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.

Timetest I'm sure Sam would be happy to let you know

timetest - that's interesting - I wouldn't know which title to use.

@Cambionome I honestly did not know this was even a thing let alone how common it was. It hasn't arisen in my workplace. I was genuinely reading the thread on AIBU where a poster asked who their guilty pleasure was. Someone mentioned Sam Smith and referred to Sam as 'they' instead of 'he' which I then googled to find out.

www.mumsnet.com/SearchArch?mustmatch=sam+smith&dontmatch=&nickname=&src_displ_option=s_t_d_t&fromDate=&toDate=&topicmode=All

Here you go OP.

Who does he think he is? Why are some people these days always trying to draw attention to themselves somehow? Really pathetic.

They makes perfect sense when you don't know the sex of the person you're talking about. It sounds absurd when you do.

The idea that someone can dictate what pronouns you use about them when they're not even in earshot is the height of narcissistic navel gazing. IMHO

In fairness to the OP, ‘they is’ sounds very clumsy,

Well yes, if my friend asked me what my daughter had been up to that day, I wouldn't reply with, 'they drew a picture, or' they had fun playing in the garden today'.

@timetest Dear They Sam Smith?

Ouch! Are you feeling rather sensitive, SoupDragon? There, there, pet. Calm down, before you commit literal murder.

"They" as singular is fine, but sometimes it requires the writer/ speaker to rethink ways of communicating so its use is not confusing.

@SoupDragon I just searched chambers for the definition of 'they' and this came up

theypronoun1the people, animals or things already spoken about, being indicated, or known from the context.2people in general.3people in authority.4colloqhe or she •Anyone can help if they want.
ETYMOLOGY:12c: from Norsetheir.

It's modern short-hand for "I am an attention-seeking twat with a questionable grip on material reality."

This. Sam Smith is a prize twat.

Pumpkin. Dear They sounds clumsy. Dear Sir and Madam (DH’s suggestion) looks a bit goady. There must be a more elegant form of address.

@timetest Well a bit more googling (a luxury time seldom allows) has taught me that another term for people who don't identify as he or she etc. is 'Everyone', so many Dear Everyone Sam Smith?

Maybe*

Well if you actually met Sam face to face you wouldn't be likely to use pronouns.

Actually you might well use the pronoun 'you'. But yes, you'd be unlikely to have to choose whether to use 'she/he/them' if addresssing him. Ooops. I mean 'them'.

How would you address Sam Smith formally in person or by letter?

Some suggestions:
Sam
Dear Sam
Sam Smith, XXX Street, XX99XX

Also if in doubt ask

On a serious note, I don't see why we, society as a whole should be forced to redefine the meanings of certain pronouns like 'they' and 'them' to include the definition of non-binary genders, surely it would be easier for people who don't identify as he or she to change the definition of those words to suit themselves.

Are you truly that ignorant OP or just trying to start a bun fight ?

It's not redefining, there's always been a singular they

@aretheystillasleepbob No, not trying to start a fight, I genuinely just learned this today. Not deliberately ignorant, I've just never come across it before.

My DB worked with Sam Smith last year. He said, and I quote:

"They's a very silly person"

They = is an egotistical twat = Sam Smith