Eclectic_Asininity
Well-known member
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- Jun 30, 2022
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You people should try to obsess over writing a good story rather than something as vapid as pronouns.
Oh, it has no effect on the real world, only speaking to people via dreams and is only manifested based on each person's view of time. It can't do anything to effect the world accept by granting power over time to a person on occasion. Which I guess would count as effecting the real world but I would argue that since this is done at random and the person can do as they pleased.If it is a concrete entity with its own definite actions affecting the real world on its own and not existing as a thought or an idea then it doesn't matter if it's the embodiment of time or the living number two.
They, their, them, themselves: English lacks a common-gender third person singular pronoun that can be used to refer to indefinite pronouns (such as everyone, anyone, someone). Writers and speakers have supplied this lack by using the plural pronouns.
and every one to rest themselves betake—William Shakespeare
I would have everybody marry if they can do it properly—Jane Austen
it is too hideous for anyone in their senses to buy—W. H. Auden
The plural pronouns have also been put to use as pronouns of indefinite number to refer to singular nouns that stand for many persons.
'tis meet that some more audience than a mother, since nature makes them partial, should o'erhear the speech—William Shakespeare
a person can't help their birth—W. M. Thackeray
no man goes to battle to be killed.—But they do get killed—G. B. Shaw
The use of they, their, them, and themselves as pronouns of indefinite gender and indefinite number is well established in speech and writing, even in literary and formal contexts. In recent years, these pronouns have also been adopted by individuals whose gender identity is nonbinary, as illustrated in sense 3d above.
the usage of "they" and "them" and "their" as a singular pronoun is grammatically valid.I won't chastise someone for using either he or she when refering to an ambiguous professional in reference to the individual, but I do take issue with using words like they or them.
That sounds concrete enough to me. Here is an analogy:Oh, it has no effect on the real world, only speaking to people via dreams and is only manifested based on each person's view of time. It can't do anything to effect the world accept by granting power over time to a person on occasion. Which I guess would count as effecting the real world but I would argue that since this is done at random and the person can do as they pleased.
Oh the Sun is an abstract existence, my fellow blind sapient fungi dwarfs, one that is manifested based upon an individual's view of the infinite space above the world's ceiling. It can't do anything to affect the world except for granting us the power of photosynthesis. Which I guess counts as affecting the real world but I would argue that since it is done at random and the individual receiving its gift can do with it as he (actually abstract hypothetical individual) pleases it is not so.
I'm not using it for writing, but to sate my curiosity.In my story Tenebroum I have three non-human characters: The lich is barely a person and uses it/they pronouns, a spirit that is all that remains of a dwarven fire god which uses he/him pronouns, and a river dragon which uses she/her pronouns. None of these characters have a true gender, and two of them never did, but they are given the pronouns that are the most suitable based on how they are presented to the audience.
You can have whichever pronouns in your story you want so long as they are consistent, and I think the audience will respect and enjoy it.
Though I guess it could be an abstract character if "god of time" was not an actual entity but a namesake for a phenomenon of experiencing a warping of perception during some kind of mutation?Oh, it has no effect on the real world, only speaking to people via dreams and is only manifested based on each person's view of time. It can't do anything to effect the world accept by granting power over time to a person on occasion. Which I guess would count as effecting the real world but I would argue that since this is done at random and the person can do as they pleased.
"When a physicist observes a natural phenomenon, the motherfucker does it by..."When a physicist observes a natural phenomenon, he does it by...
it describes their metaphysical nature. For example, God is an abstract being but he is described as a father and a man due to his ordered natureIn many books(usually textbooks) the authors use he, or sometimes she, when reffering to an abstract character they describe.
Something like:
When do people use "he" and when "she" when talking about an abstract entity?
No it's really not, you can't just fundamentally change the English language just because of some passing fad of mental illness. If this whole gender thing can last for 10-20 more years, than yeah maybe. But that's not very probable.the usage of "they" and "them" and "their" as a singular pronoun is grammatically valid.
yes, it is valid.No it's really not, you can't just fundamentally change the English language just because of some passing fad of mental illness. If this whole gender thing can last for 10-20 more years, than yeah maybe. But that's not very probable.
Wow a single novel used it that way, I guess that's just a fact. I suppose if I use any word any way I want in my novel, that just means everyone else has to follow suite huh? Stop using the word "valid." There is no such thing as "validation." It just means whatever the greater opinion is, and believe it or not the greater opinion lies outside of the internet. But please, go pick and choose a few other random obscure examples to "prove your point."yes, it is valid.
it's not a recent thing influenced by the gender-thingy, but had been that way for centuries.
i read a book call "the mysteries of udolpho," which was from 1794, and remember seeing 'they' used as a singular pronoun for a person of unknown gender.
go learn the actual fundamentals of the english language that is not just your own notion of how the language should be; you won't be able to read the book unless you do.
the fact is: there is one novel using it that way, and i only brought it up as an example.single novel used it that way, I guess that's just a fact.
no.I suppose if I use any word any way I want in my novel, that just means everyone else has to follow suite huh?
no.Stop using the word "valid."
i would also recommend using the dictionary to learn the correct meaning of vocabulary instead of distorting words definition to suit your needs.There is no such thing as "validation." It just means whatever the greater opinion is
and believe it or not, the great number of people could not resist writing their opinion on the internet, including you and me.and believe it or not the greater opinion lies outside of the internet.
"the mysteries of udolpho" was a novel of great importance for the 'gothic fiction' genre.obscure examples
what isn't a fact: Somebody caresthe fact is: there is one novel using it that way, and i only brought it up as an example.
what isn't a fact is: a single novel used it that way.
It is weird, I'm still wondering why you said it.no.
weird logic, but okay...?
I would recommend getting a job.no.
i would also recommend using the dictionary to learn the correct meaning of vocabulary instead of distorting words definition to suit your needs.
Cringe.and believe it or not, the great number of people could not resist writing their opinion on the internet, including you and me.
the internet is the future; and the future is now, old man.
Right, this doesn't change the fact that it's a single example that cannot denote the entire structure of grammatic literacy."the mysteries of udolpho" was a novel of great importance for the 'gothic fiction' genre.
i don't think that's obscure, but i understand that not many people care.
Cringe.addendum: replying to this guy somehow gives me a huge ego boost.
addendum 2: typos everywhere, my ego is now deminishing.
you meant "grammatical structure," right?structure of grammatic literacy
doesn't add anything to the arguments.***your every other sentenses
an example is an example.it's a single example that cannot denote the entire structure of grammatic literacy.
(blabbing on the interweb)
(a lot less cool blabbing on the internet)
yooooooo.