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I agree that language matters. But we also say “the people that..” even if it’s not as grammatically precise as “the people who..” “Who” is more often identifi

I agree that language matters. But we also say “the people that..” even if it’s not as grammatically precise as “the people who..” “Who” is more often identified with individual/identity than sentience. They’re not talking about particular, individual cats.

chatmasta 3y ago
Usually "the people that," is referring to a role that some people fulfill, like "the people that make the laws." Whereas if you're referring to a category of people with a shared behavior, it feels more natural to say "people who bicycle to work" rather than "people that cycle to work." I'm not sure there is any grammatical rule for this, though. And besides, nobody likes people that nitpick ;)
corethree 3y ago
Hard disagree. Language doesn't matter. Only communication and intent matters and language is only a servant to communication and intent. If the intent and meaning came across and the intention wasn't to offend and the meaning is clear there is zero and I mean zero need to pretend to be offended. The cat doesn't even care and clearly no body here thinks of cats as Bluetooth speakers... what practical purpose does any of this serve? None. It's all part of that pronoun thing started by transgender people. The desire to be recognized as a certain gender in language codified into a "law" and that law is now being taken to logical extremes in such a way that we have to use the correct term for cats. The next step is to teach cats English so they can actually be offended.
- ComputerGuru 3y ago
  You shared an effective response to my opening statement - certainly more thought than I put into making it. Thanks.
- james_david 3y ago
  It seems the problem you have isn't with language or its use.
  - corethree 3y ago
    Exactly. Ignore the language. Get offended by intention, don't get offended by language. My problem is other people having arbitrary problems with language.

chatmasta 3y ago

Usually "the people that," is referring to a role that some people fulfill, like "the people that make the laws." Whereas if you're referring to a category of people with a shared behavior, it feels more natural to say "people who bicycle to work" rather than "people that cycle to work." I'm not sure there is any grammatical rule for this, though. And besides, nobody likes people that nitpick ;)

corethree 3y ago

Hard disagree. Language doesn't matter. Only communication and intent matters and language is only a servant to communication and intent. If the intent and meaning came across and the intention wasn't to offend and the meaning is clear there is zero and I mean zero need to pretend to be offended. The cat doesn't even care and clearly no body here thinks of cats as Bluetooth speakers... what practical purpose does any of this serve? None. It's all part of that pronoun thing started by transgender people. The desire to be recognized as a certain gender in language codified into a "law" and that law is now being taken to logical extremes in such a way that we have to use the correct term for cats. The next step is to teach cats English so they can actually be offended.

ComputerGuru 3y ago
You shared an effective response to my opening statement - certainly more thought than I put into making it. Thanks.
james_david 3y ago
It seems the problem you have isn't with language or its use.
- corethree 3y ago
  Exactly. Ignore the language. Get offended by intention, don't get offended by language. My problem is other people having arbitrary problems with language.