Quote:
Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby
Basically it was my usual long-winded way of reminding people that the world changes - and its denizens should learn to adapt or become extinct. Most folks in this forum don't even know what the word pronoun MEANS. And yet they're so easily offended by someone else's pronoun choice, that they degrade them, and minimalize them, to make themselves feel better about their ignorance and fear.
You don't have to like that John in Accounting wants to be referred to as "shim" and "sher." But John is the one who gets to call the shots on how people address him. You can refer to him as a "him" out of earshot - or away from where it'll get back to him. But when you publicize your disdain and loathing for all things "shim" and "sher" you basically tell everyone that YOU are the one with the problem. And John ends up feeling shamed because of YOUR lack of compassion.
(You and your being the generic use of the word, not you personally)
Racists will excuse their bad behavior by saying "oh yeah we called them colored people in the 50's, why should we have to change that?" "Oh last week it was African Americans, now it's Blifrakels, we can't keep up" etc. etc. That is what racists say. A civilized human being will say "Okay Tom, you want me to refer to you as a blifrakel, then that's how I'll refer to you from now on."
It's no skin of my nose to call someone however it makes THEM comfortable.
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I think your intention is honorable and thanks for sharing that to clarify your stance. When I weighed the number of examples that read racist (even as points of education) compared to the final singular point, it left my brain with the seesaw on the wrong side of your intention. Something to gnaw on in the future.