MofH, I'd agree with you for the most part -- sorry though, in this case I think it's developed as a fashion. It's too hand-in-hand with other new ways of speaking.   

For instance, "Valley" made a huge impact in the way youth now speak in America -- from exponential growth of the annoying (understatement of the year) use of "Like", not to compare something, but rather as a verbal "filler" -- a way to flavor the language -- not the dictionary definition of "like" that's important -- instead, an "attitude" one intends to convey when using the word.

And ALL narrative is first person, present tense. ".....so, I'm like climbing the shtairs and he's, like, not, and I go "can't you, like, help me?" and he's like "...whatEVER"

I had a friend's kid in my shop the other day and he was talking about "KAY-bruhs". I could NOT figure out what he was talking about. Turns out "kay-bruh" is "valley" for the snake that the mongoose kills.

Drives me exshtremely crazy.