3V1105.04 Generalized arguments to avoid rejection: [some little kids like candy.] (late January 1981)
For some months now, Peggy has shown a semantically unusual usage. She typically uses “somebody”, “some kids”, “some people” as ways of indirectly expressing her feelings — especially in situations where she may be unsure that a request for something will be met with enthusiasm. For example, knowing that I had a role of Regal Crown candy in my pocket, she came over to me and said, “Some little kids like candy.”
Expressing herself this way protects her from explicit refusal and rejection. It give me the option of asking, “Would you like some candy ?” (which I did and to which she gleefully responded) or of indirectly rejecting an implicit request.
We need more example of this usage and its varieties.