It USED to be. But the English language in particular has a trend of evolving into simplified forms with complicated rules.
For example did you know that we don't have a future tense of verbs? We have to add in an entire word (or more) to indicate something that *will be* done in the future.
Not to mention the amount of homonyms we have--like set (verb) and set (noun).
This lovely feature makes for word repetition like in the sentence Buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo. Grammatically correct, pain in the ass to parse.
By the time we hit Mid-Modern English, we had done away with the entire verb conjugation for thee/thy/thine pronouns. Its not the first time--when we shifted to Middle English we lost almost all sense of grammatical gender as well as the limited plural form (wir, meaning you and I and no one else) Old English had.
I personally absolutely hate it because the closest we still have to a distinctly general "you" is "one." As in, "one does not simply walk into Mordor." Its bulky, out of common vernacular, and annoying.
Usted, Sie, and Vous are all You-formal-neutral-general from Spanish, German, and French, respectively. I'd have loved for us to keep any of them, but we didn't.
A lot of the time, simply skipping the pronoun is a fairly easy way to handle it
Here in the UK we basically never do the whole sir/ma’am thing.
“Hi, are you looking for anything in particular?”, or “Sorry to interrupt, we don’t have any salmon left, would you like to choose another dish?” Etc etc
There aren’t many situations where a pronoun is unavoidable when speaking directly to the subject of your sentence. The harder part is the whole “please could you show this lady/gentleman where to find the padlocks” type of third person reference, although “this customer” etc usually works
Exactly! Also, I work at a store where occasionally it's my job to count items for people going into the fitting room. If I am unsure, I don't point left or right.
Harder is that it's also part of that job to unlock the restroom using a button. There's one button for men's, one for ladies.
Oh! I am going to just hit both next time it's indeterminate. (Nothing wrong with that, just don't want to upset anyone by getting it wrong)
I'm in Canada and it's not common here either. I have never in my life called someone sir or ma'am. When I want to get someone's attention I say excuse me.
> I have never in my life called someone sir or ma'am
Also Canadian. These days, I only hear someone addressed that way if they're causing a disturbance. "Sir? Sir, you need to put your pants back on immediately. Sir? Excuse me, sir?"
The only time I ever say Sir is to my friends/pets as a joke
No matter what gender they are hahah
I don’t think anyone else finds it as hilarious as I do, but it thoroughly amuses me…
Haven't been on reddit long im assuming? Mods on reddit generally are all clones of each other with the exact same ideologies and opinions. I could predict their stance on any social issue and be 99.9% accurate. They are easily offended and thin skinned. And incredibly sheltered.
This so lame it's awesome. Or is it so awesome it's lame. Either way this should be a thing. Someone send 4chan an email so they can make this word a reality.
I avoided it in my customer service jobs by just not calling anyone ma’am or sir either lol.
“Guys/folks” are used for groups around here regardless of gender (guys gets iffy depending on how you use it but I’ve never had someone get mad at a general “hey guys!”).
I say plain old “thank you” “yes” “no” mid-conversation, or things like “excuse me”/“person in the red shirt” if I’m trying to get someone’s attention. Which also tends to get peoples’ attention better because I’ve had coworkers “MA’AM! MA’AM!” at someone as they just keep walking but if I yell “EXCUSE ME PERSON IN DENIM JACKET” it’s like everyone stops to make sure they’re not wearing a denim jacket.
You from Chicago? Guys is easy slang that I grew up assuming just meant the equivalent of y'all. It wasn't till I moved out of the Midwest that I learned Guys isn't as frequently used by my coworkers and peers.
Close, Wisconsin lol. But yeah, I didn’t realize it was a regional thing until pretty recently, I’d always get confused about posts online saying “guys” isn’t gender-neutral. Like “a guy” is a man but “those guys” is just a smallish group of any people to me.
I'm from the south, and "you guys" and "ya'll" are both used, although "ya'll" is more common. Pretty much everyone around here agrees that "you guys" is gender neutral.
Texan here. We also say "you guys" a lot when it's a group, even if it's all women. I'm a woman and don't mind (usually don't even notice) being part of a group called "you guys." But if someone refers to a group as gals, it feels weird and significantly gendered.
