TIP: Don't assume pronouns (DBO)

by Kermit , Raleigh, NC, Wednesday, July 23, 2014, 14:54 (3572 days ago) @ RaichuKFM

Eh, while "man" used to be the gender-neutral term I really wouldn't say that "he" was. It was used as such when necessary, but it was definitely the masculine. Whereas man went from meaning "human" to "male human". Oh well, this is literally semantics.

"Man" is a third case with its own nuances. I'm talking about how generic masculine pronouns were perceived and used by educated people in the past, and it was understood to be generic in certain contexts. Language is a living thing where perception often becomes reality, though, and the masculine pronoun began to take on political significance to some readers, and here we are, where we try to avoid that usage if we want to appeal to the widest audience. It's impossible to talk about this, though, without talking about politics, and this isn't the place.

locked

3073 views

Complete thread:

RSS Feed of thread

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

DBO Forums

TIP: Don't assume pronouns (DBO)