patrick.net

Maybe "they" is the best option in spite of the illogicality.

German uses "sie" for "she" and "they" and the formal "you". They're pretty logical and they don't seem to mind the overlap.

Patrick says

"It" seems offensive.

Why argue with perfection?

Fine with they, at least it's not an invented word. Or use their first name. And if you aren't talking about a specific person then you are talking more generally about sonething which will apply to many people and then they is appropriate enough imo.

If you are talking to someone who REALLY cares about their pronouns, then using 'IT' is appropriate.

Wait, my old high school English teacher, Dutch Calvinist guy whose father was a preacher, taught us that HE is the default singular pronoun in English.

"Sorry ladies", he said, "that's just how it is."

OK, I'm going to use "he" from now on, without apology.

Patrick says

HE is the default singular pronoun in English.

That is absolutely correct. But if you want something new and hate three syllables, how about just the letter e.

He went to the bar.
She went to the bar
E went the bar.

For objective case:

Give it to him.
Give it to her.
Give it to aiche. (the letter h sound)

Or one might simply learn a different language? If latinate, then the nouns themselves do the job! 🤷

50de4664cd8ed59077555340c687d684 says

Or one might simply learn a different language? If latinate, then the nouns themselves do the job! 🤷

Interesting. I can see where a language is fully conjugated one does not need pronouns. Sort of like in English with:
"am not"
"are too."

In the "am not", one does not need the "I" to know who the subject is, but with "are too" the subject could be "you," "they," or "we." Lantinate languages like Portuguez are fully conjugated so pronouns are often omitted.

In Latin:
Ille amat (he loves)
Illa amat (she loves)

Now what pronoun form would mean "he or she loves?" (I am not saying there is not one, I just do not know of it).

As far as noun endings determining sex, we do that in English with words like "host" and "hostess," or "manager" and "manageress." Still no "male of female" form, unless one gets rid of the "ess" ending and considers the old male form as sex neutral.

Patrick says

Maybe "they" is the best option in spite of the illogicality.

German uses "sie" for "she" and "they" and the formal "you". They're pretty logical and they don't seem to mind the overlap.

That "sie" bit works in German because of conjugation. In English. that would mean saying "They are" for the plural and using "They is" for that gender neutral singular. You really want to sound that ghetto?

I only use they in the written, if you don't know the gender of the person. Usually when talking, don't you know the gender? (I mean a conversation between normal people)

HeadSet says

Patrick says

Maybe "they" is the best option in spite of the illogicality.

German uses "sie" for "she" and "they" and the formal "you". They're pretty logical and they don't seem to mind the overlap.

That "sie" bit works in German because of conjugation. In English. that would mean saying "They are" for the plural and using "They is" for that gender neutral singular. You really want to sound that ghetto?

You use they are where you talk about a group or just they when you don't need is/are in the same sentence, e.g. "they can choose their avatar". If you talk about a single person of the group you can say "the patient", "the blogger", "the friend" etc. If this is too complicated I'd default to @Patrick and use he for everything, that is after all the natural order.

In high school we would refer to them as Shims (Shim singular). She him combined. We did so because "it" was for animals or objects. The way they act today I think "it" is more appropriate because "they" act like animals and treat others as objects.

I'm they!

What you got a fucking mouse in your pocket?

Patrick says

Wait, my old high school English teacher, Dutch Calvinist guy whose father was a preacher, taught us that HE is the default singular pronoun in English.

"Sorry ladies", he said, "that's just how it is."

OK, I'm going to use "he" from now on, without apology.

Did he teach you anything a Calvinist preaches?

Discipline.

They, oy vey!

I missed this when you posted Patrick and I’m a little surprised. “They” is a mental illness thing….namely “hey look at me” attention seeking.

But it’s not at all a gender dysphoria thing. The fuck I’ll subject myself to a they/them. They can get along just fine without me and vice versa. A trans person who at least somewhat resembles the opposite sex…yeah I’ll be respectful and address them as the sex they present. But they them want to impose on me. Nah, I’m not doing it.

I thought they was for multiple people, or an unknown person:

"Whoever they are, they left behind a clue - this scrap of fabric"

demons in the bible were “they”