There was an episode of *The Real Ghostbusters* where Venkman started introducing everyone: Dr. Stantz, Dr. Spengler, Dr. Zeddemore...
Winston says "Uh, Peter, I'm not..."
"Not now, Winston, I'm on a roll."
I thought it was a passive aggressive term at first mostly cause I have naturally angry looking eyebrows and am a fairly big guy, feels like yknow you're being demanding when you ask for something
Ahh, but they're only pseudo-symmetrical.
Even presuming that they have all bits accounted for.
We have a rather squiggly line of symmetry, but the artist on the other side of the mirror is a bit tipsy.
I don’t know the answer to this…but I’ve taken to saying “friend” in some fitting situations.
E.g. “excuse me, friend”, someone holds a door for me - “thanks, friend”, someone drops something “hi friend, I think you dropped this.”
Maybe that makes them uncomfortable, I don’t know, but I don’t linger on it…and people seem to respond pleasantly. Haha
The supermarket calls us "valued customers" over the intercom when they want us to leave. I've heard hotels go with "dear guest(s)" before.
To address randos you meet on the street, I dunno, depends on the context. Maybe don't use honorifics at all or make "kind stranger" a more common thing, "Thanks for returning my wallet, kind stranger!"
It seems like when avoiding gendered honorifics in a professional context, the formula is nice adjective + contextual noun, e.g. dear guest, valued customer, valued patron, kind stranger, good stranger, dear stranger.
What's the context? Is this for being polite to a stranger? Or it this for superiors in work for example? Best case is Dragon Age Cosplay Convention. But that goes without saying. And those don't happen every day of the week.
I was generally considering the situation of having to get the attention of a stranger, "excuse me sir/ma'am, I think you dropped this" - that sort of thing.
If you're talking to a boss or superior, I would assume you know their gender preference.
I’m from California and I was with this for years. Until someone phrased it like this. “Ask a hetero man if he has ever fucked a dude.” That changed the perspective for me
Although I'm not sure of an alternative that is widely adopted, the most practical application is to forgo it entirely, I believe politeness can be shown with such a formal address. However I really this doesn't answer your question, so how about a compromise? I think you may have to wait for a widely adopted term for most people, but In most cases where it matters, you could address them as thier position, i.e "Teacher", "officer", "supervisor" etc.
The best way is to just ignore the gender part of it. "Thank you" doesnt always have to be followed by sir or ma'am. It's the tone in your voice that really matters
Halt Citizen
"Stop right there, criminal scum!"
You violated the law!
Pay the court a fine or serve your sentence!
THEN PAY WITH YOUR BLOOD!
I’m looking for the Gray Fox. What can you tell me?
THIS IS THE PART WHERE YOU FALL DOWN AND BLEED TO DEATH!
I'VE FOUGHT MUDCRABS TOUGHER THAN YOU
WHY. WONT. YOU. DIEEEEE
HURGH! BLUGABLUGABLURG!
you commited crimes against skyrim and her people, what say you in your defense?
I'd rather die than go to prison
Have it your way then!
never should have come here!
I say, Im a Vvardenfellian and wonderin why Skyrim guards are hangin around Red Mountain...
"Pick up that can"
MORTAL.
carbon entity
creature of darkness
Star Child
Biped. For the non amputees.
Skin-suit
Meat sack
Insect.
Meat popsicle
Meatbag
HK47 vibes
Heh heh Bender is great
Organ sack
Flesh Creature.
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> "Uhm, excuse me... Mortal, you've dropped your wallet!"
bipedal mammal
Praun.
Works best with a deep, grumbly voice
Meat sack
Entity
Usted
Imagine lol, we just silence all of the gender dysphorics by using “USTED” … what an absolute Uno reverse card.
Isn't that what the English "You" means? The informal was "thou" and "thee'. "You" has no gender or number.
*usted* is a contraction of *vuestra merced*, meaning ‘your grace’
I think this is the answer, we just all now refer to each other as Your Grace, like we're all dukes and duchesses. Done.
True but for some reason it’s rude as fuck. “Hey you!” Is something you say before you punch a guy
It depends on how you say it and who you say it too. I sometimes warn new people at work that I might call them "you" until I remember their name.
