Who is Everyone?

In life, we often define terms. These terms can go from specific terminology that’s present in biology such as zoology and others. These kinds of terminologies are rather strict and understood instantly since they are defined for a specific narrow purpose.

There are also other terminologies which are confusing. For example, a simple one can be a pen. Is it black, blue, red or other rare colors of a pen? We don’t know but we assume it to be blue since it’s the most common.

Perhaps if a teacher uses it, a red pen but regardless, this is an easier example. A more confusing example could be a building. Is this building an apartment, a high-rise office tower, a mansion or other dozens of varieties of buildings?

I’m questioning because I am interested in our definitions. To clarify, we are not talking about the nature of language and its grammar per se but simply what we assume when a word is used. By grammar, it could be the difference between homophones etc but by assumption, we are talking what humans generally assume the instant we hear about it.

Today, I’m exploring the wording of ‘everyone’. When we say everyone, what do we exactly mean? Are we talking about literally everyone? Or are we merely assuming a certain subset of everyone? If so, on what basis though?

I am not silly enough to question whether it’s literally everyone or not. Any sane individual knows when we say everyone, we aren’t literally saying everyone but what needs to be challenged is the reasoning behind a subset of everyone.

If someone says, “I hate that everyone these days is littering the streets.” Perhaps such a certain contains anger and frustration but more so, in this context everyone seems to be the majority of the people.

After all, if literally everyone is littering the street then he would not say people these days are littering since it would become a regular occurrence. Only because it’s becoming far more often than the past is he bringing it up.

But on a deeper note, let’s say person A and B littered the public space. Person A littered because he couldn’t find a dustbin while Person B did so accidentally. My point is Person B does not litter intentionally.

Doesn’t this contradict our above silent agreement that everyone is assumed based on a certain subset of people? But clearly, Person A and B are vastly different. Person B would not even litter usually while Person A does without any guilt. Can these two people really be a part of everyone?

This is why it’s important to question the assumptions we make. Of course, if you were a bit smart you would realize that they still are a part of the definition of everyone since both people do indeed litter regardless of the deeper reasons.

Everyone cannot simply exist as it is since people are fundamentally different. They may be the same if you only question one aspect but the deeper you go, the more split everyone is. Perhaps this is why it’s important to know the selection of the assumption when people talk.

Such statements such as everyone, people, nobody, men or women include the entire category when they simply cannot and even if it’s not the entire category, a lot of people try to include a sizable chunk of people.

This is more so a problem of language and how it is used. We may be black and white from a distance but the deeper we look, the more we are of different shades of white and black itself.

The distinction of everyone or even the majority of people only exists in theory for mere convenience. In the practical world, it can only be said to be very lacking and even harmful considering how our minds thrive under tribalism.

Considering this may sound rather philosophical and confusing, let me give a practical example although it can only be used as a signpost for the explanation.

For example, in an online store, you may select the category of a bed but the different results of bed itself are staggering. First of all, you may be introduced to products such as pillows, furniture and mattresses. And in those subcategories itself, the size of the mattresses and the width and height of the furniture is quite different as well. Even if you go in the sub-category of furniture with the size, you may come across the wood type and more. It’s really endless if subdivided. That being said, the difference and wording for words such as everyone matter far greater considering how it can be weaponized which social media platforms already generously do.

Food for thought.

PS: This is also related to average notation in statistics. I might post one later.