I agree. I also believe that Trump and the Republicans won the 2024 elections in large part on anti woke fervor, wherein “woke” stopped being about acknowledging the lingering effects of slavery and Jim Crow and became the catch all term for LBGTQXYZ and the pronoun nonsense. “Woke” became just another derogatory term for the Left. Older voters, especially, were (are) creeped out by the use of plural pronouns to describe single individuals. It’s easy and natural to call it nuts.
I share your reluctance to use plural pronouns for a single person. My solution is if someone doesn’t want to be identified by a gender specific pronoun, then don’t use any pronoun. Just use their given name instead. And if they want to change their first name to something gender neutral (eg. Chris, Pat, etc.) that’s fine with me.
Thanks for this one Greg. You don’t have to be anti gay to question some aspect of the personal pronoun movement. Same with encouraging further discussion about whether or not trans women should be competing in women’s sports. Or whether or not drag queens should be reading to young children in schools. These are complex issues which need rational thought and discussion.
The struggle over gender identity is an existential crisis for many, especially in a society like ours that places an unhealthy emphasis on gender. We should not brush that off simply for the sake of grammatical clarity or because it personally inconveniences us.
As someone with a non-binary family member, I can attest that there is a learning curve to assimilating a new way of speaking. But if you care enough about someone, it becomes easier to place their mental health and sense of self above your own antiquated notions of the evolving English language. (Consider the pronouns “thou,” “thee,” “thy,” and “thine” which have fallen out of use over the past few centuries.)
We should also not allow language to be a barrier to cultural inclusivity. As an example, the Japanese language does not have gendered pronouns like in English. Pronouns are often omitted in conversation, and gender distinctions are less emphasized.
It is generally accepted that using the pronoun “it” to refer to a human being is offensive, even degrading. Referring to someone as “he” or “she” when they have expressed to you that those pronouns do not properly describe their gender identity is equally offensive.
On one hand every generation at a time of alienation and upheaval finds language defining and specific to that time…. We did in the sixties… but in time we revert to the historical norms… i agree with you!
I agree. I also believe that Trump and the Republicans won the 2024 elections in large part on anti woke fervor, wherein “woke” stopped being about acknowledging the lingering effects of slavery and Jim Crow and became the catch all term for LBGTQXYZ and the pronoun nonsense. “Woke” became just another derogatory term for the Left. Older voters, especially, were (are) creeped out by the use of plural pronouns to describe single individuals. It’s easy and natural to call it nuts.
I share your reluctance to use plural pronouns for a single person. My solution is if someone doesn’t want to be identified by a gender specific pronoun, then don’t use any pronoun. Just use their given name instead. And if they want to change their first name to something gender neutral (eg. Chris, Pat, etc.) that’s fine with me.
Excellent suggestion.
Thanks for this one Greg. You don’t have to be anti gay to question some aspect of the personal pronoun movement. Same with encouraging further discussion about whether or not trans women should be competing in women’s sports. Or whether or not drag queens should be reading to young children in schools. These are complex issues which need rational thought and discussion.
The struggle over gender identity is an existential crisis for many, especially in a society like ours that places an unhealthy emphasis on gender. We should not brush that off simply for the sake of grammatical clarity or because it personally inconveniences us.
As someone with a non-binary family member, I can attest that there is a learning curve to assimilating a new way of speaking. But if you care enough about someone, it becomes easier to place their mental health and sense of self above your own antiquated notions of the evolving English language. (Consider the pronouns “thou,” “thee,” “thy,” and “thine” which have fallen out of use over the past few centuries.)
We should also not allow language to be a barrier to cultural inclusivity. As an example, the Japanese language does not have gendered pronouns like in English. Pronouns are often omitted in conversation, and gender distinctions are less emphasized.
It is generally accepted that using the pronoun “it” to refer to a human being is offensive, even degrading. Referring to someone as “he” or “she” when they have expressed to you that those pronouns do not properly describe their gender identity is equally offensive.
This is a test.
genderqueer OK
grammatical queer NO
I agree with you too, Greg.
I totally agree
Thank you Greg. Personally, I think history will look back at this period of time for many reasons, scratching its collective head. I know I am.
On one hand every generation at a time of alienation and upheaval finds language defining and specific to that time…. We did in the sixties… but in time we revert to the historical norms… i agree with you!