Why do some users use “we” when they post here?

Interesting question indeed. I can only speak for my actions, but if I joined in a thread where other users had already chimed in, I would probably refer to myself as “we” as in “we are in agreement”. Or perhaps in a question where a user asked why Apple did something …… to which I might use the “we, the users here, would not know that. If it is one of the Community Specialists replying, they would probably use “We” as they are replying on behalf of Apple.

Wilfred Hildonen wrote:

This is just out of curiosity, but as I thought that this is a forum where users help other users, it confuses me when some users use the noun “we” when they respond.

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We do not have access to any Apple proprietary information or customer accounts. Would you prefer I respond by saying I do not have any access to Apple proprietary information or to customer accounts?

I don't understand the issue with using we. When I use we, I'm referring to this group. Am I using we incorrectly?

Replies from users with the icon and identification shown below, are from Apple employees.

BobTheFisherman wrote:

We do not have access to any Apple proprietary information or customer accounts. Would you prefer I respond by saying I do not have any access to Apple proprietary information or to customer accounts?

I don't understand the issue with using we. When I use we, I'm referring to this group. Am I using we incorrectly?

I believe you are completely correct. I will sometimes say things like, "If you explain in more detail what your problem is, perhaps we can help help you figure it out". I usually say that recognizing that I may not be the person who knows the answer.

Wilfred Hildonen wrote:

Yes, I think it’s incorrect as you cannot possibly know if you speak for all the users in here.

There are times we can speak for other users here, especially in a statement of fact such as "We do not have access to any proprietary Apple information". Although I'm inclined personally to phrase it as, "No one here has access to Apple's proprietary information", it's an equally encompassing pronoun.

Wilfred Hildonen wrote:

Yes, I think it’s incorrect as you cannot possibly know if you speak for all the users in here.

But, as the other reply here informed me; if they carry the title of Community Specialists, they speak on behalf of Apple, something I wasn’t aware of.

I believe I am correct when using we in these communities of users. We try to help each other. We often recommend solutions to non grammatical issues, for example: we often recommend a reboot, we often recommend not using a third party anti virus app, we often don't know the answer to a problem.

BobTheFisherman wrote:

We often recommend solutions to non grammatical issues

Many of us would recommend solutions to grammatical issues more often if we didn't think it was a bit rude, especially as we don't always know what a person's native language is. ;-)

I use "we" quite often precisely because I do not own or run the forums and do not want to convey that I do. As in "I'll take care of that" - no, not neceessarily, but one of us will. Hence the "we".

There have long been three versions of "we" in the English tongue:

• the plural "we": My family went to the circus and we had a great time
• the editorial "we": We feel that our readers should be outraged by the Monday nothgt action of the Council.
• the Regal "we": We proclaim this date a day of celebration of our great victory over our enemies

I suspect you are seeing the editorial "we" here. This is a community, and many of us have been here a long time, enjoying the company of other members.

Wilfred Hildonen wrote:

Perhaps it’s a cultural thing? I can only speak for myself, at least, and therefore I do not use “we” unless it’s strictly correct to do so.

What you’re expressing is an opinion about usage. English is a lot more flexible than your 7th- grade English teacher and seventeenth-century prescriptive grammarians let on.