The NSA and the GCHQ have infiltrated Salem

[dageir]

I dont think any man or woman would like to be called it. Thats what you call a dirty stray dog.

[Shill]

Always remember that you cant know anyones gender on the internet. In stead of he/she we need a neutral identifier like ho, hu or just e.

We have one: it

True. Although that has not always been the case. It is for all apparent reasons, a rather modern invention.

A study has shown that "there was a rather extended period of time in the history of the English language when the choice of a supposedly masculine personal pronoun (him) said nothing about the gender or sex of the referent."

The use of "he" to refer to a person of unknown gender was often prescribed by manuals of style and school textbooks from the early 18th century until around the 1960s, an early example of which is Anne Fisher's 1745 grammar book "A New Grammar".

A good student always does his homework.
If someone asks you for help, give it to him.
When a customer argues, always agree with him.

This may be compared to usage of the word man to humans in general.

"All men are created equal." - Declaration of Independence
"That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." - Neil Armstrong
"Man cannot live by bread alone." - Holy Bible

With Regards,

Shill the Thief

[DarkNacht]

I dont think any man or woman would like to be called it. Thats what you call a dirty stray dog.

It:
2. used to represent a person or animal understood, previously mentioned, or about to be mentioned whose gender is unknown or disregarded

Your person dislike for the word has nothing to do with its accusal meaning. There is no need to invent a new word for something that we already have a word for and there is nothing derogatory about the word when it is used correctly.

[dageir]

So you prefer to be called "it"?

[Amour_Vulpes]

-Scissors.-

Why that just sounds completely and utterly reasonable.

[colesie]

shut up Claeyt

[Mushibag]

Shut up, colesie.

[colesie]

Shut up Mushi Baggins

[DarkNacht]

So you prefer to be called "it"?

I am a male, but it would be an appropriate pronoun if my gender was unknown, unclear, or neither male or female. So if Amour_Vulpes does not want to have a known gender then the appropriate term would be it. I do not see why this is even being argued, its not a slang or derogatory term, its a standard part of the language.

Shut up colesie

[jcwilk]

So you prefer to be called "it"?

I am a male, but it would be an appropriate pronoun if my gender was unknown, unclear, or neither male or female. So if Amour_Vulpes does not want to have a known gender then the appropriate term would be it. I do not see why this is even being argued, its not a slang or derogatory term, its a standard part of the language.

Shut up colesie

"it", while correct, does have negative connotations attached to it when applied to a person. Just like you could call someone an oily, fleshy, germ-infested mammal, which would technically also be correct but would likely be perceived as disrespectful. It's a shortcoming of the language, imo, I personally hate that we have gender specific pronouns... It seems totally stupid and perhaps outright sexist, it shouldn't be necessary to point out someone's gender just to refer to them. That being said, one of the things I enjoy about this community, for better or worse, is the lack of political-correctness Sorry AV, I think your expectations are a wee bit too high ;P