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TIP: Don't assume pronouns (DBO)

by kidtsunami @, Atlanta, GA, Thursday, July 24, 2014, 00:46 (3572 days ago) @ Cody Miller

Regarding he/him/his as the gender neutral terms suggests masculine pronouns are the default or standard and that should not be the case. I certainly don't appreciate it when people assume I'm a guy and use masculine pronouns when I join an online community where you can not display your gender in some way, and I know many ladies and queer or non-binary people don't appreciate it either.


It doesn't assume you are a guy. Technically, you are supposed to use "he" or "him" if the gender is unknown in the english language and you are referring to a singular person. It's not done out of insensitivity, just protocol. You can be unhappy about this, but that is what's proper linguistically.

Yeah, I find that language can actually have a lot embedded in it. A wise man once said to me reasons not rules make us strong.


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