They've been inconveniencing me by following me around and harassing be because they didn't understand my simple point that 'they' applies to all humans.
They harassed me over calling Caillou 'he.' As in the cartoon toddler. Seriously.
They also object to people using the word 'you' to address them, which is fucking stupid.
If someone is so socially inept and surrounded by equally socially inept people who don't call out this behavior, then it's possible they don't have anyone who is part of society at large that would inform them of how their actions will be perceived by most members of the public.
I'm not commenting because it hurts me in any way. I'm commenting because this person is going to have a relatively difficult life socially if they continue with the behavior they currently exhibit.
The gut-reaction to call someone cringe is a natural expression of the human desire to conform to social norms. They are insecure about their own differences so they enforce conformity in others by trying to humiliate them, the way they have been. In a strange way they could see it as helping them to avoid further humiliation. They're saying "cut it out" with an implied "or else people will not accept you." It's pure instinct.
I think the assumption that people who engage in unconventional means of expression are attention-seeking speaks to a common insecurity people have about receiving negative attention themselves. They're reflecting the social pressure to conform that they already surrendered to.
Why? This is their post and they wanna use middle English. It's not that big a problem for anyone else.
Are you just worried that it'll become a more common trend? I don't think that'll happen. It's just gonna be like scrolling by a ich iel post every now and again.
You're right, it is. But language shifts in populations in ways that enhance communication. One person using letters that nobody else uses makes communication of ideas more difficult.
Not only that, but they're only choosing to use some Middle English letters, and not any other rules of Middle English grammar or spelling.
They can use whatever language they want, but if it's too much effort for people to understand, they're more likely to be ignored.
You're right, it is. But language shifts in populations in ways that enhance communication. One person using letterspronouns that nobody else uses makes communication of ideas more difficult.
Not only that, but they're only choosing to use someMiddle English lettersenglish pronouns, and not any otherrules of Middle English grammar or spellingdifferent types of english pronouns.
They can use whatever languagepronouns they want, but if it's too much effort for people to understand, they're more likely to be ignored.
Doesn't sound so reasonable now, does it? If language that mildly inconveniences others is an acceptable way to express your gender identity, then why not also to express yourself creatively?
One, pronous are not letters, and letters are not pronouns. I'm not offending anyone's gender by suggesting that using "þ" instead of "th" when trying to communicate in English on the internet in 2024 is counterproductive.
Two, gendered pronouns are some of the very oldest words in English, and they are used very regularly. They are engrained in native English speakers from birth. Each of us has a very long history of thinking in terms of these gendered pronouns, and I will grant that those who are younger have an easier time of making gender shifts with pronouns than those who are older.
There's a reason people aren't using xe/xey, for example. Somebody just made it up and said "use it." Language doesn't work by fiat (unless we're talking about a colonizer eliminating indigenous languages by literal force). In terms of gender neutral pronouns, we already have the singular "they," which has been in use to some degree since at least Early Modern English.
I can wholly respect and support someone's gender and refuse to use nonsense words at the same time. Think about where gendered pronouns are used: when one person talks to a second person about a third person. If that third person is genderfluid in some way, I'm going to use "they" when referring to them (see what I did there?), because the second person is most likely to understand what I'm saying.
And before you get all fucking uppity again, I've had many lengthy conversations about this and so many other gender issues with my son, who is, among so many other things, trans.
I don't even necessarily disagree that it's counterproductive, I just don't think it's fair to attack someone for using esoteric or unconventional language. Yes, it inconveniences the listener - or in this case the reader - but in this context no one is being forced to engage with OP. By using some Old English letters OP is just having some innocent fun at no one's expense, which doesn't warrant the harsh response they're receiving.
If you were talking to someone and they casually used xe/xey pronouns (or any neopronouns for that matter) to refer to a friend who isn't there, would you go out of your way to lecture them about what an inconvenience it is to you to have to learn something new?