this post was submitted on 11 Aug 2023
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Most of the time when people say they have an unpopular opinion, it turns out it's actually pretty popular.

Do you have some that's really unpopular and most likely will get you downvoted?

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[–] my_hat_stinks@programming.dev 29 points 1 year ago (3 children)

This argument has never made sense simply because of the fact that singular they/them has been in use for literally centuries. It's even reasonable to say it's always been in use considering singular they/them was in use in the 14th century and modern English formed around 14-17th. I can guarantee you have never batted an eye when you heard something like "someone called but they didn't leave a message".

There are only two differences with recent usage: people are less likely to assume genders so use they/them more freely; and people identifying specifically as they/them. The words themselves haven't really changed, they're just more common now. Opposition to singular they/them is almost entirely political.

[–] gjoel@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

singular they/them has been in use for literally centuries

Even if has been in use since forever, a more appropriate word can be introduced now.

[–] Fylkir@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 1 year ago

Sure, but that's a separate argument.

[–] jhn@xffxe4.lol 5 points 1 year ago

Their argument has a lot to do with people not establishing context upfront unlike your example with “someone called”. I can’t count the number of times I’ve had a conversation with someone talking about a non-binary person, only to realize five minutes in they weren’t talking about a group of people. It’s super jarring when it happens.

[–] biddy@feddit.nl 1 points 1 year ago

True, but singular they is undeniably clunky. Unfortunately it's the best we have, so we will have to get used to it. Opposition to the natural evolution of language has never worked.