They/Them

One of the strengths of English is that nouns do not have gender assigned by default, as you may find in Spanish or French. However English pronouns have gender. Using gender neutral pronouns will make English stronger in this regard.

In slang English when it comes to pronouns, we often use the wrong plural to get around this very problem. It all starts with the gaping void of the you-plural, there is no you-plural in English. So instead we have variations of "you all" y'all and yunz. Likewise it is often inconvenient to be throwing in "he" or "she" into a sentence because gender isn't relevant most of the time, and it's often easier to say "they" or "them."

Many people into elaborate pronoun variations like to quote Noam Chomsky. But I think Noam Chomsky's most important point on language is this: academics often make language harder to use formally than how it is used normally. They/them instead of he/she is a common grammatical error in English already, suggesting, according to Chomsky, that perhaps this is actually the best way to use English.

I recently wrote that policy that is good for transgendered tends to be good also for heterosexual males specifically. In todays' world, "he" and "his" brings tremendous burden. First we have the lofty expectations thrown upon men in our society that are difficult at best to live up to. Second we also have all the negative stereotypes about men.

I personally do not want people referencing my maleness every time they use a pronoun to refer to me. It makes a lot more sense to just refer to me in the plural, even though I am 100% hetero male. I don't need the judgement, and I don't want the weight.

But I prefer EVERYONE to use gender neutral pronouns for EVERYONE ELSE as well. That is the main reason why my preferred pronouns are they/them. Don't mention my name and say "but he's become weaker as he's gotten older," or "oh wow, is he single?," or "he gets so toxic," when you refer to me, I don't claim to speak for all men, and I certainly am not going to apologize for them either.

If we are picking our own pronouns now, I am picking they/them, and I implore you to do the same (that's how I refer to you anyhow.)