alt-text: [yellow text saying “different pronouns in different spaces” next to the queer anarchist flag and on a 2d digital art wooden background]

  • t3rmit3@beehaw.org
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    3 months ago

    So if I’m I’m understanding the idea correctly, it would be something like (for me)

    • I use he/him for my friend group, who I expect to have a personal relationship with me
    • I use they/them (singular) in the workplace, where I am a peer but not really a personal acquaintance
    • I use they/it online, where who or what I am is unimportant to anyone but me (it’s my choice whether to divulge info about myself)

    I see the logic there, and I think it almost feels like treating all pronouns as neopronouns, where each pronoun set embodies a different aspect of your Self: my work self’s pronouns, my home self’s pronouns, etc etc.

    I think the biggest pushback you’ll see from this is that most people aren’t comfortable with using varying pronoun sets, and definitely not for ‘trad’ pronouns.

    • jarfil@beehaw.org
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      3 months ago

      Why “they/it” instead of also “they/them”?

      I was under the impression that “they/them” were the already established pronouns when gender is irrelevant.

      • t3rmit3@beehaw.org
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        3 months ago

        I was just using that as an example, since I already listed they/them as the second pronoun set

        • jarfil@beehaw.org
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          3 months ago

          I get that, I’m just trying to understand the difference between /them and /it in that example. I feel like “them” is more generic than “it”, so I feel like “them” would be a better fit in a space where it’s nobody’s business, the same as in a professional setting.

          Am I mistaken or missing something?

          • t3rmit3@beehaw.org
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            3 months ago

            I feel like “them” is more generic than “it”

            That’s interesting. I hadn’t really thought of them in terms of comfort level needed to use them with others, and after considering it I think you’re probably right.

    • Taleya
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      3 months ago

      It’s standard queer code switching. You adjust your language based on what various social circles will tolerate