You have probably had this happen at least once today. If it didn't, please just play along so I don't feel awkward and alone. It starts when some annoying coworker decides to decrease efficiency. This effort is doubled by coming to tell you a story no one really cares about. The cubicle gods would be angry.
The story being told will involve multiple people, which is key to this post. The subject of whatever story is being conveyed, however, is not key. What matters is how the annoying coworker refers to the other individual(s) in the story. It is always "MY friend" that did something or knows something or said something. MY Friend. Not Yours. Mine.
It is the possessive that annoys me. It is as if this individual is flaunting their ownership of a relationship with another person that cannot be had by me or anyone else. In this possessive relationship, the two people, which does not include me, did something incredibly awesome recently. It must be understood that I will never be a part of this because it is "MY friend." Doesn't help my insecurities.
Why do we need the possessive "MY"? And by the way, "MY" is in all caps, because, whether I imagine it or not, I feel as if the ownership is being stressed by the story teller. Why can't it just be a friend? Wouldn't referring to "a friend" be just as useful without conveying superiority? As an intelligent society, can't we assume that the reference to "a friend" is to a relationship had between this so-called friend and the storyteller?
I am guilty of using "MY friend" as well, but it must stop. We cannot refer to friends as if it is an exclusive relationship like we would a significant other. We must show a willingness to share for the sake of humanity.
Or maybe it's just me taking up arms against a ridiculous pet peeve, and that is why there are very few people out there using the term "MY friend Thomas..."
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