Personal pronoun problem #2

[Yellow Fang]

Sometimes when I post some garbage on an internet forum about how a typical person would react in a certain situation, I use the word "you" to refer to the typical person. For example, I once heard Ian St John on the television say about the Celtic and Scotland football manager, "You wouldn't want to offend him," or something like that. Most the time I write "you", but sometimes it does not seem right, especially in more formal writing. Or maybe when you are actually referring to your own experience but you suspect it's a typical reaction, e.g. "When you finally arrive at Lands End, you are struck by how commercialised it is." The other option is "one", but only the Queen, Prince Charles, ex-public schoolboys and women with cut glass accents say "one".

 

[I like Skol]

What are you talking about?

 

[jefmcg]

You've got two choices. If you don't like either, rephrase.

"On first view, it's striking how commercialized Land's End is"

 

[The Crofted Crest]

Sometimes when I post some garbage on an internet forum about how a typical person would react in a certain situation, I use the word "you" to refer to the typical person. For example, I once heard Ian St John on the television say about the Celtic and Scotland football manager, "You wouldn't want to offend him," or something like that. Most the time I write "you", but sometimes it does not seem right, especially in more formal writing. Or maybe when you are actually referring to your own experience but you suspect it's a typical reaction, e.g. "When you finally arrive at Lands End, you are struck by how commercialised it is." The other option is "one", but only the Queen, Prince Charles, ex-public schoolboys and women with cut glass accents say "one".

If you mean you yourself, say so: When I finally arrive at LE, I am struck ...
If you mean people in general, say so: Anyone/people arriving at LE, is/are struck ...
If you mean the person you are talking to, say so: When you arrive at LE, you are struck ...

 

[I like Skol]

commercialised!

 

[spen666]

I

If you mean you yourself, say so: When I finally arrive at LE, I am struck ...
If you mean people in general, say so: Anyone/people arriving at LE, is/are struck ...
If you mean the person you are talking to, say so: When you arrive at LE, you are struck ...

I am not going to Lands End. I have no desire to be struck

Has anyone made a complaint of assault to the local police?