To shriek from the rooftops that there is No Such Thing as “preferred pronouns”?

[Ddakji]

That’s it.

They don’t exist - any more than preferred adjectives, adverbs or nouns exist.

Even people who don’t like them still seem to think they exist.

Language is a shared, collective endeavour that belongs to all. It’s not a pick’n’mix for individuals to choose and change at will. For words not to be garbage they have clear definitions - in this case she for females, he for males, they (singular) for sex unknown.

Saying my preferred pronouns are she/her, even if that doesn’t fly in the face of reality, is no different to saying my preferred species is human, my preferred adjectives are sporty and lush.

It’s nonsense. Nothing to do with being kind or they don’t affect me, or I don’t mind if others do but I won’t. It’s nonsense.

Let’s make 2025 the year we kick this nonsense into touch.

Jesus, don’t use preferred pronouns if you don’t want to then and see what consequences it will have, it’s your decision

The rest of us will make up our own minds on the matter

Why would not using a false concept have any consequences? That sounds slightly threatening.

I think we will actually see a slow backing away from this, now that we’ve finally realised that words have definitions and those definitions matters, with the Supreme Court judgement.

In the meantime, of course others can use them. And I can carry on thinking them fools or people who support a sexist, homophobic ideology, and think that of the organisation they represent.

Why would not using a false concept have any consequences? That sounds slightly threatening.

It may or may not but if you really don’t want to use them then don’t, simple really

But what consequences did you mean? I mean, you said it, what did you mean by it?

Jesus there could be many consequences depending on the circumstances eg, in the workplace a complaint could be made to HR if you don’t use preferred pronouns etc etc

If I prefer to be called Cat instead of Catrina that's my preference why does it bother anyone what someone else prefers to be called.

Hmm interesting. I'm going to put my pronouns as yaas/queen on my signature and complain to HR when people don't use them.

Do you think such a complaint, about a refusal to put personal information in a work signature, information that draws attanerion to my sex which is shown to be detrimental to women in the workplace, and shows adherence to a belief, or ideological or political position, would stand up?

Do you think organizations should mandate adding “preferred pronouns” to email signatures?

(For context, my workplace doesn’t mandate this. They don’t stop others (predominantly young women) doing it. Very noticeable that none of the SLT do it.)

I’m not talking about names. I think that’s quite clear from my posts.

But it's the same ... Preferences on how people want to be called

That’s an issue that should be addressed if so. Compelled speech isn’t the right way to go.

Hopefully the Supreme Court ruling will start to filter through on this.

It isn’t mandated in our company to put preferred pronouns on our signatures and we don’t, If someone did decide to use preferred pronouns though I think you would be expected to use them and if you didn’t it could be reason for a complaint to be made against you, it’s all about respect

No, it isn’t. Your name or yours to do with what you choose. Full version, short version, spell it how you like, pronounce it how you like, change it if you like.

Pronouns are part of language, and language doesn’t belong to individuals to chop and change as they choose. For words to be understood they need clear definitions, and definitions are by their nature exclusionary. Third person pronouns have definitions - she for female, he for male. It’s not a choice or preference. If you are talking about someone male it’s “he”. Just as if you’re talking about a banana, it’s “banana”. You’re not choosing to call a banana a banana, you’re not preferring to call a banana a banana.

Edited to add:

TL;DR - proper nouns and pronouns aren’t the same thing.

That is compelled speech and I wonder how it would go at a tribunal

Do you think in the light of all the recent judgements such a complaint would stand up? What you are suggesting is mandated compelled speech in the workplace. That’s not respect.

It also suggests that “preferred” has segued into “mandated” or “compelled”, making it clear that there’s no “preference” about it - use my chosen words or face the consequences. Which is of course the whole point.

Like I keep saying - words have meaning.

Don’t know but I have no intention of testing it as at the end of the day, the using of preferred pronouns is not a big deal for me and dealing with possible consequences of not using them is not a hill I could be bothered dying on as I generally prefer to focus on things that I consider to be bigger issues, if other people want to test it out that’s their prerogative

Test it out then and see what happens, it’s entirely up to you

The Supreme Court ruling should help but the idea you can be disciplined or worse in a job for not following a harmful ideology has to be over.

If the SC can say biological male then anyone can. No repercussions.

I’m asking you. Because you brought it up.

You’re very unwilling to back up the statement you make.

OP - you have a point to make, and you’ve made it. Quite a few times now.
People disagree with you, and not just because your OP was badly phrased and naturally incorrect as a result, but also because they feel differently about trans issues than you do.

The answer to your original question is that it is unreasonable to shriek your view from the rooftops. That is not how you persuade people; that’s how you alienate them and make them think you are ranty and unreasonable as you refuse to acknowledge differences of opinion. [Before you reply saying it isn’t a matter of opinion, sex is binary etc, I’m not talking about sex, I’m talking about what allowances people are prepared to make for other individuals in order to be kind/respectful]

On your point about language - it does change and evolve all the time. You keep using a banana as an example, but I could equally refer to the words ‘sick’, or ‘gay’ (amongst many others). They have markedly different meanings today than they’ve had in the past.

You clearly feel very strongly about trans issues (as do I), but your arguments need more nuance and diplomacy if you wish to persuade others.
If you don’t wish to persuade, but are rather just aiming to annoy and agitate, then continue as you are.

Bugger off.
Non of your business what l or anyone else does.
New words emerge all the time.. shall we not use those either.
You do you.. idiot

Jesus, nobody knows for sure as yet as there doesn’t ( to my knowledge) seem to be a precedent, I said there could possibly be consequences which one may have to deal with if they decide not to use them!

You only have to watch tiktok videos for half an hour to watch people going out of their way to be misgendered and then screeching about it. It's beyond tedious.

So if there could be a consequence, that rather negates this being an issue of preference. It’s a demand.