I Don't Think She's Got The Hang Of This Non Binary Personal Pronoun Cobras!

[ToraToraTora]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-57169541
"Today is a day I'm so happy to share more of my life with you all," -
err: "Today is a day We are so happy to share more of our lives with you all," ??

"I'm doing this for those out there that haven't been able to share who they truly are with their loved ones," -
err: "We're doing this for those out there that haven't been able to share who they truly are with their loved ones," ??

If you are going to do this bow locks then at least learn the correct terms!

[burlyshirley]

Sam Smith the singer has been referring to himself as 'they' and 'their' for quite some time now. Mail online never miss as attempt to take the P and quite frankly, I don't blame them !

[Mamyalynne]

Some get their kicks taking the rip out of folk, others get along quite happily.

[pixie374]

I don't think it's that simple, mamya. The majority of people (i would think) wouldn't take it out on individuals, any more than we would treat people of different religions differently. However, it's one think to believe something yourself, but another to insist everyone else should pretend to. Demi would be easily and factually proved wrong... so each to their own, but that includes everyone who speaks English.

[Mamyalynne]

I had not realised that Demi was 'insisting' rather they are stating a preference.

Anyway, I have explained my stance based on my own experiences.

[New Judge]

I don't know why there is a need to misuse plural pronouns in these circumstances. "It" and "its" are available for those who do not "identify" as either male or female.

[pixie374]

Unnecessary, nj. Pronouns are never about "identifying" but just what sex you are. Otherwise, babies would never be "he" or "she", because, frankly we don't know. Neither do we know about strangers, or even friends half the time.

[Jackdaw33]

Babies are often referred to as 'it' when the gender is unknown, just as are cats and dogs.

[pixie374]

The sex?

[Ellipsis]

For years and years, possibly forever, I've used the third person plural when the gender was unknown. For example: "the nurse is coming around later to have a chat with you." "Will they need long?" Not an assumptive "he" or "she", and definitely not "it", but "they". It's normal English when the gender is unknown. It seems perfectly reasonable to extend that wording into spaces where "he" or "she" doesn't fit.

[pixie374]

Ellipsis, again, you are talking about sex. It's very, very rarely "unknown" to anybody. It always fits.

[Mamyalynne]

Not if Ellipsis does not know which Nurse is showing up later it isn't.

[pixie374]

No, it's unspecific. A different example.

[pixie374]

The nurse still is a he or she, just ellipsis may not know until he sees him/her.

[Mamyalynne]

We don't tend to converse that way Pixie, with alternatives littering each sentence.

[pixie374]

No, but it's a different example. The thread is about a female... and most of us also don't converse by using "them" or "they" about someone they can actually see. It would be very rude.
But, if we don't use pronouns according to sex, how are you going to guess which is right?

[Togo]

Demi? It must have been some unit before it split in two.
Just another self licking lollipop looking for attention.

[New Judge]

If see a person who appears to me to be a woman I will refer to that person as "she". If she wants to be referred to in the plural I will decline. It's as simple as that. Life's too short to fanny about with this cobblers.

[ToraToraTora]

pixie: "Otherwise, babies would never be "he" or "she", because, frankly we don't know. " - err really you can't tell? The boys have something extra, does that help?

[ABSpareEditor]

Some of the attitudes displayed on this thread are quite shocking. Whilst I can accept that there may be different opinions on controversial topics I can't accept blatant intolerance.

[douglas9401]

Even if one identifies as bigoted?