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General discussionForum faux pas(96 posts)(96 posts)
(96 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted September 05, 2014
high rated
There are many conflicts in forums that could easily be avoided but for the medium itself. Bereft of non-verbal cues, it's hard to tell if someone is joking, sarcastic, sad, happy, serious or surprised.

Most of all, I don't know how to refer to other GOGlodytes when I don't explicitly know their sex. Hungarian has many shortcomings (spoken by only 10 million people, ridiculously complex grammar, everyone sounds like they're having an argument), but at least it's gender neutral, so everyone is referred to as "it". It makes things simple, especially online where many enjoy the anonymity it brings. English forces me to repeatedly make the forum faux pas of using the default "he" when, statistically speaking, I must have called several women "he" at one point or another. For that I apologise!

However, there is a possible solution here. In my time I've met a lot of Americans and Canadians. About 10 years ago, if I heard a North American accent, I decided to change my default response from "where are you from in America?" to "where are you from in Canada?". Canadians were pleased to be recognised and Americans were almost eager to correct me ('MURICA!). I found it a safe way to approach the situation.

Is the lesson here to refer to everyone on GOG as "she" until corrected? I think the answer is a resounding "yes" :P

Feel free to share your stories/comments about the shortcomings of forum life.
Posted September 05, 2014
high rated
Very well said, miss.
Posted September 05, 2014
I usually have the most success with "hey you, behind the bushes!". ;)
Posted September 05, 2014
Probably not.

Especially Licurg!
Posted September 05, 2014
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grimwerk: Very well said, miss.
lol!
Posted September 05, 2014
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Ah, I remember the good old times on the internet, where all women were just men pretending to be women.
Posted September 05, 2014
Well...as far as I know, every male starts out as being female in the womb...then eventually changes to being male.
Posted September 05, 2014
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Austrobogulator: Well...as far as I know, every male starts out as being female in the womb...then eventually changes to being male.
Morphologically sure, but not down to DNA level, which is pretty much set at the start, or preference in clothing which is subject to change.
Also, a very interesting viewing on the matter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz1rjq5emKY
Post edited September 05, 2014 by sunshinecorp
Posted September 05, 2014
I would much rather be mistakenly refered to as he than it. But every culture is different. Good thread!
Post edited September 05, 2014 by Sage103082
Posted September 05, 2014
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Dzsono: Is the lesson here to refer to everyone on GOG as "she" until corrected? I think the answer is a resounding "yes" :P

Feel free to share your stories/comments about the shortcomings of forum life.
I'd personally offer the gender-ambiguous portmanteaux sie (she+he) and hir (him/his + her). The former may also be taken as a loosely borrowed German ;)
Posted September 05, 2014
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Spinorial: I'd personally offer the gender-ambiguous portmanteaux sie (she+he) and hir (him/his + her). The former may also be taken as a loosely borrowed German ;)
Sie = She

Now what? :P
Posted September 05, 2014
high rated
The gender neutral third person singular "they" is a thing.
Post edited September 05, 2014 by thiagovscoelho
Posted September 05, 2014
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Spinorial: I'd personally offer the gender-ambiguous portmanteaux sie (she+he) and hir (him/his + her). The former may also be taken as a loosely borrowed German ;)
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Wurzelkraft: Sie = She

Now what? :P
A simple solution would be to run to a place where people don't get offended by the use of the wrong personal pronoun.

Really, I think by now I might sound a bit trolling, but I'm not. I just don't get why things like these would matter in a forum, unless of course the whole conversation was so gender-specific that someone has to assert their gender to make a point. Discuss.
Posted September 05, 2014
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sunshinecorp: A simple solution would be to run to a place where people don't get offended by the use of the wrong personal pronoun.

Really, I think by now I might sound a bit trolling, but I'm not. I just don't get why things like these would matter in a forum, unless of course the whole conversation was so gender-specific that someone has to assert their gender to make a point. Discuss.
Most times I try to not use a personal pronoun. Not because I'm afraid to offend someone but I simply don't know the gender. The username is a good substitute when in doubt. "Sure, I saw sunshinecorp's post...yadayadayada"
Works for me.
Posted September 05, 2014
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Wurzelkraft: Sie = She

Now what? :P
I was thinking of the polite second form, mostly. Loosely borrowed. Ahem :P
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionForum faux pas(96 posts)(96 posts)
(96 posts)