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I agree with what you say, but the problem is rather specific to american culture. Being called names (like bigots) because you don't wanna use a singular "they
by ergocoder 7y ago
I agree with what you say, but the problem is rather specific to american culture. Being called names (like bigots) because you don't wanna use a singular "they" is a regular occurrence in the present time in US.
While you think a singular "they" is correct, one of your authorities (TOEFL) who gatekeeps prestige US universities doesn't agree with you.
Many (including me) don't care what you think (not in a bad way). You aren't authority who can punish us.
We want (1) great points on TOEFL (to get into various opportunities) and (2) to avoid hurting others (i.e. misgendering). This configuration is impossible at the moment.
I hope you don't suggest that we can misgender people as long as it's a TOEFL exam. It doesnt sound ok.
- morelisp 7y agoI didn't know TOEFL was so devious as to make all their test scenarios concern non-binary people or people of indeterminate gender, but then demand you discuss them without also explaining your pronoun choices. Wait, that doesn't happen. At all. This is non-issue.
- ergocoder 7y agoHere's a link (from my 3-minute googling) suggesting that we should avoid the singular "they": https://www.compellingconversations.com/is-singular-they-ok-choosing-they-as-a-singular-pronoun https://www.compellingconversations.com/is-singular-they-ok-... > Wait, that doesn't happen. At all. Absolutist + so much exaggeration, and it seems more like you are arguing in bad faith. That's why nobody wants to talk about the usage of the singular "they". We can't even point out that your English authority doesn't agree with you. > This is non-issue. It's a non-issue to you because you aren't the students who are rejected by universities because of low TOEFL score.