TIP: Don't assume pronouns (DBO)

by Kermit , Raleigh, NC, Wednesday, July 23, 2014, 11:50 (3572 days ago) @ Grizzlei

Until 50 years ago every literate person knew that "he" was gender-neutral when referring to a person of unknown gender. Only women were considered important enough to have a pronoun that referred only to them.

Every literate person in the English-speaking world, perhaps, and probably only men at that. Women weren't very well regarded or afforded much respect 50 years ago [or today] and I'm guessing that's why masculine pronouns were made the standard.

Then everyone got stupid. ;)

Pardon?

Just joshing. To make a serious point, male and female English speakers knew that using "he" to refer to a non-specific person was inclusive of both genders and was not meant to indicate that the person was male. See also "mankind."

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Hello Hello DBO! - CommandrCleavage, 2014-07-23, 06:52
- Hi! - Avateur, 2014-07-23, 06:54
- Hello, uh, is that REALLY your chosen username? - kidtsunami, 2014-07-23, 06:55
  - Hello, uh, is that REALLY your chosen username? - CommandrCleavage, 2014-07-23, 06:57
    - Cool, WELCOME! - kidtsunami, 2014-07-23, 07:21
  - Maybe he's a geologist - Cody Miller, 2014-07-23, 07:16
    - *she's - bluerunner, 2014-07-23, 07:19
    - TIP: Don't assume pronouns - Grizzlei, 2014-07-23, 09:01
      - TIP: Don't assume pronouns - Cody Miller, 2014-07-23, 09:32
        
        S/he ? - someotherguy, 2014-07-23, 09:34
        
        I wouldn't go with that. - Grizzlei, 2014-07-23, 11:40
        
        I wouldn't go with that. - someotherguy, 2014-07-23, 13:38
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - Xenos, 2014-07-23, 09:38
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - SonofMacPhisto, 2014-07-23, 10:02
        
        TIP: You know what you could do... - Hyokin, 2014-07-23, 10:11
        
        TIP: You know what you could do... - CommandrCleavage, 2014-07-23, 10:51
        
        TIP: You know what you could do... - MrPadraig08, 2014-07-23, 11:28
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - Kermit, 2014-07-23, 11:27
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - Grizzlei, 2014-07-23, 11:45
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - Kermit, 2014-07-23, 11:50
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - RaichuKFM, 2014-07-23, 13:48
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - Kermit, 2014-07-23, 14:54
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - Grizzlei, 2014-07-23, 11:36
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - Cody Miller, 2014-07-23, 14:36
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - Kermit, 2014-07-23, 15:07
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - ncsuDuncan, 2014-07-23, 23:11
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - Kermit, 2014-07-24, 10:55
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - Cody Miller, 2014-07-24, 17:25
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - Kermit, 2014-07-25, 08:41
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - uberfoop, 2014-07-23, 15:10
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - SonofMacPhisto, 2014-07-23, 16:38
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - kidtsunami, 2014-07-24, 00:46
        
        TIP: Don't assume pronouns - RaichuKFM, 2014-07-23, 13:42
    - Way to go Cody. - Revenant1988, 2014-07-23, 12:22
      - Lol. Was thinking the same thing. *poke poke* *run* - GrimBrother One, 2014-07-23, 15:14
      - I look away from the thread for a few hours.. - Zeouterlimits, 2014-07-23, 16:04
- I know you! - bluerunner, 2014-07-23, 07:24
  - I know you! - CommandrCleavage, 2014-07-23, 07:26
    - I know you! - Malagate, 2014-07-23, 07:31
      - I know you! - CommandrCleavage, 2014-07-23, 07:35
        
        Roger that! Will be good times. - Malagate, 2014-07-23, 07:41
- Welcome Aboard! - DaDerga, 2014-07-23, 07:25
- Hello again! - Kermit, 2014-07-23, 08:17
  - Hello again! - CommandrCleavage, 2014-07-23, 08:24
    - Hello again! - Kermit, 2014-07-23, 08:33
      - Hello again! - SonofMacPhisto, 2014-07-23, 10:04
        
        Rick Springfield - Kermit, 2014-07-23, 11:20
        
        Rick Springfield - SonofMacPhisto, 2014-07-23, 16:39
        
        Rick Springfield - Kermit, 2014-07-23, 17:05
- Hello Hello DBO! - SonofMacPhisto, 2014-07-23, 08:17
  - Hello Hello DBO! - CommandrCleavage, 2014-07-23, 08:23
    - Hello Hello DBO! - SonofMacPhisto, 2014-07-23, 10:00
    - You've been on the forum only a few hours - Revenant1988, 2014-07-23, 10:05
      - You've been on the forum only a few hours - bluerunner, 2014-07-23, 10:12
        
        aw yiss - SonofMacPhisto, 2014-07-23, 10:20
    - HBOHIO LAN Mega Write-Up! *SHORT* - Bones, 2014-07-23, 10:20
      - HBOHIO LAN Mega Write-Up! *SHORT* - Revenant1988, 2014-07-23, 12:21
        
        HBOHIO LAN Mega Write-Up! *SHORT* - bluerunner, 2014-07-23, 12:44
        
        HBOHIO LAN Mega Write-Up! *SHORT* - SonofMacPhisto, 2014-07-23, 16:40
        
        HBOHIO LAN Mega Write-Up! *SHORT* - Korny, 2014-07-23, 21:48
        
        HBOHIO LAN Mega Write-Up! *SHORT* - General Vagueness, 2014-07-23, 16:18
      - 5 stars, would get murdered again - MrPadraig08, 2014-07-23, 12:32
- Hello Hello DBO! - CaneCutter, 2014-07-23, 08:44
  - Hello Hello DBO! - CommandrCleavage, 2014-07-23, 10:52
- Hello! - Grizzlei, 2014-07-23, 09:00
- Welcome! - Xenos, 2014-07-23, 09:34
- Welcome to the party! - Hyokin, 2014-07-23, 10:14
- but, you're supposed to be dead! - MrPadraig08, 2014-07-23, 10:32
  - but, you're supposed to be dead! - LostSpartan, 2014-07-23, 12:15
- Hello Hello DBO! - Speedracer513, 2014-07-23, 10:38
- Greetings! - SigbiasSilva, 2014-07-23, 11:24
- Hello Hello DBO! - stabbim, 2014-07-23, 14:53
  - Hello Hello DBO! - CommandrCleavage, 2014-07-23, 16:12
- Hello Hello DBO! - Sammy Whammy, 2014-07-23, 15:22
  - Hello Hello DBO! - CommandrCleavage, 2014-07-23, 16:11
- Hello Hello DBO! - Cody Miller, 2014-07-23, 17:44
- Welcome! I'll be playing on XB1 as well. :) - Atsumi, 2014-07-23, 20:43
- Hello Hello DBO! - HuskerAlpha, 2014-07-24, 07:48

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TIP: Don't assume pronouns (DBO)