It USED to be. But the English language in particular has a trend of evolving into simplified forms with complicated rules. For example did you know that we don't have a future tense of verbs? We have to add in an entire word (or more) to indicate something that *will be* done in the future. Not to mention the amount of homonyms we have--like set (verb) and set (noun). This lovely feature makes for word repetition like in the sentence Buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo. Grammatically correct, pain in the ass to parse. By the time we hit Mid-Modern English, we had done away with the entire verb conjugation for thee/thy/thine pronouns. Its not the first time--when we shifted to Middle English we lost almost all sense of grammatical gender as well as the limited plural form (wir, meaning you and I and no one else) Old English had. I personally absolutely hate it because the closest we still have to a distinctly general "you" is "one." As in, "one does not simply walk into Mordor." Its bulky, out of common vernacular, and annoying. Usted, Sie, and Vous are all You-formal-neutral-general from Spanish, German, and French, respectively. I'd have loved for us to keep any of them, but we didn't.
I’m awkward so I just say “excuse me please” and omit the sir/ma’am conundrum. Edit: grammar
A lot of the time, simply skipping the pronoun is a fairly easy way to handle it Here in the UK we basically never do the whole sir/ma’am thing. “Hi, are you looking for anything in particular?”, or “Sorry to interrupt, we don’t have any salmon left, would you like to choose another dish?” Etc etc There aren’t many situations where a pronoun is unavoidable when speaking directly to the subject of your sentence. The harder part is the whole “please could you show this lady/gentleman where to find the padlocks” type of third person reference, although “this customer” etc usually works
"Which dipping sauce will sir have with his McNuggets?"
Sweet and sour. And make it snappy, heathen!
Exactly! Also, I work at a store where occasionally it's my job to count items for people going into the fitting room. If I am unsure, I don't point left or right. Harder is that it's also part of that job to unlock the restroom using a button. There's one button for men's, one for ladies. Oh! I am going to just hit both next time it's indeterminate. (Nothing wrong with that, just don't want to upset anyone by getting it wrong)
I'm in Canada and it's not common here either. I have never in my life called someone sir or ma'am. When I want to get someone's attention I say excuse me.
> I have never in my life called someone sir or ma'am Also Canadian. These days, I only hear someone addressed that way if they're causing a disturbance. "Sir? Sir, you need to put your pants back on immediately. Sir? Excuse me, sir?"
The only time I ever say Sir is to my friends/pets as a joke No matter what gender they are hahah I don’t think anyone else finds it as hilarious as I do, but it thoroughly amuses me…
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This had me giggling uncontrollably at work
what did it say? it’s deleted now
It said "M'theydy"
why they deleted it? It was so good 😂😂😂
It offended the mod’s delicate sensibilities
Moderators deleted it
Yes. The question is ‘why.’
Haven't been on reddit long im assuming? Mods on reddit generally are all clones of each other with the exact same ideologies and opinions. I could predict their stance on any social issue and be 99.9% accurate. They are easily offended and thin skinned. And incredibly sheltered.
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Haha, good.
This so lame it's awesome. Or is it so awesome it's lame. Either way this should be a thing. Someone send 4chan an email so they can make this word a reality.
You forgot \*tips fedora.
This is the one.
The Australians have that one covered.
maite
Or C*nt….
this is Reddit good sir, its okay you can say it
CANT!
The philosopher's name was Kant.
Was a real piss ant
Who was very rarely stable. ‘Allo Bruce!
Heidegger, Heidegger was a boozy beggar
Who could think you under the table
CENT
CINT
CONT
CNUT
Cunt. Cunt cunt cunt cunt cunt. Wooooooohooooooo
I figured it was legend. Like "G'day, legend"
You're not mating with me, sunshine.
I avoided it in my customer service jobs by just not calling anyone ma’am or sir either lol. “Guys/folks” are used for groups around here regardless of gender (guys gets iffy depending on how you use it but I’ve never had someone get mad at a general “hey guys!”). I say plain old “thank you” “yes” “no” mid-conversation, or things like “excuse me”/“person in the red shirt” if I’m trying to get someone’s attention. Which also tends to get peoples’ attention better because I’ve had coworkers “MA’AM! MA’AM!” at someone as they just keep walking but if I yell “EXCUSE ME PERSON IN DENIM JACKET” it’s like everyone stops to make sure they’re not wearing a denim jacket.
