Affirming gender through notification titles

[Quantumcat]

It can get kind of annoying when people call you the wrong thing. A lot of the GBATemp population have feminine avatars when they are male (probably some with masculine avatars that are female) and non-gender-specific names (or sometimes their name sounds like the opposite gender to what they are in their profile) so these mixups happen often. It results in people having to awkwardly use sentence structures that leave out the gender, or making a (sometimes incorrect) assumption.

So, this is a suggestion to subtly remind people what gender other users have labelled themselves in their profile, so such awkwardness can be reduced somewhat. Akin to having the social cues of voice and looks - nothing in your face but it just works at the back of their mind.

1. Change "[person's name] mentioned you in a post in [thread name]" to "[person's name] mentioned you in her or his post in [thread name]"
2. (In the case that the OP replies to their own thread) Change "[person's name] replied to the thread [thread name]" to "[person's name] replied to her or his thread [thread name]"

And when the person's gender is not specified in their profile, then leave it as it is now.

I can't think of any other sorts of notification titles where you could sneak a her or his in, but just these two circumstances would help.

 

[Saiyan Lusitano]

I think just having everything set to "their" would be the simplest solution.

That is fucking retarded. "Their" implies a group of people, one person isn't a "their."

 

[Whole lotta love]

That is fucking retarded. "Their" implies a group of people, one person isn't a "their."

No it doesn't. It is grammatically correct.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singular_they

 

[VinsCool]

That is fucking retarded. "Their" implies a group of people, one person isn't a "their."

I thought that as well, but it turns out "they/them/their" can be used as a singular person pronoun.

 

[Dionicio3]

That is fucking retarded. "Their" implies a group of people, one person isn't a "their."

Since when was grammar on an online gaming forum important?

 

[Saiyan Lusitano]

I thought that as well, but it turns out "they/them/their" can be used as a singular person pronoun.

In adult daycare centres also known as campuses?

 

[VinsCool]

In adult daycare centres also known as campuses?

No. it's just grammatically correct
I too felt it was unusual, but it does work when the person is unknown, or ambiguous.

 

[Dionicio3]

In adult daycare centres also known as campuses?

I believe you missed one key word: singular

 

[Whole lotta love]

In adult daycare centres also known as campuses?

Yes, and the rest of the English speaking world.

 

[sarkwalvein]

Yes, and the rest of the English speaking world.

You learn new things every day.
Actually it was around one year ago or so I noticed the singular use of "they", and later went up to check around and it was used like that everywhere.
It may seem weird, but when English is not your first language you are taught in kind of a formal way, and teachers only taught you the plural use of they.

The singular use for a non-native sounds completely weird, but it is exactly because they have selectively avoided it in formal teaching, and you don't have contact as a kid with native english speakers to notice on your own.

 

[Saiyan Lusitano]

Since when was grammar on an online gaming forum important?

If grammar isn't important then just write as you please.

No. it's just grammatically correct
I too felt it was unusual, but it does work when the person is unknown, or ambiguous.

Calling a single person by "they" or "their" just doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

Yes, and the rest of the English speaking world.

No, not really.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

You learn new things every day.
Actually it was around one year ago or so I noticed the singular use of "they", and later went up to check around and it was used like that everywhere.
It may seem weird, but when English is not your first language you are taught in kind of a formal way, and teachers only taught you the plural use of they.

The singular use for a non-native sounds completely weird, but it is exactly because they have selectively avoided it in formal teaching, and you don't have contact as a kid with native english speakers to notice on your own.

Dude, this is a new trend so that some people don't get their feelings hurt for 'misgendering' a him/her and instead want to be called they/their.

 

[Deleted User]

I'm already done with this thread lmao
It's just gonna devolve into more of a petty fight.

 

[VinsCool]

Calling a single person by "they" or "their" just doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

Just read this post, it summarizes what i thought as well.

You learn new things every day.
Actually it was around one year ago or so I noticed the singular use of "they", and later went up to check around and it was used like that everywhere.
It may seem weird, but when English is not your first language you are taught in kind of a formal way, and teachers only taught you the plural use of they.

The singular use for a non-native sounds completely weird, but it is exactly because they have selectively avoided it in formal teaching, and you don't have contact as a kid with native english speakers to notice on your own.

 

[Boogieboo6]

Who is this really benefiting? I rarely see members be misgendered, and when I do, it's a new member calling @Crystal the Glaceon a male. I remember the genders of members because I see them a lot, and I think others do too. I think a new member wouldn't bother to read the notification and wouldn't actively search for the gender of the person helping them.

 

[Whole lotta love]

If grammar isn't important then just write as you please.


Calling a single person by "they" or "their" just doesn't make any sense whatsoever. [citation needed]


No, not really. [citation needed]

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------


Dude, this is a new trend so that some people don't get their feelings hurt for 'misgendering' a him/her and instead want to be called they/their.[citation needed]

 

[sarkwalvein]

Dude, this is a new trend so that some people don't get their feelings hurt for 'misgendering' a him/her and instead want to be called they/their.

No, it is not new. I researched about it.
It is something that existed in informal spoken language since always (14th century according to wikipedia), but grammarists disliked so they told people not to write like that.
Then since the 70s it seems grammarists started to give up, and people use it for all kinds of official documents since then.

PS: Also, I will steal this quote

Language is a living thing. We can feel it changing. Parts of it become old: they drop off and are forgotten. New pieces bud out, spread into leaves, and become big branches, proliferating.

Meaning the language changes with the people anyway, what was wrong yesterday may be right today and so. E.g. British English is slowly turning quite American in the use of "-ize" instead of "-ise" lately (according to what I've read).

 

[VinsCool]

Hey, everyone.

Can we just agree that the current way notifications are shown is fine? Best would be to change his/her to their. Other than that, i guess things are fine already.

 

[SG854]

If grammar isn't important then just write as you please.


Calling a single person by "they" or "their" just doesn't make any sense whatsoever.


No, not really.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------


Dude, this is a new trend so that some people don't get their feelings hurt for 'misgendering' a him/her and instead want to be called they/their.

If its going to be used as a singular than what matters is context. "Ask someone if they could help." This makes sense.

"Are they going to the mall?" This doesn't make sense if you're talking directly to the person. You would say instead, "Are you going to the mall?"

 

[AkikoKumagara]

Why is this such a big deal? I wouldnt give a fuck if someone misgendered me

I didn't realize you spoke for everyone...

 

[sarkwalvein]

Hey, everyone.

Can we just agree that the current way notifications are shown is fine? Best would be to change his/her to their. Other than that, i guess things are fine already.

All is fine, changes would be cosmetic really.

Actually, the only thing that burns my eyes from that discussed here is the likes of "VinsCool also commented on VinsCool's status.", sound like a stereotyped Japanese girl trying to pass by cute and talking of herself in the third person... /s?

 

[McWhiters9511]

Listen. We are all insignificant meatballs in an incomprehensibly massive reality. Does it really matter that much what pronoun is used?