An "I'm Spartacus" phrase that almost everyone would sign up to?

[worstofbothworlds]

I'm wondering if it would be possible to have a phrase for the "I don't understand but this is madness" friends and colleagues of those who are being harassed and ostracized?
Or is everyone who hasn't looked into gender ideology too cautious?
I'm pretty sure 99% of people don't believe humans can change sex but would they actually stand up in a meeting or put in their email signatures "my name is Dave and I don't believe humans can change sex"?

I am not really thinking "what can we GC people say to point out the folly of GI views".
I am really thinking "what would everyone who isn't captured agree with to point out that we are in the majority". Like everyone would say "do we really need to point out we agree the world is round?". Well, in a climate where we are harassed or told we aren't kind for saying just that, if 90% of people said this openly and frequently, perhaps the harassers would work out they are in the minority.

"what would everyone who isn't captured agree with to point out that we are in the majority"

Some specifics:

• rapists being put in women's jails, most people will also agree they're in no way women and shouldn't be referred to as such.
• sports, most people can readily understand why it's unfair and often unsafe for males to be allowed in women's and girls' sports

Can you see people putting these in their Twitter bios/email signatures?
Prof Smith, FRS, men shouldn't be in women's prisons.
Prof Smith, FRS, he/him
Prof Smith, FRS, men shouldn't be in women's sports

Gender is sexist.

The thing is, it's not up to us to have to spend extra time or effort to point out the obvious.

"I'm a sex realist" isn't needed.

The base position is that you can't change sex and sex matters. That is in law. That is basic science.

So absence of pronouns is better than adding some sort of catchphrase.

It's not our side that came up with this bs.

I'm an atheist but I don't put any signifying phrase in signatures. An extremely religious person might.

No, if Prof Smith is an FRS then he should have more sense than to add pronouns or anything relating to their beliefs or politics to his signature.

The position we are in today in 2024, it's highly likely that as much is signalled in the absence of pronouns than the presence of them.

If present it's likely to be either aggressive edi training, going along with the trend or truly believe.

There are very few places that haven't be EDI'd now.

Reality.
It's a thing.

I think civilians do find an absence of pronouns or any signifiers as evidence that the person knows it's all a load of old bollocks now though. Its the same in IT. Few of the woke brigade have he/him or they/them pronouns and everybody else just ignores the boxes inviting you to add pronouns.

I do feel sorry for people that have been compelled in their workplace to put them though.

in terms of the equivalent of gravity exists.

E-mail sign off suggestion:
Reality is everything that is still there when you stop believing in it.

For dropping into general conversation.

Sex is real and it certainly impacts what is and isn't possible or reasonable in some situations. Men and women can do whatever makes them happy and comfortable, but only up to a point, some things aren't possible, some expectations aren't reasonable.

What's a good response to being asked to introduce yourself in a group setting and what are your pronouns, like on a training course for example, incase it ever happens?

I want to say I don't have them but if course grammar does exist and I would expect people to use she and her when talking about me. I'd of course use I and me.

I've never had to but I have thought about it a bit and I suspect if I was in that situation I would say (UK)

"I'm not comfortable doing that"

I'm not sure how much pushback I'd face but follow ups if pushed...

"I understand why you think it's a good idea but I don't agree and think it's better not to"

and if pushed again

"some people here may well be wrestling with their gender identity for all I know but they certainly shouldn't be pressured to come out before they want to or to claim pronouns they aren't actually 100% comfortable with. Equally some people might be gender critical as they have a legally protected right to be. A ritual where people are pressured to publicly declare their pronouns risks making both gender critical and trans people self conscious and uncomfortable and is clearly misjudged as an icebreaker."

if 90% of people said this openly and frequently, perhaps the harassers would work out they are in the minority.

Yes but then they feel paranoid and persecuted ... and therefore justified in harassment.

Indeed, but students and some "be kind" colleagues think everyone agrees with them apart from these few nasty middle aged witches who dare to differ.
If everyone who believed in reality stated they believed in it, in solidarity with their colleagues who are getting harassed, the "I can't cope with reality" brigade might realise they aren't in the majority.
Hence "I am Spartacus".

I'm not sure that most people have even given it much thought though. They don't grapple with the issues any further than "I don't want people thinking I'm a bigot/homophobic" so they then adopt the "be kind" route.

I'm concerned we are in an echo chamber as much as they are.

When asked for pronouns I just say I'm not religious.

I suppose we should be grateful that they can name some grammatical terms, their education wasn't completely wasted.

Is there any push-back from languages with gendered nouns?
Are the French and Germans assuming that their tables are gender fluid rather than assuming you haven't learned the language properly?

My heart always sinks a bit when I see pronouns on e-mails, especially when I know it's optional for that workplace/person.
As pp said, their absence is telling.

I think if you are asked to state pronouns in a meeting/ training etc saying 'I'm not comfortable stating pronouns' is a good response and if pushed further keep stating 'I'm not comfortable with this'.

I think adding anything to your email signature beyond name and job title makes you look immature and unprofessional. We shouldn't be staying out beliefs at the end of our emails. It's not relevant or appropriate.

I'm inclined to agree but there are at least two professors in my department (both completely conforming in dress and appearance, though the female one not a doormat) who have pronouns in their signatures.

The pronouns are not "mine". Compelled speech is a bad thing. You should use the pronoun you deem most appropriate.

Kind regards,
Garlic Cloves
(I don't control your words)

Kind regards,
Garlic Cloves
(Sex matters)

Kind regards,
Garlic Cloves
(gender abolitionist)

Kind regards,
Garlic Cloves
Empress/Queen

Kind regards,
Garlic Cloves
no/thank/you

... ... ...

Tell them your adjectives are 'amazing/ wonderful/ excellent'

If they think that's ridiculous, ask why it makes any more grammatical sense to specify your own pronouns.

I'll no sooner add pronouns to my email signature than I will my position on religion, my marital status, the number of children I have or whether I'm disabled.

Because it is not relevant to the content of the email or the interaction represented by it.

Also because at some stage, any / all of those have been used to discriminate against ... females in the workplace.

I will not be complicit in my own eradication.