>I would like comments on why various speakers in this forum use the
> term "we" to refer
> to the country they live in, the sports team they favor, some
> arbitrary group they belong to.


[OT] tag added as otherwise we will largely not get this message.
OR we all will depending how the system is actually set up, as opposed 
to how we are told it is.

:-)

We.
Vicarious participation or association, justified or not.
Allows us to attach ourselves to the wagon of some person/group/ideal 
of which we approve (or, sometimes, don't) or would like to be 
associated with. There will often be SOME basis for the linkage, but 
this is not essential. (My country, my countrymen, my geographic area, 
my racial group, those who think like me ...)

You know what we mean.

:-)

Arguably associated with the herd instinct, need to belong, protection 
in numbers yada yada.

Specifics:

New Zealanders / we:    There are certain mindsets which tend to be 
more closely correlated with our behaviours as a whole. Or not. Some 
such are stereotypes with no real basis and some have some 
relationship with reality. NZ was largely populated by pioneers, 
adventurers and convicts. Oz had even more of the latter :-). The 
pioneer period for us is "only" about 100-150 years away and the long 
tail still pervades. Sport is king (or one of the kings) and we 'punch 
above our weight' (even in boxing) in many areas. "We" are world 
champion sportsmen and women in areas where the big Big BIG countries 
are not too interested. And, on and off are also world champions in 
those. With under 4 million population that's not bad. So "we" like to 
go along for the ride and adulation and also partake in the hero 
worship. Why wouldn't 'we'. We have held the Americas Cup and will do 
so again. And the yachtsmen we race to try and regain it from are 
often also NZers. In Rugby (what's that) 'we' are king of the world, 
except when the Ozzies are. And Netball. And near the top in some 
classes of motocross. And ... . Why should we not say we if it takes 
us closer to being part of this. If you can understand why people go 
to superbowl or spend months of their life watching gridiron or ... 
then you don't really need to ask about 'we'. You already know what we 
mean :-).

Engineers:    Partially a joke. Partially  a true correlation. See 
recent post from me (I think) re correlation between eg engineers and 
certain mental characteristics. These are statistical, but if they 
don't apply to YOU, then, what are you doing here with us, Stranger? 
:-). I just KNOW they do though based on your project !!! We all 
approve.

Politics:        Nigh on 50% of USA'ites (them / you) voted for the 
idiot in office at present. Almost 50% voted for the idiot not in 
office who wanted to be. Both are also heroes, God's gift to the 
world, saviours of mankind etc etc. Why would 'we' not want to stand 
vicariously in their shadow as a group, or feel the support of all 
those others as 'we' abuse them, depending on who they and we are.

The drive to belong and associate and not stand out varies with social 
group. Arguably with racial group too but I suspect it's probably very 
largely social effects that attach to the racial groupings they happen 
to have developed among.  eg the Japanese and Asians generally to a 
lesser extent overall (perhaps) are said to be more group oriented, 
less individual, more 'we' than eg yer Kiwi & Ocker Antipodeans 
(that's we from NZ and our Australian mates across the pond). I'm 
told, and it seems, that the Japanese greatly prefer the group to be 
seen as the originator and responsible party for decision and results. 
That said 'we' in NZ have what is termed a "tall poppy syndrome" where 
the one who sticks their heads up tends to be attacked and 'cut down 
to size'. It seems that too much individualism threatens our 
'we-ness'.

Maslow and his needs hierarchy probably has something of sorts to say 
on this, AFAWR

Anyway, I'm sure we aren't telling you anything you don't already 
know - I'm sure Y'All already know what we mean.


        Russell
        NZer and we're proud of it.




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