Official Rax Pronouns 3.0 Release Notes

[rax]

This document describes the proper procedures for referring to rax using third-person pronouns. It supersedes all previous such documentation.

The correct pronoun for referring to rax is now "they." This is true whether you are referring to them as rax , Rax, Rachel, Rach, Kitty-Fox, or any other approved appellation. The pronoun "she" from pronoun release

Comments

I Loled.

[rustycoon]

This LJ post wins +10 internets.

Also: I've been insisting on the use of They/Them/Their as gender-neutral singular pronouns for about twenty years now... you know, before it was cool. *ducks*

o7

Re: I Loled.

[rax]

Well aren't you a gender hipster! :)

Re: I Loled.

[rysmiel]

It was cool when Chaucer did it, it was cool when Shakespeare did it, so it's been good enough for me for the past eight years.

Re: I Loled.

[rustycoon]

I wish I'd had that argument for when my teachers/editors took me to task for it all these years. :)

[krinndnz]

Update in progress.

Also one thing I like about 'they' pronouns over 'xie' and company - they rather force you to write and speak more clearly, to indicate with exactitude who it is that you're talking about. I am in favor of this, even though my marketer-brain says that "you can keep using your sloppy language habits just with a different word" is an adoption-rate advantage for xie/etc.

"Etc" would be a very difficult pronoun to live with.

[rax]

Etc would in fact be very challenging. Although kind of awesome.

[spacehawk]

"Xie" makes me think in Chinese, e.g. "xie xie = thank you". I prefer English pronoun spellings that don't make me mentally switch languages by reflex. And once we're in Chinese, why not just use "ta" which means "third person singular"?

[bossgoji]

I will admit 'they' sounds far less constructed and cutesy than 'xie', which has always struck me as trying way, way too hard.

[rax]

It's a thing that sometimes requires a lot of effort, so I understand why folks try hard! But I have trouble with it, too.

[gaudior]

...I had always thought it was spelled "zie"? Am I entirely wrong in my gender-neutral-pronouns-I-don't-use-because-I-like-"they"-better?

[rax]

I've seen people spell it both ways, and more.

[kelkyag]

What courtesy titles are approved for use with these pronoun selections?

[rax]

Mx. is preferred! (pronounced "Mix") Ms. is... tolerable. "The" is also acceptable, as in:

The Rachel Dillon
100 E Street Name
Tucson, AZ 85716

Because that's awesome.

[anacoluthon]

Ooooh, I hadn't thought of "The" before. I know Enne suggested "Rear Admiral" to a friend who wanted a title to use.

[krinndnz]

I am also fond of "that" - America's only native title of nobility.

As in, "oh, you're THAT Judith Butler!"

[anacoluthon]

Good to know, thanks! =)