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Well, one of them has long established use as a gender-neutral term. At least in some dialects/accents of English. Just like using they as a singular was also

Well, one of them has long established use as a gender-neutral term. At least in some dialects/accents of English. Just like using they as a singular was also well established. I mean I get it, the rules of English often do not make sense, but our words can have different meanings based on context. Pretending like you don't understand that is nonsense. But this is also not the right time to bring it up.

micromacrofoot 1y ago
"that's the way it is" has also been used to oppress people countless times in the past, it seems foolish to not consider these things in a modern society that has plenty of space for it language isn't a force thrust upon us, it's ours to shape
- dec0dedab0de 1y ago
  and acting like someone is being bigoted because you don't agree with the popular definition of a word is needlessly argumentative and works counter to any real issues. Every woman I know IRL says "you guys" even when referring to a group of all women. There is no way you're going to convince me that is oppression. Like you said, language is ours to shape, and quite a few of us are shaping guy to be gender neutral. This high on mighty attitude of pretending that not adhering to prescribed etiquette is oppression only serves to create more actual oppression. How do you expect someone to take your other viewpoints seriously when you're essentially shaming their accent?
  - micromacrofoot 1y ago
    asking people to stop and think about how language use might support the status quo isn't a big ask, you don't even have to put on a cute knit hat you're viewing this as very black and white in your reply, I'm not saying you need to hop down everyone's throat whenever it happens... but casually questioning it amongst friends or colleagues is the sort of small action that can reverberate through time and is a very small pathway that can lead to thinking about broader related issues > quite a few of us are shaping guy to be gender neutral pure poppycock, you're shaping guys if anything (but most people are parroting, not consciously doing anything)... try using the singular and it will not be well met > high on mighty attitude no idea where you're getting this idea from, seems like you already have a narrative in your head you're applying here... asking someone to question their use of language is vastly unpopular and more of an underdog position

micromacrofoot 1y ago

"that's the way it is" has also been used to oppress people countless times in the past, it seems foolish to not consider these things in a modern society that has plenty of space for it language isn't a force thrust upon us, it's ours to shape

dec0dedab0de 1y ago
and acting like someone is being bigoted because you don't agree with the popular definition of a word is needlessly argumentative and works counter to any real issues. Every woman I know IRL says "you guys" even when referring to a group of all women. There is no way you're going to convince me that is oppression. Like you said, language is ours to shape, and quite a few of us are shaping guy to be gender neutral. This high on mighty attitude of pretending that not adhering to prescribed etiquette is oppression only serves to create more actual oppression. How do you expect someone to take your other viewpoints seriously when you're essentially shaming their accent?
- micromacrofoot 1y ago
  asking people to stop and think about how language use might support the status quo isn't a big ask, you don't even have to put on a cute knit hat you're viewing this as very black and white in your reply, I'm not saying you need to hop down everyone's throat whenever it happens... but casually questioning it amongst friends or colleagues is the sort of small action that can reverberate through time and is a very small pathway that can lead to thinking about broader related issues > quite a few of us are shaping guy to be gender neutral pure poppycock, you're shaping guys if anything (but most people are parroting, not consciously doing anything)... try using the singular and it will not be well met > high on mighty attitude no idea where you're getting this idea from, seems like you already have a narrative in your head you're applying here... asking someone to question their use of language is vastly unpopular and more of an underdog position