[thesuperbigfrog]

>> I have taken to referring to everyone as "they". It's much easier than trying to remember individual pronouns for everyone. It doesn't really seem reasonable to me for people to be bothered by this. Your view is that people must refer to your gender when speaking about you?

What is the point of specifying pronouns then? Isn't this just a lazy form of misgendering?

Instead of using someone's name you could just refer to everyone as "Hey You", but that seems discourteous and disrespectful. Why not just use their preferred name and pronouns?

[nicoburns]

> Isn't this just a lazy form of misgendering?

No, because "they" isn't gender-specific. It's not referring to someone by the wrong gender, it's not referring to them by their gender at all.

> What is the point of specifying pronouns then?

I'd argue that there probably isn't much point. Why do we refer to people by their gender? No idea. It doesn't make any sense to me.

[bradleyjg]

No, because "they" isn't gender-specific.

When used as a singular it’s the pronoun for people that identify as non binary. You are absolutely misgendering people but you get a free pass because contra fosefx this whole pronoun thing is about power and who has it, rather than universal respect.

[nicoburns]

> When used as a singular it’s the pronoun for people that identify as non binary.

It can be used for this, but it's also used for someone of indeterminate gender or if you simply don't want to mention their gender. For example:

"Oooh, that's such a beautiful baby, are they a boy or a girl"

"Does your friend want to buy my phone? You said they were interested?"

[bradleyjg]

But I am not an unknown person. If you know who I am and you’ve had an opportunity to see my preferred pronouns but choose to disregard those preferences you’ve misgendered me the same as if you’d referred to a transwomen as he.

[nicoburns]

> you’ve misgendered me the same as if you’d referred to a transwomen as he.

I think it's more analogous to referring to a transwoman as "they", which I also do. "They" does not gender you at all, so it can't misgender you. I don't think you (or anyone else be they cisgender or transgender) have a right be referred to by your gender, whether you prefer it or not. I think that's different to be referred to by a gender you consider worng. In that case someone is actively labelling you as a gender. By calling you "they" I'm saying I think you're genderless, whereas by calling someone "he" I think you are saying you think they're male.

If you had a strong preference to be referred to by your gender then I probably would make an effort to do that, but I don't think you are owed that (to be honest I wish trans people weren't so hung up on pronouns too - I think it's silly to be so fussy about language - but I have seen cases where they're used maliciously so I can somewhat understand why they are).

[bradleyjg]

I'm saying I think you're genderless, whereas by calling someone "he" I think you are saying you think they're male.

Right. As it turns out, I identify as male not genderless. But this is not something you are obligated to honor under threat of being fired for some reason.

[thesuperbigfrog]

>> this whole pronoun thing is about power and who has it, rather than universal respect.

That is my point.

If I provide my name and preferred pronouns, if you respect me and my wishes, why not use my name and preferred pronouns when addressing me or referring to me?

Using "they" when I don't want it as a pronoun is misgendering.