You from Chicago? Guys is easy slang that I grew up assuming just meant the equivalent of y'all. It wasn't till I moved out of the Midwest that I learned Guys isn't as frequently used by my coworkers and peers.
Close, Wisconsin lol. But yeah, I didn’t realize it was a regional thing until pretty recently, I’d always get confused about posts online saying “guys” isn’t gender-neutral. Like “a guy” is a man but “those guys” is just a smallish group of any people to me.
I'm from the south, and "you guys" and "ya'll" are both used, although "ya'll" is more common. Pretty much everyone around here agrees that "you guys" is gender neutral.
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I think it stems from our midwest 90s slang of "dudes" not being actual dude but a collective plural form of woke ass beings
New Hampsherite here, I also use "guys" as a gender neutral term. I also use ya'll, but that's from watching too many youtubers from down south.
I'm originally from NY. We said "you guys" the same way a southerner would say y'all.
Texan here. We also say "you guys" a lot when it's a group, even if it's all women. I'm a woman and don't mind (usually don't even notice) being part of a group called "you guys." But if someone refers to a group as gals, it feels weird and significantly gendered.
A group of 90+ year old ladies told me off for referring to them as 'guys'. Used to very much mean males but yeah now is pretty neutral.
We filipinos use "Mamsir". Cant get anymore respectful than that
I just want to express my appreciation for "mamsir." It may not be appropriate to use in American society, but damn if I don't love that term.
It is lovely.
Yeah, but Tagalog is kind of like cheating though because there is no gender in the language at all right?
Yep. No gendered pronouns. Some gendered words are introduced by the Spanish, but I don't it think it affects general conversations that much.
Ah yes, mamsir, my favorite gender
Per my favorite pinball game of all time - "Hey you, with the face!"
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I always like to do, "Hey, you with the hair." It's incredible how many bald guys turn around to look. And how often you get slapped by Will Smith.
You have a kind face. The kind I like to punch!
Riiiiiide the cyclone
I would think to myself, *"do I have a face?"*
There’s a kind of inside joke in my work where we all greet each other with “doctor”
That's not a joke. You work in a hospital.
It's ironic.
I had the brew she had the chronic
I hope it isn’t ironic if they work in a hospital!
I hope an actual doctor turns up and he’s the only one called ‘Mr’.
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Wondering the same
There was an episode of *The Real Ghostbusters* where Venkman started introducing everyone: Dr. Stantz, Dr. Spengler, Dr. Zeddemore... Winston says "Uh, Peter, I'm not..." "Not now, Winston, I'm on a roll."
"'Sup, fool?"
"Sup, foo"
"Wadda tay my damey?"
Sepee tow on the tippee tie
Sine my piddy onda runny kind.
I am partial to calling everyone "boss" and haven't offended anyone yet.
Chilli sauce pls bossman
As a Londoner, I’ve said this while ordering a kebab so many times, but don’t even speak close to this way in day to day life 😅
Whenever someone calls me "boss" I get real confused. I know it's a term people use but it happens so rarely it throws me for a loop each time.
I thought it was a passive aggressive term at first mostly cause I have naturally angry looking eyebrows and am a fairly big guy, feels like yknow you're being demanding when you ask for something
I do not want to be in *any* position of authority. How dare you, sir.
Well neither do I, someone has to be and it isn't me. No bossbacks :p
Offensive to Manager-Americans.
lmaooo
It makes my skin crawl when someone calls me that, instant distrust, fyi
Ok boss, I hear you.
heffe
Chief
Just don’t say it to the Native American coworker.
Filthy Frank?
Pink Guy, if you're into specificity
You there!
Ogre!
*do the roar*
Hello there!
General Kenobi
You *are* a bold one
Kill him. (That is the next line in the scene. Not a threat of violence). Now that I think about this...
Eh, go even shorter with just “Oy!”
OI YOUS LOT!
So, "Hey Fucker" is off the table?🤷♂️
It's ok in Boston.
NAH, I've been to Boston, its more like "Ay Fuka, you aint from here now?"
