You would think it would be relatively uncontroversial to anyone who's read an older text full of "thous" and "yes" that sometimes the way English is used changes over time.

That said, I think McWhorter's observation that much fulminating over language usage is sublimated classism is an astute one.

> That said, I think McWhorter's observation that much fulminating over language usage is sublimated classism is an astute one.

It's fine in general, but it can't really apply here. This is some people imagining a difference that doesn't exist and then enforcing it on other people whose identities are unknown. Social class has no role to play in the process, except that this is the same behavior that, in other contexts, hardens class boundaries.

In other words, my analysis would be that people are motivated to engage in this behavior without knowing why, and the ultimate reason is to enforce class boundaries, but here they're just going with their instincts even though there isn't a class boundary to enforce.

I don't agree. They may not be conscious of it but the target here is people who didn't have the "right" education letting them know to avoid this phrase.