Or maybe they have a strong opinion that gender has nothing to do with anything. I hate being labeled. Why should I have another put on me when it isn't required?
Or maybe they have a strong opinion that gender has nothing to do with anything. I hate being labeled. Why should I have another put on me when it isn't required?
very cool. I didnt have mine checked & my icon came out as a guys. I got a pm rom someone asking why I hadn't chosen the right icon. I was nominally upset that the default was a guy so I changed it. Finally I can go back to relative anonomity (sp???)
The biggest reason for specifying your gender is so that when people talk about you, you can use the correct pronoun. It is very annoying (IMHO) to have to read/type "he or she", "he/she", "him or her", "him/her", "his/her", "his/hers", "s/he".
For example, since I don't know what gender 'pcody' is (profile picture is not helpful, full name is not helpful), I have to type:
- I was looking at pcody's profile and I really like his/her Book Titles shot.
or:
- I was looking at pcody's profile and I really like their Book Titles shot.
I don't see why it is such a big deal to select a gender to make it easy to talk "naturally" in the forums. If we were at a party together, would you expect me to say "he or she", "him or her" or "their" when I spoke about you?
Specifying your gender just seems like a small courtesy to me.
What could be more natural than using the perfectly (and always) correct indefinite pronoun?
Because IMHO, it doesn't sound natural. Indefinite pronouns replace nouns without specifying which noun they replace. And whenever an indefinite pronoun acts as the antecedent for a personal pronoun, the gender problem immediately arises. And since indefinite pronouns don't refer to anyone in particular, people hesitate to use a singular personal pronoun to refer to one of them, because singular is too specific. A plural pronoun looks particularly attractive when the antecedent is everyone or everybody, for example. These words imply a large number of people, and yet these words (as well as any nouns preceded by the word every) are always singular. Any personal pronoun that refers to a singular indefinite pronoun must be in the singular form:
Incorrect: Is anyone happy with their photo?
Correct: Is anyone happy with his photo?
(Why? Because anyone and is are singular. The possessive pronoun must be singular, too.)
The only alternative is this awkward, but correct, attempt:
Correct: Are any of the people happy with their photos?
The biggest reason for specifying your gender is so that when people talk about you, you can use the correct pronoun.
I don't see why it is such a big deal to select a gender to make it easy to talk "naturally" in the forums. If we were at a party together, would you expect me to say "he or she", "him or her" or "their" when I spoke about you?
What if we don't want people to talk about us in the forums? Can there be a big, red X icon, too?
What could be more natural than using the perfectly (and always) correct indefinite pronoun?
Because IMHO, it doesn't sound natural.
Oh no, an impasse! I prefer the sound of their, they, et cetera and it sounds natural to me.
However, you can rest assured that your opinion is likely that of the majority.
Originally posted by EddyG:
Incorrect: Is anyone happy with their photo?
Although this usage is not altogether agreeable to everyone, it is not incorrect.
Originally posted by EddyG:
Correct: Is anyone happy with his photo?
The lack of gender-neutral singular terms is contentious, but the indefinite pronouns have been used exactly for that from Austen to Shakespeare. These rules of grammar were fabricated more recently than actual usage (and "his or her" is more likely to be used than "his"). It is more common to be selective about one's use, as for example: Is anyone happy with his vagina? Strictly speaking, "his" is correct. I applaud you if you wish to take up the argument that it sounds more natural or is correct.
Originally posted by EddyG:
(Why? Because anyone and is are singular. The possessive pronoun must be singular, too.)
Well, you can live in the grammar straightjacket or you can accept their as the third person singular indefinite pronoun (the usage of which historically predates the grammar later misapplied to it).
Damn that Red Queen theory.
Oh, the pedantry is killing me.
How 'bout you?
We don`t know if they are Heshe`s or Shehe`s!Lets call them all Pat? LOL,Instead of a baret it could be a coon skin cap like Davey and Daniel used to wear!
Back from work.
Even on the phone, people can't tell if I'm male or female. It makes life so very interesting. I try to play along with whatever gender the other person picks. So Eddy pick one, I won't correct you at all. But then there is thee and thou. They are pretty neutral.
I think the neutral icon was put there to be used and I choose to use it. Sorry if it makes you uncomfortable.
