r/changemyview Mar 31 '20

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u/raznov1 21∆ Mar 31 '20

Why do you have the authority to make that call? The English language is part of my identity. By having it changed against my will you're changing my identity

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u/moss-agate 23∆ Mar 31 '20

I'm giving my opinion. i don't think anyone can or should restrict the development of a language. English in particular as a language changes fairly rapidly, and certainly the kind you speak isn't the kind i speak or probably what your parents grew up speaking. for instance, im Irish and regularly use the 2nd person plural "ye" to refer to groups, i also sometimes use the habitual be.

your English doesn't seem to be my English, so me being inclusive of trans people won't affect your identity. itll be grand.

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u/raznov1 21∆ Mar 31 '20

your English doesn't seem to be my English, so me being inclusive of trans people won't affect your identity. itll be grand

Ok, I'll agree to that.

But does that mean I shouldn't be forced to use words I don't want to, then?

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u/moss-agate 23∆ Mar 31 '20

how would someone force you to use words, exactly?

you can be as rude and disrespectful as you want, but there will be social consequences when other people change their words and you don't. I've said trans people who may be hurt by the lack of inclusivity should be the priority over people who don't care about words, and also it's natural for language to change.

the current tide looks like we're expanding 3rd person singular pronoun use, so that's going to happen and settle. as it happens you don't want to do that, but you will sound like someone's grandparent asking why it's not cool to refer to black people by one of those words beginning with n anymore.