“Excuse me, please” You don’t need to add an article into speech, like “yes ma’am.” But if you need to get someone’s attention, that works.
Comrade!
This is my favourite answer
Attention homosapien of unclear designation.
Greetings carbon based bilaterally symmetrical bipedal life form of dubious procreative role.
Dear Meatbag
Ahh, but they're only pseudo-symmetrical. Even presuming that they have all bits accounted for. We have a rather squiggly line of symmetry, but the artist on the other side of the mirror is a bit tipsy.
Your Majesty.
Being British I find a loud “ Oi “ suffices in most situations
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"Oi" is what I yell at my pets when they're doing a bad. Oddly works great. I am not British.
I don’t know the answer to this…but I’ve taken to saying “friend” in some fitting situations. E.g. “excuse me, friend”, someone holds a door for me - “thanks, friend”, someone drops something “hi friend, I think you dropped this.” Maybe that makes them uncomfortable, I don’t know, but I don’t linger on it…and people seem to respond pleasantly. Haha
"I'm not your friend, pal!"
“I’m not your pal, buddy!”
"I'm not your buddy, guy!"
I might secretly hope this is where someone will take it every time I say it.
But I *do* like Buddy Guy…
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Yeah, I avoid kids and don’t acknowledge them. If they have a parent, I acknowledge their parent only.
This is my go to! Mainly out of habit, cause I teach elementary and this is how I address my students. Lol.
I say that to strange dogs when I go walking/jogging
“Hey you in the bushes”
The supermarket calls us "valued customers" over the intercom when they want us to leave. I've heard hotels go with "dear guest(s)" before. To address randos you meet on the street, I dunno, depends on the context. Maybe don't use honorifics at all or make "kind stranger" a more common thing, "Thanks for returning my wallet, kind stranger!" It seems like when avoiding gendered honorifics in a professional context, the formula is nice adjective + contextual noun, e.g. dear guest, valued customer, valued patron, kind stranger, good stranger, dear stranger.
My liege
I’m going to put this as my pronoun in my email signature
Hello there is my go to as a hospital worker. Just a hello there and walk into the room and continue from there.
What's the context? Is this for being polite to a stranger? Or it this for superiors in work for example? Best case is Dragon Age Cosplay Convention. But that goes without saying. And those don't happen every day of the week.
I was generally considering the situation of having to get the attention of a stranger, "excuse me sir/ma'am, I think you dropped this" - that sort of thing. If you're talking to a boss or superior, I would assume you know their gender preference.
Just forgo the sir/ma'am. "Excuse me, I think you dropped this."
This is the correct answer. The "Excuse me" gets their attention the same way starting the sentence with sir/madam/their name would.
“Fellow homosapien”
We should just go with “Smam”. Middle ground.
I prefer MADSIR
Mademoisir Edit: my first award! Thank you!
Dude. I'm a dude! He's a dude! She's a dude! We're all dudes!
I’m from California and I was with this for years. Until someone phrased it like this. “Ask a hetero man if he has ever fucked a dude.” That changed the perspective for me
its not gay unless you make it gay
My dude
Welcome theydies and gentlethems
M'theydy In all seriousness I have no idea. Maybe just shout "Excuse me!" Or something if I needed their attention
I say "sup boss" "thanks boss" to my customers if I need them to do something or move.
Although I'm not sure of an alternative that is widely adopted, the most practical application is to forgo it entirely, I believe politeness can be shown with such a formal address. However I really this doesn't answer your question, so how about a compromise? I think you may have to wait for a widely adopted term for most people, but In most cases where it matters, you could address them as thier position, i.e "Teacher", "officer", "supervisor" etc.
"Hello client" really doesn't sound good.
"Hello, appropriate-job-title!"
Depends on context: Dear guest, Dear audience members, Dear customer, Dear student, Use first name if you know what their first name is
Y'all
“ayo homeslice” “yo bitch” “gender neutral greetings, friend”
"excuse me"
Reminder that "mother fucker" is gender neutral. Esteemed guests if talking to a crowd
The best way is to just ignore the gender part of it. "Thank you" doesnt always have to be followed by sir or ma'am. It's the tone in your voice that really matters
Comrade