By the way:
There is a song from Timbaland called:
The Way I Are.
It's strange, isn't it?
Cheers!
***** NOT A TEACHER *****
Good morning, nightmare.
(1) You have raised some great points. I wish American youth were as interested in good grammar as you are.
(2) This side (singular subject) + was (singular verb to match singular subject) + complement (you, Tom, his friend, etc. The complement does not decide the verb. The subject decides the verb).
(a) SO: You (subject) + are/were (verb matches the subject) + complement (this side, the winner, etc.).
(i) Yes, some people ask: Why can't I say "You is/was"? After all, "you" is singular in those sentences above.
(a) Many years ago, English speakers decided that "you" (singular or plural) must take are/were. That's the rule. If a person breaks that rule, he must pay the "price," such as not getting a certain job, not getting respect from other people, etc.
*****
I notice that you are still unsure about "The way we were."
(i) Professors Pence and Emery in A GRAMMAR OF PRESENT-DAY ENGLISH explain that the "full" sentence is:
The way (in which)/ (that) we were. (As you can see, the subject is "we.")
(a) Let's make up a sentence: Tom does not like today's world. He likes the way (in which)/(that) things were when he was younger. (As you can see, "were" matches "things" -- not "way."
*****
"The Way I are" is, of course, "bad" English. They probably chose that title because it gets our attention!!! It certainly does!!!
(a) But even here, we must be very humble.
(i) For example, it is considered good English to say, "I am your best friend, AREn't I?" (It's too long to say, "I am your best friend, AM I not?")
Have a nice day!