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Wasn't there a long NSC discussion on this about a month ago?
Oh? I missed that thread. Mind you, I hadn't had the conversation a month ago, so probably wouldn't have opened the thread even if I had seen it.
Wasn't there a long NSC discussion on this about a month ago?
Someone came out to me a few days ago as "transgender, non-binary". After a bit of exploration by myself around what that actually meant, I was told that I needed to use "they" as a personal pronoun for them in future.
Aside from the fact that I'm really going to struggle to remember to do this - because I've known the individual as a man for nigh on a decade, so am likely to forget - there is a more pressing concern: should I be declining the reference in the singular or plural?
Is it "They is coming for a beer"? or "They are coming for a beer"?
Bear in mind too, if they is single, then they may also object to this label and instead ask to be referred to as being "self-partnering".
He said= They said
He doesn't= They don't
They are coming for a beer= *Name* is coming for a beer.
I think folk can easily forget that a person who is non-binary still has a name.
Additionally, as in one case of a long term friend who is transgender, you'll generally find that they are tolerant of errors.
Language changes over time. A person born into such gender redundancy would find it second nature.
Seriously?Is it "They is coming for a beer"? or "They are coming for a beer"?
Seriously?
Imagine a friend said 'My mate's joining us for a beer later' and you wanted to ask what time they'd be coming - but oh no, you don't know if their friend is male or female. Gosh, what to do? Could you say 'What time is they coming?' or would you need to say 'What time are they coming?'
Come on Goldstone, this is not beyond you.
That just sounds completely weird. You'd normally either say 'Yes, PPF is coming too', or 'Yes, he/she is coming too' (given that you probably know whether PPF is a he or she). But if it was Chris's friend - eg, 'How about Chris's friend?', then you should reply 'Yes, they are coming too'. Never 'they is'. It just sounds wrong, regardless of the fact it follows two lines where you say 'is'."Is Steve coming?"
"Yes, he is coming"
"Chris?"
"Yep, Chris is coming too"
"How about PPF?"
"Yes, they is coming too" OR "Yes, they are coming too" ?
Yes, I know I could definitely say "they are coming", but in the context of the conversation outlined above, where I have used the present tense singular for the other two mates, it would be usual to continue with present tense singular for PPF too.
Yep.Unless... I should always decline "they" with the plural irrespective of context...
That just sounds completely weird. You'd normally either say 'Yes, PPF is coming too', or 'Yes, he/she is coming too' (given that you probably know whether PPF is a he or she). But if it was Chris's friend - eg, 'How about Chris's friend?', then you should reply 'Yes, they are coming too'. Never 'they is'. It just sounds wrong, regardless of the fact it follows two lines where you say 'is'.
Yep.
..............but I'll just get them a Babycham"?
“These are a good side”
Good old Hughton was ahead of his time!
its about gender, not time travel.
Ha ha... I hated that phrase when Chris used it, legend that he was.
Thing, or IT?
Maybe we should just all refer to anyone a bit special as Dave, it'll be in the dictionary next year.