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by amanaplanacanal 671 days ago
Language changes. Trying to make it stop is like trying to sweep back the tide. Could go back to old English I guess, or proto-germanic, or proto-indo-European. Or whatever came before that.

And the singular usage of they/them has been going on since at least the 14th century.
1 comments
mhb 671 days ago
I know the argument about its historical usage which isn't a great one if you're also going to argue that language changes. In any case, I'd prefer that it change for the better. An optimist might even hope that it is discussions such as this one which influence how it changes.

Are you suggesting that we dispense with he/his/she/her in all cases? Like in this one to refer to a male or female dog?

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amanaplanacanal 670 days ago
No, I’m not suggesting that. Languages are gonna do whatever they are gonna do.
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