Pronouns

[moorfield]

Right, where do we stand on the use of pronouns in the workplace ?

I am being "encouraged" by my employer to start using a "pronoun" in my new/modern/shiny corporate profile ...

I have queried that I use "One" but this apparently is not a pronoun I should be using, despite me pointing out that: One is an English language, gender-neutral, indefinite pronoun.

Neither am I encouraged to refer to colleagues, as much as I'd like to, as "It", despite me pointing out that: it is a singular, neuter, third-person pronoun. But apparently "It" is an offensive pronoun, would you believe.

For bonus points, my new/modern/shiny corporate profile has a space for other languages I speak. I am toying with putting "The African one with the clicking noises" here. I don't, but I am so wound up I think it would be quite subversive and entertaining. But almost certainly offensive to someone, somewhere.

Has the world, finally, gone mad ?

[CliffEdge]

Yes. The evidence is all around you.

[mc2fool]

Re "one", well you could try, "Hey, if it's good enough for the Queen..!", or alternatively "I self identify as One. Do you have a problem with that? Are you seeking to deny my self identification?".

But why bother? And why are you getting wound up about it? Simply just put the pronouns that are natural to you in your profile, e.g. if you're a bloke then he/him/his, and then forget it. You don't have to be a bitter lemon about it.

And for referring to other people, simply use their names instead of pronouns. Not only does it neatly sidestep the whole issue, it'll make you more popular as people like hearing their names said ...

[Itsallaguess]

Ho / Hum

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

[TUK020]

Ho / Hum

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

As in "Santa Claus (Ho/Hum)"?

[GoSeigen]

It/tit/twat is fine for me thanks.

GS

[UncleEbenezer]

Is there a spot in your workplace to display a Dilbert cartoon?

[DrFfybes]

Have you asked if you can be referred to as "Jobseeker"?

[Bminusrob]

Does the shortened form of Richard Head count as a pronoun?

[jfgw]

Has penis: "Him";
Does not have penis: "Her".

Simple!


Julian F. G. W.

[Gerry557]

I asked for this on my name badge :-

Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, the First of Her Name, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Protector of the Seven Kingdoms, the Mother of Dragons, the Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, the Unburnt, the Breaker of Chains,


Apparently you can't just pick anything, who knew.

[stewamax]

I have queried that I use "One" but this apparently is not a pronoun I should be using, despite me pointing out that

<pedant>
despite my pointing
In this instance, pointing is a gerund, so should be preceded by the possessive pronoun my
</pedant>

[GoSeigen]

I asked for this on my name badge :-

Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, the First of Her Name, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Protector of the Seven Kingdoms, the Mother of Dragons, the Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, the Unburnt, the Breaker of Chains,


Apparently you can't just pick anything, who knew.

I keep it simpler for my woke kids: they can simply refer to me as His Excellency.

GS

[anon155742]

I have queried that I use "One" but this apparently is not a pronoun I should be using, despite me pointing out that

<pedant>
despite my pointing
In this instance, pointing is a gerund, so should be preceded by the possessive pronoun my
</pedant>

The excuse to force this nonsense is that they say gender is a social construct. In that case, gender being a social construct is also a social construct.

Say that instead of "we" you wish to have the plural pronoun "wonga".

Instead of "you", claim it would be offensive and that "yowza" should be used instead.

"They" is hateful and "zip" is the replacement.

Zip should just as equally apply these pronouns to yowza and wonga know that zip are just going along with the current thing™

[tjh290633]

When asked what my grandchildren should call me, I suggested "Sir". That suggestion was not accepted.

It looks perfectly fine to me. Better than he, she or it.

TJH

[UncleEbenezer]

Has penis: "Him";
Does not have penis: "Her".

Simple!


Julian F. G. W.

Um ... how about
(a) the tiny number of biological exceptions to the well-defined sexes
(b) victims of certain accidents such as botched male genital mutilation
(c) Eunuchs

When asked what my grandchildren should call me, I suggested "Sir". That suggestion was not accepted.

We took to calling our dad "sir" and our mum "madam". This was entirely unbidden, and manifested at first in cases like "would sir like a cuppa tea?"

Of course it soon evolved. "Sir" is more commonly pronounced "Cur".

[stewamax]

<pedant>
despite my pointing
In this instance, pointing is a gerund, so should be preceded by the possessive pronoun my
</pedant>

The excuse to force this nonsense is that they say gender is a social construct. In that case, gender being a social construct is also a social construct.
Say that instead of "we" you wish to have the plural pronoun "wonga".
Instead of "you", claim it would be offensive and that "yowza" should be used instead.
"They" is hateful and "zip" is the replacement.
Zip should just as equally apply these pronouns to yowza and wonga know that zip are just going along with the current thing™

You could be right, or wrong, or something else.
I still maintain that gerunds - unlike genders - are asexual, although they feature in that memorable Sir David Attenborough film "The Blue Gerund".
And I would stay off the sauce.

[Rhyd6]

UncleEbenezer, pardon my ignorance Oh Knowledgable One but I thought eunochs still had a penis, it was just the dangly bits that were missing? Or does this only apply to tups?

R6

[UncleEbenezer]

UncleEbenezer, pardon my ignorance Oh Knowledgable One

Oy! Less of that, if you please!

but I thought eunochs still had a penis, it was just the dangly bits that were missing? Or does this only apply to tups?

R6

Erm, to be honest, I have no idea. But now that you mention it, a remaining but non-functional item seems likely.

What do they leave in place on a tup? Does the poor bugger get a worst-of-all-worlds deal with all the nuisance of dangling but not the use of it?

[jfgw]

Has penis: "Him";
Does not have penis: "Her".

Simple!


Julian F. G. W.

Um ... how about
(a) the tiny number of biological exceptions to the well-defined sexes
(b) victims of certain accidents such as botched male genital mutilation
(c) Eunuchs

(a) Ask the individual person what his/her/whatever preference is.
(b) Go by what is in the genes rather than what is in the jeans.
(c) Eunuchs normally have penises.

I will add that, if someone expresses a preference which does not agree with his or her genitalia, I see no problem with complying with that preference.

Gender-neutral terms would be useful but I would not like to see them replace gender-specific terms where the gender is known.

When referring to me, please use "he" or "him" or I might be offended and go into the corner of the safe space and cry! (Where is the sarcasm smiley?)


Julian F. G. W.