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Robbie Parry
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Posted: 12 July 2018 at 5:41am | IP Logged | 1 post reply

I know we've discussed this previously.

Earlier today, a non-fiction author tweeted this: 

Am I the only one who will be boycotting David Cameron's self-serving, self-justifying memoirs?

No, mate, you're NOT the only one. I also will not be buying David Cameron's memoirs. And I know a lot in my social circle who won't be buying it, either. I had coffee with my mother and brother recently. They won't be buying it, either.

The reason I hate the phrase is I think there's a little bit of a superiority complex at work.

I worked in an office once where one guy said, "Am I the only one who thinks we need to aim for an earlier finish time for opening post?" (This was a mailroom position). Erm, no, I, like others, wanted to finish earlier so we could move on to other duties.

"Am I the only one who saw this subtle social commentary in a movie?"
"Am I the only one who has watched LEGION?"

Yep, heard those, too.

Maybe I am over-thinking, but the superiority complex aspect of that phrase is what irks me. Have I used that phrase? Possibly as a child, but it's one I loathe as an adult.

Returning to the original tweeter, why would he assume he is the ONLY one who isn't buying Cameron's memoirs? Isn't he putting himself on a pedestal?
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John Byrne
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Joined: 11 May 2005
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Posted: 12 July 2018 at 5:48am | IP Logged | 2 post reply

"Am I the only one..." is a self-inflating (and lazy) way of asking "Who else is doing/thinking this?".
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Robbie Parry
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Posted: 12 July 2018 at 6:10am | IP Logged | 3 post reply

It seems to come from a place of narcissism, ego, etc. And, as you say, a self-inflating way of asking "Who else is doing this?"

If I got lost in an underwater cave, and was kidnapped by an underwater Sasquatch, I may well ask, "Am I the only one who has been kidnapped by an underwater Sasquatch deep in the oceans?" Chances are, no-one else has.

But I won't ask it about memoirs, workplace activities, comics I've read, etc.
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Michael Penn
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Posted: 12 July 2018 at 7:04am | IP Logged | 4 post reply

You're not over-thinking, Robbie. The phrase does come off, intentionally or not, as: "...am I only one smart enough to [etc.]?"
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Robbie Parry
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Posted: 12 July 2018 at 7:58am | IP Logged | 5 post reply

Yes, I thought so. In every context I have heard it, there was a smugness, a swagger, superiority, etc.

It is like a red rag to a bull with me. 

But I'm a miserable, pedantic git who hates it when someone says/writes "Could of..." rather than "Could have..." ;-)
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Greg McPhee
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Posted: 12 July 2018 at 9:57am | IP Logged | 6 post reply

Whenever someone starts a sentence with "Am I the only one...", I cut them off right away by going:

"Yes. Yes, you are."
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Doug Centers
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Posted: 12 July 2018 at 10:12am | IP Logged | 7 post reply

Ha, that's kind of what I do when someone states "Well, all I know is..."

That's all you know?
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Michael Roberts
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Posted: 12 July 2018 at 10:51am | IP Logged | 8 post reply

Whenever someone starts a sentence with "Am I the only one...", I cut them off right away by going:  

"Yes. Yes, you are."

——-

I thought I was the only one who did that.
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Robert Shepherd
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Posted: 12 July 2018 at 1:54pm | IP Logged | 9 post reply

I'm guilty of using that phrase and I also agree that it often comes off as self inflating.

In my defense though, when I've used it, it was a way for me to express my frustration rather than my superiority.

Or, I was fishing for agreement. 

For example...
Am I the only one who thinks this food is bitter?

I would use that example if I worried I might actually be the only one who thought that. So if others agreed the food was bitter, I'd know I was  still "normal" and not "crazy"......whew.



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John Popa
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Posted: 12 July 2018 at 3:14pm | IP Logged | 10 post reply

Whenever someone starts a sentence with "Am I the only one...", I cut them off right away by going:

"Yes. Yes, you are."

-----

I have a bunch of people at work when I ask how they're doing reply with 'oh, you know....' To which I always reply, 'Actually, I don't know, that's why I asked.'
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Peter Martin
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Posted: 12 July 2018 at 4:05pm | IP Logged | 11 post reply

I thought I was the only one who did that.
-----------------------
Am I only the one to see what Michael's done here?
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Andrew Saxon
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Posted: 13 July 2018 at 2:30am | IP Logged | 12 post reply

I always think of that phrase as being said in an exasperated tone rather than a superior way, and I like that it invites a response/answer. 'Am I the only one who...' certainly doesn't irritate me in the way that starting everything with an unnecessary 'So' does.
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