New feature request; pronouns!

[SheepMareep]

So in our profiles currently we have a "gender" option with male, female, other, and undisclosed options. That's all fine and dandy but I think it would be nice for the forum to include a "pronoun" section visible on our forum posts (under the avatar maybe?)

Including your pronouns not only allows people to know how to address you properly, but also makes the community more open to our trans and nb friends! Normalizing asking someone's pronouns and saying your own even if you are cis is important to creating an inclusive and understanding community.

Just wanted to put the idea out there! If this isnt the right area to post this please let me know

Edit: INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Helpful definitions regarding trans/nb/gender identity terms
Short FAQ on pronoun usage!

 

[seliph]

YES i would love this, it'd be nice to not have to display them in my title or signature.

also just a note to everyone out there: practice using they/them/their pronouns when you don't know someone's gender!! it avoids so much confusion and is so much neater than saying "him/her" "her/his" and the like. it's also about 1000000x easier for people to read.

 

[SmoochsPLH]

A good idea! Completely support!

 

[LambdaDelta]

sign me the **** up

also just a note to everyone out there: practice using they/them/their pronouns when you don't know someone's gender!! it avoids so much confusion and is so much neater than saying "him/her" "her/his" and the like. it's also about 1000000x easier for people to read.

I do this so hard, I'll sometimes accidentally use gender neutral pronouns even when I know the person's gender

 

[Stella-Io]

Agree that we need more pronoun options, or an option to type out pronouns atleast in our profile.

 

[Variety.Gamer 4438]

YES i would love this, it'd be nice to not have to display them in my title or signature.

also just a note to everyone out there: practice using they/them/their pronouns when you don't know someone's gender!! it avoids so much confusion and is so much neater than saying "him/her" "her/his" and the like. it's also about 1000000x easier for people to read.

Thnx for the tip! I always thought the they/them/their pronoun was reserved for the "other" gender, so I regularly just tried to keep away from it naturally, either that or I just say the person's username.

 

[debinoresu]

in total support! maybe ppl will stop assuming im a boy

 

[seliph]

Thnx for the tip! I always thought the they/them/their pronoun was reserved for the "other" gender, so I regularly just tried to keep away from it naturally, either that or I just say the person's username.

they/them have always been a gender neutral pronoun for anyone, i'm willing to wager that everyone's used it as such even while totally unaware. "someone left their bag here" etc

 

[debinoresu]

they/them have always been a gender neutral pronoun for anyone, i'm willing to wager that everyone's used it as such even while totally unaware. "someone left their bag here" etc

yep! i remember id lose points in my english class grammar tests because even as a child they/them felt more organic than "his or her," which even if you put inclusion aside is clunky and ive never genuinely used it. i proceeded to take the L and lose the few points every grammar test when "his or her" was the technical correct choice. sounds awful.

i remember once i was talking to a friend who just didnt get singular they pronouns and said "oh yeah? so how does it even work gramatically? "they ate they's lunch?" like it was the most absurd thing in the world and i casually corrected her with "they ate THEIR lunch..." and she looked a bit shocked and felt stupid after. when you realize how simple and natural it is its just better in general

 

[Celinalia]

i'd love this option! even though i'm cis, it's always a great idea to normalize asking for pronouns. this should be a safe place for everyone

 

[Peter]

def on board with this too . we're a very inclusive community and i think it would be right for the site to show this as well

 

[SheepMareep]

Thnx for the tip! I always thought the they/them/their pronoun was reserved for the "other" gender, so I regularly just tried to keep away from it naturally, either that or I just say the person's username.

This Is a very common misconception! (Note; I'm cis so if I make any mistakes please correct me!!!) But there isnt necessarily a single "other" gender alongside the male/female genders. Gender identity is more of a spectrum than cut and paste options that fit everyone.

The use of they/them can be used as someone's specific pronouns, but I've had friends who have their own such as ae/aer or zy/zym to express how they feel regarding their gender identity. They/them can both be someone's preferred pronouns and used as almost an umbrella term for all gender identities! (Unless the specific person is uncomfy with it but that's uncommon)

Using they/them even when referring to one person (i.e. "I heard that chai likes dogs! They have two!" As opposed to "I heard that chai likes dogs! She has two!") Is also very good for when you dont know someone's pronouns.

 

[Xara]

i?m cis but i?m all for this idea!!

 

[seliph]

This Is a very common misconception! (Note; I'm cis so if I make any mistakes please correct me!!!) But there isnt necessarily a single "other" gender alongside the male/female genders. Gender identity is more of a spectrum than cut and paste options that fit everyone.

yep, a lot of people mistakenly view nonbinary as the "third" option (with male and female being first and second) but that's not how it works. while nonbinary is an identity in itself it is also an umbrella term that so many other gender identities can fit under - agender/genderfluid being some common ones. there's also many people who, while not being fully male or fully female, don't wish to label themselves as nonbinary or as any gender identity and that's fine.

it's also very important to acknowledge that what we're discussing now is just the western gender binary. there are genders in other cultures that belong to entire different systems of genders and don't pertain to the very western system of male/female/nonbinary.

 

[galactickat4240]

I am here for this idea! It helps people know what to refer to one another as and keeps the community inclusive too!

 

[oath2order]

Agree that we need more pronoun options, or an option to type out pronouns atleast in our profile.

I mean

The biography section.

 

[Zura]

Just ask them or say them they or their.

- - - Post Merge - - -

I mean

The biography section.

This is also exists.

 

[SheepMareep]

I mean

The biography section.

Let's be honest who really goes and reads the biography section of everyone who they interact with. Having it on the side is way easier and will really make sure people have no excuse to misgender someone.

 

[Zura]

Let's be honest who really goes and reads the biography section of everyone who they interact with. Having it on the side is way easier and will really make sure people have no excuse to misgender someone.

I don't know about others but I do. It makes sense if you're serious about pronouns tbh

 

[seliph]

I mean

The biography section.

yeah, except people just look at avatars/signatures and judge based on those. before adding mine to my header i'd get "she" all the time solely because i have a pink aesthetic and pink is still for girls apparently. it's an inconvenient extra 3 clicks that don't have to exist.

Just ask them or say them they or their.

expecting everyone to ask peoples' pronouns before addressing them is incredibly unrealistic, not to mention it's time consuming. using they pronouns also isn't the usual for everyone just yet.

- - - Post Merge - - -

It makes sense if you're serious about pronouns tbh

that's the problem, "if". not everyone is as careful and people being misgendered shouldn't be dependent on an "if"