Sam Smith

[pumpkinbump]

This may be old news but I have just come across it whilst reading another thread here and had a bit of a Google to find out about it.

Straight away, the headline - Sam Smith asks to be referred to as “they” instead of “he” after declaring themself as gender neutral.

Now I don't like the bloke for many reasons but isn't asking to be referred to as 'they' implying that there is more than one?

Yes I know this is a pointless thread but I'm curious.

It doesn't necessarily imply there is more than one as for example you may say:

I went to the doctor today. Your DP for example might say in response to this:
"Oh. What did they say?" - so 'they' is sometimes used to refer to a single person where it is known that there is not more than one.

Have a bit more of a google and you will find that this is a common use of pronouns for non binary or gender neutral people.

Many people, cultures and communities have been using these words in this way for a long time and no one has died of confusion yet.

It's everyday usage to say 'they' instead of he or she...

I don’t understand it but if it makes them happy I’ll use it if I ever meet Sam Smith.

You’re right, this is very very old news.

The term ‘they’ has been around for a while now too.
I’m not a fan of his either, but this faux confusion over the pronoun ‘they’ - ‘but it’s so confusing, doesn’t it imply that there’s more than one of him...’ is more cringeworthy than many of the things he’s said.

isn't asking to be referred to as 'they' implying that there is more than one?

Yes, absolutely. They identify as twins - Sam and Smith.

But no, it's perfectly normal usage - usually when you don't know the gender but 🤷🏻‍♀️

Yep, faux confusion

There was a thread recently where the OP spoke of her partner as 'they this', 'they that' as didnt want to say the gender. Got leapt on a bit ('how many people are you talking about here?' haha etc) and ended up saying anyway.
So no, I dont think "they" is in everyday usage for 1 perspn.

Good points. Thanks everyone. I don't understand it either and hope I'd never be close enough to meet him.

Omg where have you BEEN? 😂

But no, it's perfectly normal usage - usually when you don't know the gender

Usually when you don’t know the sex. Sam Smith May be confused but it is clear to everyone else that Sam Smith is of the male sex. We don’t care about the gender.

as pp said "they" is not only for more than one, it can be neutral

but yes, SS is a big wally imo. I also thought that his "they" thing was over and done as I am sure I heard Zoe Ball wittering on a short while back about using "he" all the time in her spiel.

Faux confusion?

Usually when you don’t know the sex

Yawn.

Faux confusion as in pretending it’s confusing because what you actually want to do is criticise someone you don’t even know.

“They for single person” on google would have cleared up any real confusion. So you’re obviously posting because your point is not a genuine enquiry

Usually when you don’t know the sex

Yawn.

Oh I know! Isn’t it tedious that people don’t use the correct terminology. They’re like children who view the word ‘sex’ as naughty.

As far as I can work out, Sam Smith is not denying his biological sex, just the gender he identifies as.

Chamber's dictionary uses the word "gender" when defining the word "they" so you can take your tedious bollocks about "correct terminology" and shove it somewhere no one cares about.

HTH.

As for They’re like children who view the word ‘sex’ as naughty., don't be pathetic.

Sam Smith you say? Make mine a pint please.

Now I don't like the bloke for many reasons but isn't asking to be referred to as 'they' implying that there is more than one?

"My friend was in hospital."
"Oh, I hope they are okay."

Is perfectly normal language and doesn't imply I have multiple friends in hospital. HTH.

What is the alternative? It? That's much worse. As other people have mentioned, the word 'they' can be applied to a single person.

No it wasn't faux confusion, it was a genuine question to which I wanted opinions. I don't like him, I never have, and that's up to me. I can criticise him all I want also. I don't need to come up with a thread to feign confusion in order to do so. If that was my aim I would have titled the thread 'Tell me why you dislike Sam Smith' I would have then listed all of the reasons why I can't stand him.

I don’t understand it but if it makes them happy I’ll use it if I ever meet Sam Smith
Well if you actually met Sam face to face you wouldn't be likely to use pronouns.
Though you could say "I met Sam Smith yesterday. They were really nice" but that would not make Sam happy surely as they would not know you'd done it? Usefulness seems restricted to speaking or writing about someone who is not present, but who might overhear/read it and thus be upset if you got it wrong.

Op - this is very common usage now in many workplaces. Struggling to believe you really don't know that?

How would you address Sam Smith formally in person or by letter? I’m not likely to do either but I’m curious how to this without unwittingly causing offence.

When people refer to me as a she/her etc they are surely using a pronoun referencing my sex. I have no personal identification with a gender stereotype so if pronouns are about gender not sex I'd better change mine too.