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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to want people to use more appropriate language

96 replies

SmudgeButt · 17/11/2019 13:36

I expect a lot of people will say it's a silly thing to want. But I've just filled out a survey for Nectar/Sainsburys and was asked if I used a "manned checkout". Well actually I did - as there was a man at the till.

But is there any reason we can't move into the 21st century and use language which implies that only men work??

I'm tired of being talked to about "man hours" and other "manned" situations. I guess I'm the only one that feels excluded/overlooked/made invisible by all of this.

OP posts:
SmudgeButt · 17/11/2019 13:37

But is there any reason we can't move into the 21st century and use language which implies that NOT only men work??

OP posts:
TheLumpiestSpacePrincess · 17/11/2019 13:40

Maybe it's based on the word huMAN and not sex?

DifficultPifcultLemonDifficult · 17/11/2019 13:43

Doesn't bother me at all. Man-woman-human, the common denominator in all is man so it's pretty neutral in the circumstances you are annoyed about.

egontoste · 17/11/2019 13:46

You are massively overthinking this.

Man up and get over it Grin

insancerre · 17/11/2019 13:47

It means by a human not by a man
Personed sounds weird

Sallyseagull · 17/11/2019 13:48

YABU.

It is human shortened isnt it?

20viona · 17/11/2019 13:49

Pathetic

churchandstate · 17/11/2019 13:49

I saw a rubbish truck the other day with the words “Men working at rear” on it, and I was like Hmm

GeneHuntLover · 17/11/2019 13:49

Fuck's sake, soon we won't be able to say anything without offending someone

MrsExpo · 17/11/2019 13:49

It’s just a commonly used expression. A supermarket check out can be “manned” by a female employee .... it means (to me anyway) operated by a human, rather than automated. What should they have asked? Did you use personned/humaned checkout .... ? YABU.

EntropyRising · 17/11/2019 13:50

I get it, you're joking. Wink

Mickhasnotorso · 17/11/2019 13:50

What the fuck lol

sirfredfredgeorge · 17/11/2019 13:52

staffed doesn't though and avoids the problem.

runoutofideasnow · 17/11/2019 13:53

Woman human

WorraLiberty · 17/11/2019 13:54

egontoste Grin Grin

maddiemookins16mum · 17/11/2019 13:54

This place it getting worse.
Wilkos sells grips Op, maybe pop in.

SorryDidISayThatOutLoud · 17/11/2019 13:57

A lot of HR policies are now changed so that instead of using 'manned' it would say 'staffed'.

SafetyAdvice0FeedWhenAgitated · 17/11/2019 13:57

Humanned check out😂

I saw a rubbish truck the other day with the words “Men working at rear” on it, and I was like hmm

I haven't seen a female rubbish truck worker irl ever so I think that's fine. I know there are few, but I assume these already rewrote their stickers😁

Butchyrestingface · 17/11/2019 13:57

I’m with you, OP. But you picked your day to post unwisely.

MIdgebabe · 17/11/2019 14:00

In the OP defence, whilst we can say with our rational brain that the term man is referrring to humans, nevertheless the tendency to use Male specific words has been shown over and over again to embed sexist thoughts and beliefs and actions

So it's somehow more normal for a man to work outside the home than a woman. That it is unusual to have a woman as a chair(man) of something.

The roles and expectations of society are reflected and reinforced by the words we use every day. the default male that means that cars are less safe for women, because the safety tests are done with reference to a default ( and therefore Male) body

FrownPrincess · 17/11/2019 14:05

You are quite right, OP!

For this very same reason I shall never visit Manchester.

[sceptical]

FrancisCrawford · 17/11/2019 14:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JorisBonson · 17/11/2019 14:07

Wish I had the time to stress about things like this. Bloody hell.

Alsohuman · 17/11/2019 14:08

Oh dear ...

OneDay10 · 17/11/2019 14:10

Wtf. you're bitching about it being called Man hours? Yes I guess like this do walk amongst us.

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