Hi guys! You don’t mind if I call you guys, right?

[noblegiraffe]

Just out of interest, if you are female:

YABU: yes, I do mind being referred to in a group as guys, even if it’s just a minor niggle that I will never bring up.

YANBU: I don’t give a toss if you refer to me in a group as a guys. It’s a gender-neutral word these days.

What would happen if you started calling everyone ‘gals’ instead, laidback?

Would the people objecting be uptight then too?

I object. Politely, and lightheartedly, but I suggest that there are women here too. But then I work in an industry where it's common for someone to address the group as "gentlemen". I also object to that. I am not a guy, or a gentleman.

Gender neutral for me

Everyday sexism - male as default

Females referred to by a male descriptor should be grateful whilst males referred to by a female descriptor are being mocked

I use the word guys simply for a group of people matter what gender they are.

I do not mind it in the slightest.

I’m a Senior Manager myself, and I use it. If someone was offended by it and told me, I’d stop.

I find it more gender neutral and inclusive than walking into a room and saying ‘Morning Ladies’ etc.

I object if someone calls me 'guys'. I also tell the DC off if they say it. Using the masculine term erases women. There are plenty of alternatives, the most straightforward of which is 'everyone', but depending on context one of the following should work and is really properly gender neutral: folk, people, colleagues, children, kids, all of you, team. You could even try not using a collective term at all, e.g. instead of saying 'hey guys, how's your meal' you could try 'hello, I'm your waiter/ress, I hope you are enjoying your meal'.

I don't find it gender neutral. It annoys me.

I don't mind being called guys and it's what I would instinctively say myself. But since some coworkers took the Mick out of me for saying it, I've switched to a Dr Nick style "Hi everybody!"

I can't stand it and blame those chirpy tv presenters on entertainment programmes with their 'Hi guyyyyyyz' for slavishly picking up every Americanism and spreading it. Now you will even hear presenters on political programmes addressing a couple of MP guests, one female and one male, as you guys (infuriating, even more than the chirpers) and Prince Harry doing the same when he is pontificating to a crowd of young people. The publicly funded broadcaster should be using English rather than American and a degree of polite formality.
For generally addressing a group in the workplace or school, what's wrong with the old Plod greeting 'Evening, all'?
The mind boggles at people / women claiming you guys is gender neutral. It's subsuming women in the male category. Is it any wonder that kind of grab is going beyond mere language to now claiming womanhood?

I remember at uni that I had a friend that called everybody guys. You'd answer the phone and he'd be like 'hey guys, it's John.' Eventually we all started answering his calls with, 'hey John, it's guys.'

But no, I have no issue with guys, nor with dude or mate or even really bro in the right circumstances.

I've got to be honest, it annoys the absolute shit out of me.
Back in the (seemingly distant) past when we've gone out to eat as a family/friends group, the server pops up with a "hi guys" then it's "can I get you guys a drink"? then "are you guys ready to order"?
I just think it's unnecessary, and it's so over-used.
Hello. Can I get you some drinks? Are you all ready to order? Much better.

I'm not offended by it, just irritated.

It doesn't bother me in a group setting. It bothers me when my DC say, they say it often "hey do you guys want to play ball" from watching YouTube.
They have limited internet time yet still come out with many American phrases my shirt my pants etc.
I keep reminding DD pants are knickers in Ireland.

I thought this was settled by the end of the 1970s; it's gender-neutral. I don't say it much in UK because I'm American & British ppl are snooty about Americanisms.

I went to an all-girls school and “hi guys” was common. It surprised me when I realised not everyone saw it as a gender neutral term.

I don't mind enough to object. But it is annoying. Reminds me of every poster on YT or whatever "hi guys, blabba, blabba blabba"

The reason I don't like it is people say guys is now "gender neutral" but I hear/see it as yet another example of the default "neutral" being male. When mixed groups and groups of men are happy to also be called girls/gals I'll believe in the "no biggie it's neutral" trope.

Guys is only "neutral" because it originates in masculinity. And yes that is very fucking annoying.

It would only be gender neutral if one guy could be male or female, and it’s definitely male.

On this thread we have seen women in groups also referred to as chaps, fellas and lads. Again, all male terms.

It’s not gender neutral, it’s just women not minding that they’re being overlooked/misgendered. Possibly, because also according to this thread, they will be seen as uptight if they do mind.

Men do not suffer this issue.

I refer to my DC as guys.... as in 'come on guys' I have one of each. I have no idea why as I wouldn't use it on adults

I use it and it annoys me because I'm pretty sure i picked it up from Friends, and I don't like admitting how much that show has influenced me. I'm not even a superfan, it was just the only thing to watch after school when i was a teenager and now I'm stuck with American phrases in my speech.

What’s also a bit depressing is women preferring to be called by a crap male term, than by ladies which is at least the right sex.

I agree OP.

It doesn't offend me but I do find the word quite irritating. Same goes for folks. I tend to use "everyone" if I have to address a group.

I use 'guys' too. Probably offending people unintentionally, oh well, can't please 'em all

It doesn’t bother me in the slightest... there are far worse things to be offended by.

You do understand that language evolves, op? It's clearly not seen as a male term anymore.