It is 100% not political except for those who want to make it so. It is about courtesy to another human being by addressing them correctly and in the manner that they prefer.

"Excuse me, hello, I'm John Smith. And you are?"

"I'm Mrs. OBB. You can call me Mrs. OBB."

Someone who doesn't know me, should introduce themselves before calling me anything at all. Unless I'm working in a public venue - in which case you would refer to me by whatever it says on my name tag.

This is the IT statement.

We have particularly heard concerns about the guide’s treatment of the term “American.” We understand and appreciate those concerns. To be very clear, not only is the use of the term “American” not banned at Stanford, it is absolutely welcomed. The intent of this particular entry on the EHLI website was to provide perspective on how the term may be imprecise in some specific uses, and to show that in some cases the alternate term “US citizen” may be more precise and appropriate. But, we clearly missed the mark in this presentation.


It sounds like they heard from their alumni.

It's about time. I am happy they are. I have mistakenly called a Ma'am a Sir and vice verse.

Even after more than 20 years of service, I still to this day use sir/ma'am. I believe it is a sign of respect, although I was raised with some morals. For which, i think has gone by the wayside for many of this younger generations.

The bite marks would be so deep in my tongue, I would be lucky to not bite it off

I wonder if my horse could identify as a dog? Sure would be cheaper to keep her in the Villages

Watching that guy go nuts is AWESOME!

You probably never served in the Armed Forces.

So, you would be offended if someone that did not know you addressed you as "Ma'am" to get your attention? When a person attempting to get an item from a top shelf asks me to assist her, I don't say "sure" I say "yes, ma'am" out of respect. I have never had anyone suggest that I was being disrespectful. I also use that respect for those younger than me. It has nothing to do with age, even though I normally feel more respect for the aged/mature/senior/experienced...etc. Anyone that feels offended by my show of respect can always decline my assistance.

Them, they, those or it.

Hahaha not surprising. Who did the study? Yahoo?

So, here we are on Christmas Day, and while bombs are dropping in the Ukraine, children are starving in Africa, COVID runs rampant in China and basic human rights are being trampled in such paradises as N. Korea and Iran, we have people, some even on this thread, that will be offended if they are addressed by the "wrong" pronoun. What a joke, and certainly a first world "problem".

Let's make this simple---the English language has 3 third person singular pronouns----he, she, and it. Everyone should just pick one and shut up, there are bigger problems in the world.

PS: How many starving children could have food and clean water for the $ 2 million it cost us, the taxpayer, to study this crap?

Attachments
 

How can they be seen? Same deal with attachment on my post.

The problem is most are afraid of change. Change is going to happen with you or without you if you are one that is open to new ways. The world is going to pass you by.

How many starving people have you fed recently?

How many threads about feeding starving children have you started, in an attempt to get support for it?

THIS thread is about pronouns. And no, the English language doesn't have only three third person singular pronouns. They/them has been used for centuries when referring to a generic person of no specified gender.

You see someone of medium height half a block away, wearing a non-specific outfit, you can't tell if they have boobs or not, and they have a hood raised to cover their hair and shadow their face. You have no idea if it's male or female. But you do know they're carrying a duffel bag with cash falling out of it.

Do you tell the cops it was some guy in a hoodie? Or do you say "it was a humanoid with its hood raised and it was carrying a duffel bag?" Or do you tell the cops "I saw a person with their hood up, couldn't tell anything more about them?"

Today's grammar lesson: "They/them" is a PLEURAL pronoun, not singular, so there are 3. And we are NOT talking about people whose identity is hidden from view. Woke up, please---oh no, you already did---I mean wake up:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Wake up to current reality. Like it or not, time moves on, with or without you. And by time moves on, I mean from at least the year 1375. They/them are, and have been, used as singular pronouns when the person is either unnamed, or their gender is otherwise unspecified.

A brief history of singular ‘they’ | Oxford English Dictionary

Also - while you're in a dictionary, learn how to spell plural.

Sorry you didn't understand the pun: pleural is the adjective that describes the linings of the lungs----actually visceral pleura covers the lungs and parietal pleura lines the chest cavity. This pronoun nonsense takes my breath away as well as causing chest pain as in pleuritis. Hint---try a medical dictionary:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

And unless you have an archaic Middle English dictionary, "they" is still plural. Perhaps it's singular in the California Dictionary of Wokeness.

I also hope you realize all this back and forth jabbing debate is all just in good fun. Merry Christmas

I prefer to keep things even simpler, everyone could just be referred to as dude.

Merry Christmas Dude : )

But what if the dude is transitioning to a dudette or vice versa. The we have to "politely ask" what pronoun they "prefer" lest we "offend" them. For you and I, we couldn't care less. But for a professor or a corporate employee there can be consequences. My favorite is that "they"/"it" can change their "preferred pronoun" at any time and WE are supposed to keep up. Still couldn't care less, but THE MARINES?????? . What's next?---a free speech zone????? Perhaps all this woke crap can be written into the rules of engagement. For example, you can shoot an enemy that used the wrong pronoun, but surrender to "them" if they asked you first. In fact, why attack with bombs and missiles, just hurl improper pronouns at them---then they can cry and surrender.

You got that right dude, you and I couldn’t care less. So happy we are retired and don’t have to give a crap who we might offend. I will die before I woke, whatever the he// that is? I totally agree that the Marines, of all people, should be given a free pass on all this crap. If your skin is so thin that you are offended by a pronoun, how in the world are you going to defend our country from the ruthlessness of the likes of Putin?

Looks like we are going to need a rule book, possibly online class certification before we can speak to another.

No Sir or No Mam or No ? Not on this one

Could there be a dudette, and a dudeitte to complete the singular theme to give us more to choose from?

It's obvious to me that you aren't quite grasping that I find no humor in your "jabbing" at all. When people weaponize words, it's not funny. It's insulting.

PROUDLY woke - and sad to see so much bigotry and fear in this community.

Also sad to see so much "virtue signaling"...

Seems that your belief is “Sir” and “Mam” are weaponized words and need to be corrected. To the majority this is, as you say, insulting.
Proudly not woke or bigoted, and certainly not in fear.

Your loss.

And proudly woke????? Is that the oxymoron of the month?????

I prefer to be addressed as Intellectually Superior

The best antidote to bigotry , fear ( hate?) is to point out the errors in fact, faults in logic ,reason, doing this exposes the hollow weaponization of words

Easy to say if one is a male. As a female please don’t call me “Sir”.

Don't like your community or neighbors:
As AMERICAN, You can always pack your bags and move the San Francisco. :wave: waving good-bye

As you wish, Ma'am.

I guess we can say "Man" when speaking to a male or female. If it is a female, "man" is short for "woman" in this case. So, for those that feel "WOKE" I'll just address you as "Man" as in "Hey Man." If in an informal setting, I will use the term "Dude." I figure "Dude" can also be short for "Dudette" in the case of addressing a female. If the person in Non-binary, I will just use the greeting "Hey Dog" so as not to limit that, it or what to a male or female gender. That should satisfy all the "Woke" and bra-less anarchists that insist that it is only their world and we just free load a ride on it.
Please identify yourself as "WOKE" with a sign so that the majority of us NORMAL citizens can make special concessions for you. After all, as good citizens we do not wish to offend anyone, or do we say any-it, or maybe anything?

I refuse to grant legitimacy to pronouns dreamed up by mentally ill people. Dance around it all you want but they do have mental health issues.

Shirley you jest...

I go out of my way to offend people...