International Pronouns Day

[TartanLassie]

Message from the local education establishment.
So many things I want to say .....

Today is International Pronouns Day and we’re inviting you to celebrate it with us.

Using the correct pronoun (she/he/they) is incredibly important to members of the trans and gender non-conforming community. In fact, being called the wrong pronoun can be particularly harmful to their mental health and wellbeing, but it can be hard for people to share their pronoun when it isn’t something everyone does.

Many people use traditional “he/she” and “his/hers” pronouns, but some prefer to use “they/them”. Additionally some people change their pronouns depending on how they feel – you’ll sometimes see people use “she/they”.

Here are some things that you can do to help:
• Have a look at this website: https://www.mypronouns.org//_ It contains useful information on why it matters and how to use inclusive language
• Consider adding your pronouns to your email signature This helps to normalise the practice, making it easier for people who do not use gendered pronouns to use theirs. (This can also be useful for people with a name which isn’t necessarily male or female, like Sam)
• Consider putting your preferred pronouns in your social media bios
• When meeting new people or introducing yourself to a group for the first time, perhaps think about introducing yourself including your pronouns.
• In the same way, start to avoid assuming the pronouns that people use – if in doubt ask, or use the non-gender specific ‘they’ until you’re sure
• If you use the wrong pronoun by mistake, it is ok to apologise, ask or thank the person for clarification, and move on
• Gently correct people who are using the wrong pronoun to describe someone

There's an interesting post on FPFW under guest posts about how the use of pronouns affects perception....

Oh yes barracker's (formerly of this parish) excellent article.

I'm sure we can post a link: fairplayforwomen.com/pronouns/

I have clicked and read the link provided in the first post.

The writers have obviously made a huge effort to ensure that the photographs illustrating the article are inclusive . Which is admirable. Except that every single person pictured in the article is young. No older people at all, not even a —token— single over thirty someone.

Clearly as a demographic my generation is not important when it comes to pronouns, which is a shame because as we all know us older folk (which is a word I don’t use but which sadly appears in the article) have lots of nouns and adverbs of our very own, mostly derogatory, so could probably deal quite well with other peoples pronouns.

I don’t know whether to be hurt and affronted or relieved at the authors blanking of my demographic. I think I will go with relieved because there are enough people being hurt and affronted over very little these days and I would rather save my hurt and affronted feelings for things that are really hurtful and damaging and important.

It’s like Emos. You never saw one past their teens and rarely see any now.

@FairFridaythe13th

The poor kid used on the NHS twitter has tiger-stripes all down their arm. Looks like some nasty self harm cuts.

Of course it may not be. But it looks like it. I’d be focussing on that
if I was their parent/doctor.

The ‘poor kid’ in the photo is the NHS’s “ LGBT Staff Network’s trans and non-binary lead”. And I am blocked on Twitter despite never having interacted with them. I therefore feel no need to listen to anything they say.

Everyone in my department ignored it completely.

@9toenails Elizabeth Anscombe is a fascinating writer: I shall try to dig that one out and have a read.

This morning I've seen someone use the word 'folx' non-ironically. I think as some gender-inclusive virtue signalling.

I am so sick of this shit.

I just don’t feel obliged. Why should I? It seems very much a trend for the young and self inflated ego-Ed. Not in my sphere at all.

Of course as a trained therapist, I’d feel the need to delve...

As in - listen politely, but not offer any for myself.

Eddyself has blocked me too? What have they to hide - considering I have tweeted 3 times ever (about cheese and a cat).

I'd love to see a group of women at a Labour Conference wearing dresses and make up, introduce themselves with he/him pronouns.

I feel just awful for that autistic man who was convicted. A young neighbor with autism frequently asks me when my baby is due and I tell him, "She came ten years ago, but my tummy still remembers her." As much as I personally hate my little pouch in front, I couldn't imagine being upset with him for mis-gestating me!

He's the most lovely young person btw...always reminds me if I've got a package out front because he tracks the delivery vans. Boils me to think of police poorly treating him for stating out loud what we all are thinking inside! But that's the gist, isn't it...imposed mental gymnastics.

That would be an interesting judicial review, actually. Who's rights matter most?

Many autistic people are going to be unable to follow the social rules required of us for the inclusion policies.

Being neurodiverse is not a crime and should people should not be penalised for it.

It's totally outrageous and this is not how I want society to treat autistic people.

www.adultistic.com/news/teen-aspergers-charged-hate-crime-transgender-officer

You are kind to your neighbour, Delphinium, thank you.

He sounds like exactly the sort of person who is vulnerable to being accused of a hate crime. He's asking a socially inappropriate question of you, without malice, which might hurt your feelings, and he is not doing anything malicious.

And, he is useful, tracking delivery vans sounds like something he could charge for!

I have neurodiverse kids. They operate well socially - but, jeezo, that was a confronting case.

The ‘poor kid’ in the photo is the NHS’s “ LGBT Staff Network’s trans and non-binary lead”. And I am blocked on Twitter despite never having interacted with them. I therefore feel no need to listen to anything they say

Ooh me too. I've never posted a single tweet and never seen him before.

@LastTrainEast

I'm exempt because I'm an atheist. I'll use he/him for men and she/her for women. I didn't join the Catholic church, I didn't join the Moonies and I'm not joining this one either.

Hallemotherfuckinglujah!

Same (if you couldn't tell).

@vivariumvivariumsvivaria

You are kind to your neighbour, Delphinium, thank you.

He sounds like exactly the sort of person who is vulnerable to being accused of a hate crime. He's asking a socially inappropriate question of you, without malice, which might hurt your feelings, and he is not doing anything malicious.

And, he is useful, tracking delivery vans sounds like something he could charge for!

I have neurodiverse kids. They operate well socially - but, jeezo, that was a confronting case.

Yes and yes and yes.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the unindoctrinated neurodivergent individuals are at least in part our light at the end of this dark tunnel.

So many of the adults of tomorrow have been/are being indoctrinated with a certainty of sporting immature frontal lobes post-25yrs old. The neurodivergent will likely be some of the few influential pragmatists unflinching in the indoctrinated's insistence that they sin for speaking reality. Evolution never stops, and while the indoctrinated appear to be de-evolving the minds of our neurodivergent populations may be our last bastions of actual innovation - stripped of concern about social convention/status they are truth in action. In this time of uncertainty, truth is paramount and to be celebrated regardless of delivery.

The neurotypical often cower in the face of embarrassment or risk, that weakness leaves them excessively vulnerable to following mob rule and espousing the kindness of their indoctrination. Vulnerable but strong in conviction the unindoctrinated neurodivergent of today (and tomorrow) are perhaps a large portion of the bridge foundation to better human existence in the future.

I do hope so, Fire

It is interesting that there is a higher percentage of young neurodiverse females presenting with gender issues, and simultaneously, there are neurodiverse people who just say "".

Perhaps this will all lead to a greater understanding of brains.

What are international pronouns anyway?

It’s good that they’re focusing on the perceived literary violence an incorrect pronoun can cause instead of the literal violence that kills thousands of women every day. Priorities. Priorities.

@Dreeple

What are international pronouns anyway?

Eu, eu, eu.

As opposed to the old-fashioned bigoted kind (see Brexit threads passim) of uk, uk, uk.

(Cheap joke I know... but couldn't resist.)