The phrase 'we need to talk' needs to be eradicated and replaced.
'I need to talk' - because it is presumptuous to think that that the other person will also need to talk.
'I want to talk' - because really, does anyone ever NEED to talk? It is not exactly the same as needing a wee.
Better than this, how about just talking? Instead of announcing the fact that you've got something to say? You don't hear me announcing that I'm about the feed the fish, or text someone back. Conversation is not twitter.
That is all.
At first I sort of saw your point, but as I thought about it, I decided I completely disagreed. Yes, it is presumptuous to assume that someone else may need to talk, but I guess what the phrase is referring to is the fact that the person wants a conversation which is usually a two way thing. When people talk it's not normally at one another but with one another, so by one person talking the other will likely have something to say. And I do feel the need to talk, although this doesn't mean everyone does, but when alone I frequently talk to myself, the animals or the plants... So I presume it's something I have to do otherwise I will likely drop further into the well of insanity. And finally, I frequently announce things which I'm about to do, such as going for a poo, feed the animals, cook the dinner, go to bed. Again this may be a personal thing but I don't believe I'm alone in this. Communication is important. We need to talk is announcing the need to talk at some point in the not too distant future usually about something quite important, hence the announcement, and possibly at a time more convenient than the present.
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