3 ms·

This isn't pedantic, it's just wrong. "Who" is for humans.

by cnity 3y ago

corethree 3y ago
Are you implying that cats have less rights then humans or are you implying that this topic is important?
- cnity 3y ago
  Neither. I'm stating that, grammatically speaking, "who" refers to humans, and that the title of the post has correct grammar. Besides, cats objectively have fewer rights because I can own one, for example.
  - corethree 3y ago
    Good that you aren't implying this topic is important. I was going to be extremely offended if you did. Because thats the new trendy thing to do: get offended by things that aren't important.
- chatmasta 3y ago
  > less rights then humans This is better bait for a pedant then a laser pointer is for a cat...
james_david 3y ago
This is the point I am making. Human exceptionalism is built into our language and it is wrongheaded. Anyone who has known a cat will be aware that they are full of personality, very much unlike a box or a Bluetooth speaker.
- cnity 3y ago
  I don't think "that" means "cats are just like Bluetooth speakers". The same way that "who" doesn't imply all humans are the same.
- corethree 3y ago
  I think this topic is not important. We slaughter self aware animals and eat their flesh. That's the biggest sin we commit and I don't even care. Why should I care about this grammatical politeness? Also the cat doesn't even care, it's not cats getting offended it's just people.
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
SideburnsOfDoom 3y ago
Language can be used flexibly, word choice can be used to subtly emphasise an aspect. I think it's more permissible when it is used to emphasise that the cat as a living being is exercising agency in voluntary behaviour that they enjoy. (1) e.g. "Cats that shed" or "rocks that crumble" vs "Cats who fetch" and "people who sing". "Cats that shed" is definitely correct. "Cats who fetch" implies that the cat has agency and choice here, is in a small way "human-like". https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38405224 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38405224
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]

This isn't pedantic, it's just wrong. "Who" is for humans.

by cnity 3y ago

This isn't pedantic, it's just wrong. "Who" is for humans.

corethree 3y ago

Are you implying that cats have less rights then humans or are you implying that this topic is important?

cnity 3y ago
Neither. I'm stating that, grammatically speaking, "who" refers to humans, and that the title of the post has correct grammar. Besides, cats objectively have fewer rights because I can own one, for example.
- corethree 3y ago
  Good that you aren't implying this topic is important. I was going to be extremely offended if you did. Because thats the new trendy thing to do: get offended by things that aren't important.
chatmasta 3y ago
> less rights then humans This is better bait for a pedant then a laser pointer is for a cat...

james_david 3y ago

This is the point I am making. Human exceptionalism is built into our language and it is wrongheaded. Anyone who has known a cat will be aware that they are full of personality, very much unlike a box or a Bluetooth speaker.

cnity 3y ago
I don't think "that" means "cats are just like Bluetooth speakers". The same way that "who" doesn't imply all humans are the same.
corethree 3y ago
I think this topic is not important. We slaughter self aware animals and eat their flesh. That's the biggest sin we commit and I don't even care. Why should I care about this grammatical politeness? Also the cat doesn't even care, it's not cats getting offended it's just people.

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

SideburnsOfDoom 3y ago

Language can be used flexibly, word choice can be used to subtly emphasise an aspect. I think it's more permissible when it is used to emphasise that the cat as a living being is exercising agency in voluntary behaviour that they enjoy. (1) e.g. "Cats that shed" or "rocks that crumble" vs "Cats who fetch" and "people who sing". "Cats that shed" is definitely correct. "Cats who fetch" implies that the cat has agency and choice here, is in a small way "human-like". https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38405224 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38405224

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]