Men and women use it frequently. I started, too, and I’m 50!

I’m a writer/editor by trade, and I like it. It does signify agreement, is very informal, and it is a way of bonding by expressing being “on the same page” about anything previously said.

It doesn’t necessarily refer to something the speaker of it knows, but agrees with in general. I like it because it is a bonding phrase and shows that the person who said it enjoyed what you said.

Bonding is just a human thing to do, and regardless of whether you think it signifies being a “lemming”, it is part of the natural urge to connect with people. It’s harmless, fun, and it means something to those who use it–or clearly it would not be used.

Personally, I think people who say “I know, right?” are either unwitting copycats (just like living in one area long enough to unintentionally or unconsciously begin sounding like a native) or they are just trying to fit in with the “rest of the crowd.” When I ask people (usually of an under-30 set) why they use the phrase, very few of these folks admit they are just doing it because their peers are doing it; instead, most of them come up with an explanation for it that, to an educated person, is as nonsensical as the phrase itself. Someone who initially appears intelligent to me can, frankly, ruin that impression by saying “I know, right?” (I have a neighbor who skips the “I know” part and just responds to most statements with a simple “Right?”) As far as I’m concerned, this is just part of the “dumbing down” of modern society, a process that includes a frightening amount of mind-numbing movies, television shows and music that people enjoy pretty much because their friends enjoy them… and don’t get me started on what texting does to people’s grammar and spelling (not to mention the LOL thing)!

Here’s what “I know, right?” says to me: first, the user is saying “I know,” indicating they have knowledge about the particular subject we are discussing. Well, I’ll take their word for it, since I’m not a mind reader. Then, they ask me a question: “Right?” Apparently, they are asking me to personally confirm that they know about our subject– but as I said, I’m not a mind reader, so I just tell them that I don’t know.

(If I’m talking to someone who is known to use the “I know, right?” thing, I use a special phrase of my own: “I am aware of this, correct?” It means the same thing—right?)

I realize where the fundamental problem with this cliché lies—- it’s in the ending. When the intonation rises at the end, it becomes a question (“Right?”). If, instead, the intonation were to fall, it would become a statement ending in a period (“Right.”). This way, the speaker would inform me that they have knowledge about our subject (“I know.”) and thus, can confirm what I’m saying is true (“Right.”); this makes it a two-part phrase (“I know. Right.”) that is more intelligent and bearable than the one I always hear.

I’ll admit I’ve used some mighty dumb sayings in my lifetime, but I hope I live long enough to see the day when it’s no longer fashionable to say “I know, right?,” start every sentence with “Dude,” and wear “North Face” jackets (where I live, I lot of people spend a lot of money on those jackets because others are doing the same thing) so that all of these lemmings can find some other annoying trend to follow… and boy, I can’t wait to see what that trend will be.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0377092/quotes