Brethern*, Adieu

[MiserereNobis]

9 minutes ago, Calm said:

Fear not, PC has nothing to do with my word play.  The inconstancy of English, its ambiguity, its malleability…the best toys are free.

 

I would love it if my students refuted me when I corrected their grammar by pointing to William and the Werewolf.

 

Grammar. It's the difference between knowing your sh*t and knowing you're sh*t.

[The Nehor]

2 minutes ago, ksfisher said:

I'm apparently lacking the social graces of a 14th century peasant.

Probably a good thing. If you had those social graces you would probably be a bit neurotic trying to find the aristocracy you are supposed to be bowing to and deferring to.

[ksfisher]

2 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said:

Why not replace all singular, gender-specific pronouns with forms of the pronoun it? Thus, not only do you avoid the problem of indeterminate gender, but you have only three words to deal with (it, its, itself) instead of five (they, them, their, theirs, themselves). And you wouldn’t seem weirdly like you’re referring to two or more individuals when you really mean only one. 
 

Of course, that in itself would take some getting used to. But hey, let the language evolve, right? 🙄 

 

It is what you call things (trees, machines, rocks, etc).  I think calling someone an it dehumanizes them.

[ksfisher]

Just now, The Nehor said:

Probably a good thing. If you had those social graces you would probably be a bit neurotic trying to find the aristocracy you are supposed to be bowing to and deferring to.

[Calm]

3 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said:

Calm doesn’t much like it either — at least that’s what they said in their post. They called it “new-fangled silliness.”

Given the past times you have been tempted to guess my preferences, I suggest when you start a sentence, Scott, with “ Calm doesn’t much like…”, it is in your best interest to reconsider posting it, unless you enjoy being very wrong.

[Calm]

10 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said:

Not sure we can afford to be that cavalier. Much that is important — even vital — depends on good communication. 

Time and place for everything, even play.

[Chum]

5 minutes ago, Calm said:

“ Calm doesn’t much like…”,

Freeform vuvuzela concertos

[Chum]

8 minutes ago, Calm said:

“ Calm doesn’t much like…”

Her new Mother's Lounge Attendant calling

[Scott Lloyd]

1 hour ago, Vanguard said:

Then you'd be ok with going back to using he/his/him in writing when referring to either gender? Hmmmm?? ; )

 

19 minutes ago, Amulek said:

I would be okay with that. It's how I was taught and, honestly, what I prefer.

Though, to be fair, I was taught to just pick a single gender and stick with it - not that the gender had to be masculine - so I would be completely fine with she/her/hers as well.

 

As an accommodation to second-wave feminism, I’ve taken to saying “he or she” and “his or her.” But if an attitude such as Nehor’s were to spread — that plural pronouns are acceptable even when the gender of the individual is determined — I just might rebel by going back to using one set of gender-specific pronouns to refer to both genders. 

Edited September 30, 2021 by Scott Lloyd

[Scott Lloyd]

12 minutes ago, ksfisher said:

It is what you call things (trees, machines, rocks, etc).  I think calling someone an it dehumanizes them.

I know. It was a tongue-in-cheek comparison to highlight the fallacy in Nehor’s reasoning. 

[Vanguard]

Wow! This is FD's most popular thread! Thanks, FD! ;o

[Chum]

12 minutes ago, Calm said:

“ Calm doesn’t much like…”

Her roommate's service wombat that was just diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder

[Chum]

16 minutes ago, Calm said:

“ Calm doesn’t much like…”

This sad excuse for a meme

[Scott Lloyd]

23 minutes ago, Calm said:

Given the past times you have been tempted to guess my preferences, I suggest when you start a sentence, Scott, with “ Calm doesn’t much like…”, it is in your best interest to reconsider posting it, unless you enjoy being very wrong.

You’re just going to ignore the deliberate and illustrative awkwardness in my referring to you with “they” and “their,” then? That was the point of my post, not trying to guess your preferences (although, when somebody calls something “new-fangled silliness,” it’s generally a safe assumption that he or she doesn’t much care for it). 

Edited September 30, 2021 by Scott Lloyd

[Chum]

2 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said:

instead of five (they, them, their, theirs, themselves)

My cash is on Youse. Chai drinkers might add the apostrophe.

[Scott Lloyd]

11 minutes ago, Chum said:

My cash is on Youse. Chai drinkers might add the apostrophe.

Have to say your past half-dozen or so posts have not made any sense to me. 

[Vanguard]

1 minute ago, Scott Lloyd said:

Have to say your past half-dozen or so posts have not made any sense to me. 

Ditto!

[Chum]

1 minute ago, Scott Lloyd said:

Have to say your past half-dozen or so posts have not made any sense to me. 

Youse is Gambino-speak for You. It's quite versatile. Like marriage, it can be singular or plural.

The other posts can only be decoded by @Calm.

[Bernard Gui]

Just remember, adieu is a commonly used English word. It means I commend you to God. 

[Bernard Gui]

46 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said:

I know. It was a tongue-in-cheek comparison to highlight the fallacy in Nehor’s reasoning. 

But it’s common usage in Spanish. Su means his, her, your, its.  And don’t even dare to bring up the idiotic LatinX.

 

 

[pogi]

20 hours ago, Fair Dinkum said:

And I, Fair Dinkum, saw that I must soon go down to my grave were I to remain here; wherefore, I said unto my friendimies on MD&D: Take these words. And I told you the things in my heart, and I honestly tried to seek understanding and answers to difficult questions.  And I make an end of my posting here upon this board, which posting has been small compared to @smac97 @Scott Lloyd @Robert F. Smith but especially when compared to @Calm; and to the reader I bid farewell, hoping that many of my brethren may read my words. Brethren*, adieu.

*and of course like any good Mormon man when I say Brethren, inferred in that term, women instinctively know we men mean Sisters too, right? We just can't say the actual words, but you all understand.

Lame...

I enjoyed your presence.  You kept thing interesting. 

You can check out, but you can never leave (both Mormonism and this board).  So, we'll see you back here next week? I look forward to it. 

[Amulek]

11 minutes ago, Bernard Gui said:

And don’t even dare to bring up the idiotic LatinX.

I promise not to bring it up - not to any Juan.

 

[Peacefully]

1 hour ago, Scott Lloyd said:

Not sure we can afford to be that cavalier. Much that is important — even vital — depends on good communication. 

I agree with Calm. Plus I like your idea, Scott. Ye olde Middle English is the best English:)

[Scott Lloyd]

24 minutes ago, Bernard Gui said:

Just remember, adieu is a commonly used English word. It means I commend you to God. 

As do “goodbye” and “adios”. 

[Bernard Gui]

6 minutes ago, Amulek said:

I promise not to bring it up - not to any Juan.

 

Jaja! Or my Tia Juana?