Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders

[fun n serious]

often speak about themselves in the 3rd person. It annoys the heck out of me but what does it mean? Does anyone know why people do this? I'm curious...

[stopbush]

1. "Jimmy's getting angry!"

[Walk away]

2. At least they aren't using the royal "We". Not yet anyway!

[IamMab]

3. Narcissicm, basically.

http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a5036/third-person-1108/

Referring to yourself in the third person creates distance between "I" and "he." So if you have an exaggerated view of how great you are, you could be using this distance to make yourself even bigger. Or, if you've achieved major success suddenly, using the third person could be a way to adjust to the bigger role that's been assigned to you. It's a way to enlarge yourself to fit that role.

Did Sanders always do this, or is it recent? If it's a relatively new development, it could be a big sign that he buys his own hype, and probably does consider himself some kind of "progressive Jesus" now.

[Demnorth]

4. I've actually never heard

either of them doing it, yet. They're both performers speaking to large audiences - speaking to, not with - which may create that distance and different sense of self. Their role seems to be preaching to, or advising, the converted. Branding?

I've never heard anyone do this outside of that Seinfeld. In my opinion it's a bad move for a politician aiming to appeal to a broad spectrum of voters.

[Tommy2Tone]

5. Tommy2Tone hates third person as well.

[George II]

6. And there are only two candidates harping on "fixed, crooked, corrupt" - Trump and Sanders.

[fun n serious]

7. They do have a lot in common. nt