Do you prefer using "one" or "you" for impersonal expressions?

[Globex]

Which sentence would you prefer to use and why?

"You should never throw anything at a crazy, knife-wielding hobo."

or

"One should never throw anything at a crazy, knife-wielding hobo."

Which word do you prefer using for impersonal expressions?

Poll coming up.
Vote and discuss.

 

[Camikaze]

"One" sounds much more philosophical and intelligent.

 

[puglover]

I like to write fiction in third-person, so I train myself not to use second-person expressions like "you" in my writing. "One" is a better expresson because it doesn't take the reader out of context.

 

[Tee Kay]

One is better, but I always use "you" because, well, I'm used to saying it I guess.

 

[CCRunner]

One is to academic for me in normal conversations

 

[pianoman1242]

i guess "one" is more correct, but "you" comes out more naturally for me

 

[otago]

One is good form to use with the Queen's English.
Some Republican and rebel types differ.

 

[Perfection]

Completely context defendant. One for when I want to talk about generalities, you when I want to talk about the audience personally.

 

[History_Buff]

Completely context defendant. One for when I want to talk about generalities, you when I want to talk about the audience personally.

This = new char[10];

 

[mrt144]

One because my girlfriend has taken offense to many things I've said.

 

[Perfection]

Example?

 

[mrt144]

Example?

She reads civfanatics. No way buster.

 

[LightFang]

"One" for academic things, "you" if I'm being informal or when I'm speaking.

 

[MagisterCultuum]

I usually prefer switching it to be in the passive voice to avoid either. (Actually, I'd prefer switching to Latin. Gerundives are cool.)


If I had to choose, I'd prefer One.

 

[azzaman333]

Generally you, because it's less likely to result in getting punched in the face for being pretentious.

 

[Camikaze]

Generally you, because it's less likely to result in getting punched in the face for being pretentious.

Yeah, "one" is pretentious, elitist, condescending, grandiose and outright objectionable. Which makes it fun to use.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

"One" because using "you" in an impersonal sense still tends to be taken personally.

 

[Dachs]

"One" because I'm too used to using the German man (lowercase m).

 

[King of Town]

My lady says one all the time because she knows it annoys me. I don't know ayone thats says it in general conversation thank goodness. Like people said, just people who want to sound educated.

 

[classical_hero]

You is so much better.