Re: Pronouns (please bear with me)

[Per Bothner]

On 3/5/20 12:33 PM, danielp3344--- via Feedback on the GNU Coding Standards. 
wrote:
> I'm not proposing the use of they as a singular pronoun. I'm proposing use of 
> 'he' or 'she' which are actual english pronouns. ...  Are users really offended 
> by the use of gender in hypothetical situations?

It is not really an issue of being offended, but perpetuating stereotypes.
Consider the statement:

   When you see your doctor, he will tell you what to do.

When people hear "he" they unconsciously visualize a man in their mind.
This strengthens the subconscious idea in people's mind that "a doctor" is
(by default, at least) male.

You can argue all you want that is not what you intend, and that people
should not be making that inference that by "he" you mean "a man".

But they do.  That's how the human brain works.

A little short-term discomfort until people get used to "When you see your 
doctor,
they will tell you what to do" seems a small price to actually make English
*more* precise - by removing incorrect pseudo-precision.
--
        --Per Bothner
address@hidden   http://per.bothner.com/