"Folks" makes me feel like George W. Bush. I can't bring myself to say it. He used the word a lot, frequently in inappropriate contexts. Now the word is like fi

"Folks" makes me feel like George W. Bush. I can't bring myself to say it. He used the word a lot, frequently in inappropriate contexts. Now the word is like fingernails on a chalkboard for me. "Many of the spectacular car bombings and killings you see are as a result of al Qaeda — the very same folks that attacked us on September the 11th." People works in some contexts, but has problems in others. Note the difference: > What are you guys up to? Versus > What are you people up to? The first is fine. The second gets you a visit from HR. EDIT: And to get back to my earlier point, "What are y'all up to?" is friendly and casual. The problem is that I sound as natural as someone's dad trying to rap when I say it.