[Ffmpeg-cvslog] CVS: ffmpeg ffmpeg.c,1.344,1.345

The Wanderer inverseparadox
Mon Sep 5 03:37:04 CEST 2005


Robert Swain wrote:

> I tend towards using 'they' and appropriate variants, leaving the
> context to distinguish whether I'm referring to one person or more
> than one person. However, 'he/she' seems much more common here in the
> UK, I just hold the opinion that 'they' is a more polite usage,
> possibly because hermaphrodites are taken into account and not
> classified as 'it' or 'he/she' which may well be offensive to them.
> I'm sure TheWanderer could clear this up. :)

Only within limits. Yes, "he/she" or "he or she" is commonly used (and
in fact I've seen the latter required in English classes), and "they" is
often frowned upon for misuse of plurality - but there is no single
better term in English, so "they" often gets used anyway.

In re the original dispute: it is very common, in writing examples, to
either refer to the hypothetical user as "she" (to counter the fact that
gender is so often assumed to be male) or alternate between male and
female, either in successive pronouns or in successive examples. I
object to many political-correctness usages, but this is one which I
have no problem with.

-- 
       The Wanderer

Warning: Simply because I argue an issue does not mean I agree with any
side of it.

A government exists to serve its citizens, not to control them.





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