to want people to use more appropriate language

[SmudgeButt]

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.

You can choose to pretend it is if you want, but you do know that 'man' isn't in fact a shortening of human, right?

Yes, I know that. Most of my post was agreeing about the default use of sexist language. But the example the OP used was 'manned checkout', not the word 'man'. In the context I accepted it as being a shortening of human, because that's what made the most sense, particularly as that has not traditionally been a male role.

At my job (publishing) we always use the term humankind over mankind.

'Carbon based life form attended'

,😂😂

yup staffed works beeter - no reason not to use it.

Personchester sounds quite nice, I'd put the stress on the second syllable though.

Look up the definition of 'manned'. It refers to humans in general, not half of them.

Well yes, obviously. That's precisely the point though, isn't it - that the male word is being used to refer to all of humankind.

Ffs. It’s short for human.

No it isn't.

Best not go the the Isle of Man on holiday

If you look up the origins of the name Isle of Man, you will see that it has nothing to do with the English word 'man' meaning male person.

It's stupid posts like this that set dealing with the real issues back years, I really thought we'd got over this nonsense. Do grow up dear.

No they don't. It is perfectly possible for people to fight against 'the real issues' and still challenge sexist language. The examples the OP gives are admittedly not the worst, but there are betteralternatives available, such as 'staffed'.

It's stupid posts like this that set dealing with the real issues back years, I really thought we'd got over this nonsense. Do grow up dear

You do know people can see your other posts on MN don’t you. I don’t think you’re doing your bit for “real issues” however much you think you are.

Laughable.

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

I'm surprised a supermarket is using "manned" rather than "staffed"

At university 25 years ago it was pointed out that it wasn't acceptable to use the term mankind in written work, we needed to use humanity instead. I'm surprised people still use that one, I thought it was very outdated language

I agree. The substitution of "humanity" or "humankind" for "mankind" really isn't the novel "pc gorn mad" as some posters are making out.

99% of people don’t care, they want to pay for their shopping and get out of the place

OP you’re right and it’s frustrating.

(Default-male thinking is frustrating - not that you’re right!)

Fascinating - oh well, back to watching the paint on my wall dry.

I think you are right. People don't seem to make a big deal of it here because English is not a gendered language so the misogyny is only apparent in a few words. Try a Latin language instead and you ll see the issue is amplified. This does get questioned abroad but is quite a divisive issue.

I'd be happy for staffed to be used where manned often is. It's not clumsy in the way some substitutions are. So why not?

If females were working on the till, would you have described it as 'unmanned'?

Changing "manned" to "staffed" is no different from changing fire man to fire fighter or police man/ police woman to police officer.

The word manned is unisex whereas the rubbish truck saying men at work (whilst perhaps correct) is sexist

Changing "manned" to "staffed" is no different from changing fire man to fire fighter or police man/ police woman to police officer.

Exactly. Which is why I can't understand why the OP is getting grief. There's not even an extra syllable to deal with.

Bloody hell. I have no words. I dread to think what the feminism board is like if this stuff creeps on here

I dread to think what the feminism board is like if this stuff creeps on here

More fool you for assuming without actually getting some information to form an opinion.

“Staffed” implies penis, which takes us back to man.

The Patriarchy stretches and grins, and I collect my privilege.

So much internalised misogyny on this thread!

I totally agree with you OP - why are space missions always 'manned' rather than 'crewed'?

Language matters - if you had posted this on the FWR board you would have received a more nuanced response.

Changing "manned" to "staffed" is no different from changing fire man to fire fighter or police man/ police woman to police officer.

I dunno. I get that in principle, but it does feel different. Calling a female firefighter a fireman is very jarring, whereas describing a till as manned when a female cashier is working on it doesn't. The word manned doesn't feel so inherently gendered to me, I guess?

if you had posted this on the FWR board you would have received a more nuanced response.

I very much doubt that, somehow.