Best responses for being asked for pronouns in person

Look really confused and say 'I prefer milk and no sugar please'.

I can't wait for someone to ask me. This is my answer:

'Why do you want to know, isn't that personal and private information. Are you asking people to out themselves, are you going to ask my sexual orientation next? This is highly inappropriate and I shall be sure to record this on my feedback to help improve future course content.'

I know there will be silent clapping in the heads of other people on the course.

Chrysanthemum5

Nice tip! It's all a bit woke where I am so I am not sure this would work. My usual strategy is to turn up late :) But otherwise, I will do as you suggest!

@Warmduscher glad it's not just me

Can you not just say outright that you're not comfortable gender ideology so would prefer not to answer?

You could go the other direction and say some along the lines of ‘before 8am I use me, myself and I, then from 8-10.30 it’s he and him, from 10.30-11.43 it’s S/he or him/her, from 11.44 to noon it’s nee/na/noo’ and do on just to see how they react if anyone says anything unexpected... then if they comment say that you find being asked for your pronouns a really tedious and mysoginistic thing that detracts form and insults the individua being askedl, particularly when they are women, plus it’s such an insensitive daft thing to ask you thought that this time you’d asnswer to reflect that.
Or go for the concerned ‘are you ok? In a very caring, concerned voice, saying that most people have mastered pronouns long before they get to infant school but if they have a neurological condition that causes them not to be able to work them out that must be very tricky for them...

Sometimes a simple ‘pronouns? Thank you, yes please’ can be enough to move the conversation on too.

If you are excited about the course then don't leave this until the day as it will sour things for you. Email them in advance saying you don't wish to say your pronouns. You can leave it at that.

When I am going to meetings where pronouns will be asked I email in advance with my reasons for not using them which are:
1- it's a barrier to communication for people whose first language is not English. Asking them to remember pronouns is a burden when they are trying to interact in a language they are not fluent in
2- it is exclusionary to people with neurodiversity who often struggle with the cognitive dissonance of pronouns
3- research indicates women are treated more harshly in environments which have reminders of biological sex eg board rooms with walls covered in paintings of old men, or pronouns being announced

I never use the reason that someone may not be 'out' or transphobia etc as I refuse to give credence to the idea that pronouns sharing is anything other than narcissistic control freakery!

I usually get a very quick apologise email and often the pronoun sharing doesn't happen

I hope you enjoy the course and that the pronoun thing works out ok for you

I would probably go with a breezy “no preference, say what you see” with the same eye rolling dismissive air that I would give any other silly icebreaker.

I’d be thinking of Erin’s cat 😂

"what's that all about then"

They explain inclusivity etc

"Ok, but what if someone's not ready to share their status, wouldn't that be uncomfortable or outing?"

They say it's a choice etc

"Ok, then I'll leave it. Thanks."

When I was growing up "she was the cat's mother".

"Why do you need to know?"

What are pronouns? And why would somebody ask what they are?

I don't understand 😕

I’m with op is just want an out and not indulge it without becoming a point of interest

Was going to say exactly this - second person singular is “you”

I think that's the point the poster is making - if someone asks you face-to-face what your pronouns are, the poster is suggesting 'you' because that's how you'd address someone in a face-to-face conversation.

I would say, ‘I use sex based pronouns'

I like this response too.

"Surprise me"

I would say, ‘I use sex based pronouns’ and follow it up by asking ‘is anyone unsure of my sex?’
Can’t stand all the gender bollocks.

I would introduce myself as xxx and then add wife and mother (don't know if that is the same aa you op) if someone is stupid enough to them ask for pronouns I would say she of course

What I would actually do is ignore that bit of the intro and if pressed do a fake tinkly laugh and say ‘it’s up to you / I don’t mind’.
What I’d like to do is, if pushed, act all surprised ‘can’t you tell’ or ‘I don’t think people have pronouns - tinkly laugh - some have adjectives though’.

"No thankyou."

Puzzled expression and ‘do you plan to talk about me in the third person in my presence?’ (Group work notwithstanding as pp has pointed out).

Or...’pronouns? Sorry we don’t have those on my home planet.’

I wouldn’t say anything that implied I had pronouns because even statements like “I’d prefer not to say” are admitting adherence to the ideology of gender.

I’d just omit that bit and state my name. If I was pushed, I’d simply say “No, thanks”. They’re hardly going to insist you say something, are they?

Or you could feign ignorance and say “Capricorn”, or feign excited enthusiasm and get out a wodge of A4 paper, explain your pronouns vary and that you’ve helpfully prepared an information sheet for everyone about what precise pronoun is to be used when and how to pronounce them all.

But personally I’d just ignore it.