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I completely agree with your comment but since we are on the topic of worldviews and assumptions I just want to point out that women program too. My assumption

I completely agree with your comment but since we are on the topic of worldviews and assumptions I just want to point out that women program too. My assumption currently is that you do not switch pronouns arbitrarily and as a result were not just as likely to send "social circumstances may necessitate that she adopt a new viewpoint" when writing about an abstract individual programmer. I know it is annoying to have this brought to attention but my world view includes the notion that small actions like this can have a profound effect at scale. >social circumstance may necessitate that he adopt a new viewpoint >when trying to have rational discussions it is necessary to try to dig in to identify all of people assumptions

btilly 8y ago
My experience of writing that switches pronouns arbitrarily is that it continually draws attention to the ratio of men and women in programming, which makes the lack of women more obvious. I first noticed this in an advanced physics course where in deference to the presence of a lone woman in the course the professor consistently said "he or she". Except that it was a conscious attempt and served to draw attention every time to the lone she who clearly looked uncomfortable. This is why I prefer to use singular they instead. It is less annoying, less likely to make people uncomfortable, and can easily be seen to include people no matter what their gender happens to be. It even includes those whose gender is ambiguous in some way. It is a small thing, but my world view is that small improvements like this add up to create a more generally welcoming atmosphere.
- randomdata 8y ago
  The dictionary definition of singular they is, quite literally, “he” so you haven’t really improved on the concerns some have with he in using they.
ilaksh 8y ago
There is a problem with the English language. There is no commonly used neutral pronoun. The closest thing is "they" but I think some people consider that incorrect grammar or something. he/she or switch back and forth is awkward.
- btilly 8y ago
  See https://stroppyeditor.wordpress.com/2015/04/21/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-singular-they/ https://stroppyeditor.wordpress.com/2015/04/21/everything-yo... for more than everything that you might want to know about the use of they as a singular pronoun. Even those who think that they object to it, frequently use it without noticing. The upshot is that whining from self-important grammarians notwithstanding, English has always had a third person singular pronoun in common use. It has been used in every century by established writers. Indeed frequently by the same people who were saying that nobody should use it. That pronoun is "they".
- fatkidspecial 8y ago
  the royal we?
arduanika 8y ago
Use the generic singular "they" for persons of unknown gender? > there is a good chance of of the other person's programming beliefs may play a big role in their thinking Check. Use the male pronoun for hypothetical person in detailed example who needs to be more flexible in his/her thinking? > this social circumstance may necessitate that he adopt a new viewpoint Where the female pronoun would sound awkwardly coercive and uninviting? > this social circumstance may necessitate that she adopt a new viewpoint Check. I believe ilaksh has their bases covered.

btilly 8y ago

My experience of writing that switches pronouns arbitrarily is that it continually draws attention to the ratio of men and women in programming, which makes the lack of women more obvious. I first noticed this in an advanced physics course where in deference to the presence of a lone woman in the course the professor consistently said "he or she". Except that it was a conscious attempt and served to draw attention every time to the lone she who clearly looked uncomfortable. This is why I prefer to use singular they instead. It is less annoying, less likely to make people uncomfortable, and can easily be seen to include people no matter what their gender happens to be. It even includes those whose gender is ambiguous in some way. It is a small thing, but my world view is that small improvements like this add up to create a more generally welcoming atmosphere.

randomdata 8y ago
The dictionary definition of singular they is, quite literally, “he” so you haven’t really improved on the concerns some have with he in using they.

ilaksh 8y ago

There is a problem with the English language. There is no commonly used neutral pronoun. The closest thing is "they" but I think some people consider that incorrect grammar or something. he/she or switch back and forth is awkward.

btilly 8y ago
See https://stroppyeditor.wordpress.com/2015/04/21/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-singular-they/ https://stroppyeditor.wordpress.com/2015/04/21/everything-yo... for more than everything that you might want to know about the use of they as a singular pronoun. Even those who think that they object to it, frequently use it without noticing. The upshot is that whining from self-important grammarians notwithstanding, English has always had a third person singular pronoun in common use. It has been used in every century by established writers. Indeed frequently by the same people who were saying that nobody should use it. That pronoun is "they".
fatkidspecial 8y ago
the royal we?

arduanika 8y ago

Use the generic singular "they" for persons of unknown gender? > there is a good chance of of the other person's programming beliefs may play a big role in their thinking Check. Use the male pronoun for hypothetical person in detailed example who needs to be more flexible in his/her thinking? > this social circumstance may necessitate that he adopt a new viewpoint Where the female pronoun would sound awkwardly coercive and uninviting? > this social circumstance may necessitate that she adopt a new viewpoint Check. I believe ilaksh has their bases covered.