From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.2 (2018-09-13) on dcvr.yhbt.net X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-ASN: AS53758 23.128.96.0/24 X-Spam-Status: No, score=-4.2 required=3.0 tests=AWL,BAYES_00, HEADER_FROM_DIFFERENT_DOMAINS,MAILING_LIST_MULTI,RCVD_IN_DNSWL_LOW, SPF_HELO_PASS,SPF_PASS shortcircuit=no autolearn=ham autolearn_force=no version=3.4.2 Received: from vger.kernel.org (vger.kernel.org [23.128.96.18]) by dcvr.yhbt.net (Postfix) with ESMTP id A04A11F5AE for ; Wed, 9 Jun 2021 18:43:13 +0000 (UTC) Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id S229966AbhFISof (ORCPT ); Wed, 9 Jun 2021 14:44:35 -0400 Received: from vps.thesusis.net ([34.202.238.73]:39750 "EHLO vps.thesusis.net" rhost-flags-OK-OK-OK-OK) by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S229961AbhFISoe (ORCPT ); Wed, 9 Jun 2021 14:44:34 -0400 Received: by vps.thesusis.net (Postfix, from userid 1000) id 4E5FE2FAFF; Wed, 9 Jun 2021 14:42:09 -0400 (EDT) References: <60be7adcdf3b_db9162081e@natae.notmuch> User-agent: mu4e 1.5.13; emacs 27.1 From: Phillip Susi To: Felipe Contreras Cc: Derrick Stolee via GitGitGadget , git@vger.kernel.org, gitster@pobox.com, sandals@crustytoothpaste.net, stolee@gmail.com, jrnieder@gmail.com, emilyshaffer@google.com, Derrick Stolee , Derrick Stolee Subject: Re: [PATCH 4/4] CodingGuidelines: recommend singular they Date: Wed, 09 Jun 2021 14:29:35 -0400 In-reply-to: <60be7adcdf3b_db9162081e@natae.notmuch> Message-ID: <87fsxq98xq.fsf@vps.thesusis.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Precedence: bulk List-ID: X-Mailing-List: git@vger.kernel.org Felipe Contreras writes: > Derrick Stolee via GitGitGadget wrote: >> From: Derrick Stolee >> >> Technical writing seeks to convey information with minimal friction. One >> way that a reader can experience friction is if they encounter a >> description of "a user" that is later simplified using a gendered >> pronoun. If the reader does not consider that pronoun to apply to them, >> then they can experience cognitive dissonance that removes focus from >> the information. Why should the pronoun apply to the reader? If the documentation wants to refer to the reader, it should use "you". If it's using "he" then it's referring to someone else previously mentioned in the documentation, not to me. Just because I am male does not mean I suffer from confusion when I read documentation like: "Alice wants to communicate with others securely. She can do that by using gpg." > But it's not part of standard English language. > You can use "nucular" if you want (many people do). I will use > "nuclear". You can use "nucular", but you will look stupid. > Both can be valid, and we shouldn't demand the use of one over the > other. Sure we can; one is not valid. You also may not "axe" me a question, or drink an "expresso". Also you argued against using they because it is not standard English, but then argued that it is fine to use non standard English.