe 947: Disc manufactures and retailers who don’t put the flight number on the thumbnails. Look i don’t have every disc created memorized. Stop making me tap every disc on your page just to find a 7 speed. Tap, nope putter, go back, tap, nope 14 speed, go back, tap, 7 speed but -4 turn, nope.
DGU does it right
That sounds horrible …
Don’t most retailers have their discs sorted by type, though?
That seems like it’d solve the problem.
Which online retailer has the most blood on their hands for this?
Yes you can narrow it down by type but you still need to tap on every disc to see if it is flippy or beefy.
Was checking out millennium when this gripe hit me. But Astrodiscs is another. And so is the Grand Daddy of them all. Innova West Coast.
Ouch …
That smarts.
And that’s true, too.
Infinite Discs does things the right way.
I’m only a couple hours south of ’em in Utah, so that’s where I get my plastic.
And you’re right: Annoying to the max.
And then there’s the Royal first-person plural, exemplified by the regal “We are not amused.”
My cat who says that often, in fluent feline body language.
Bahahaha …
That’s nice, Purple.
Don’t have a cat – highly allergic to them, in fact.
But I get this; I feel this.
Thanks for sharing!