3 ms·

Last time I checked "guys" was a plural for "guy", which literally comes from the British, meaning, "a person of grotesque appearance" in relation to an effigy

Last time I checked "guys" was a plural for "guy", which literally comes from the British, meaning, "a person of grotesque appearance" in relation to an effigy Guy Fawkes or those who dress to resemble him on November the 5th (essentially British Halloween). A word to which Americans only gave masculine overtones much later. So while the singular has been informally made gender specific, the plural is--and has always been--gender neutral as both sexes dressed as "guys". This is a group of guys: http://goo.gl/AvjTzz http://goo.gl/AvjTzz

lucideer 10y ago
That's some very creative selective historicising. The modern definition of guy is man. Unequivocally. Beyond the very seasonal references to the effigy in England, that definition is not in general discourse outside of tomorrow's holiday and your archaic definition is certainly not used by anyone save etymologists. The modern defining to mean man is not purely an Americanism by any stretch. The pluralisation is also contemporary. Regardless of etymological technical "truths", can you really say with intellectual honesty that there's no masculine connotation inherent in "guys"?
- msimpson 10y ago
  "Regardless of etymological technical "truths", can you really say with intellectual honesty that there's no masculine connotation inherent in "guys"?" I'm sure there is to certain people. But to me, my family, friends, and coworkers I have not found it to be the case, no. In fact, I hear female coworkers use the term neutrally every day. We as a team even use the term over conference calls with people all across the country and I have yet to hear anyone take issue, offer correction, or purposefully use alternative terminology. I simply don't see this as a problem, nor can I understand why it needs to be purposefully corrected. It's the same PC attitude that causes people to take issue with those who call African Americans black. To me, black is a more useful term. If it wasn't in my repertoire, I'd have no way to distinguish Idris Elba from the rest of an essentially all white cast ... Here's a fun test. Tell me which gender connotation the following terms hold: Cheerleader, Usher, Flight Attendant, and Comedian. If you said female, male, female, male, you'd be wrong as all are gender neutral.

lucideer 10y ago

That's some very creative selective historicising. The modern definition of guy is man. Unequivocally. Beyond the very seasonal references to the effigy in England, that definition is not in general discourse outside of tomorrow's holiday and your archaic definition is certainly not used by anyone save etymologists. The modern defining to mean man is not purely an Americanism by any stretch. The pluralisation is also contemporary. Regardless of etymological technical "truths", can you really say with intellectual honesty that there's no masculine connotation inherent in "guys"?

msimpson 10y ago
"Regardless of etymological technical "truths", can you really say with intellectual honesty that there's no masculine connotation inherent in "guys"?" I'm sure there is to certain people. But to me, my family, friends, and coworkers I have not found it to be the case, no. In fact, I hear female coworkers use the term neutrally every day. We as a team even use the term over conference calls with people all across the country and I have yet to hear anyone take issue, offer correction, or purposefully use alternative terminology. I simply don't see this as a problem, nor can I understand why it needs to be purposefully corrected. It's the same PC attitude that causes people to take issue with those who call African Americans black. To me, black is a more useful term. If it wasn't in my repertoire, I'd have no way to distinguish Idris Elba from the rest of an essentially all white cast ... Here's a fun test. Tell me which gender connotation the following terms hold: Cheerleader, Usher, Flight Attendant, and Comedian. If you said female, male, female, male, you'd be wrong as all are gender neutral.