this post was submitted on 05 Mar 2024
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So I've realized that in conversations I'll use traditional terms for men as general terms for all genders, both singularly and for groups. I always mean it well, but I've been thinking that it's not as inclusive to women/trans people.

For example I would say:

"What's up guys?" "How's it going man?" "Good job, my dude!” etc.

Replacing these terms with person, people, etc sounds awkward. Y'all works but sounds very southern US (nowhere near where I am located) so it sounds out of place.

So what are some better options?

Edit: thanks for all the answers peoples, I appreciate the honest ones and some of the funny ones.

The simplest approach is to just drop the usage of guys, man, etc. Folks for groups and mate for singular appeal to me when I do want to add one in between friends.

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[–] laurelraven@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 5 months ago

"Foolish mortals" is my go-to gender neutral form of address

[–] cyborganism@lemmy.ca 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] JoMiran@lemmy.ml 0 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Y'all doesn't get enough love. It is gender neutral and extremely versatile.

[–] xmunk@sh.itjust.works 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] azimir@lemmy.ml 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] cyborganism@lemmy.ca 1 points 5 months ago

I'm under the impression that you pronounce it the same way this cat looks.

[–] Purplexingg@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I can't do it, I don't want to sound like I'm from the South.

[–] Zitronensaft@feddit.de 0 points 5 months ago

If everyone starts using it, it won’t sound southern any more. C’mon, you know you want to.

[–] PM_me_trebuchets@lemm.ee 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I’m AFAB enby, saying “you guys” and calling me “dude” is fine. Those to me aren’t gendered anymore. The people who get offended at general terms like these for groups of people need to touch grass.

But if you’re dead set on it, embrace y’all lol. Just don’t say it with a southern drawl and you’ll be fine. It’s a fantastic gender neutral term. You can also just train yourself not to add in the “you guys” to the “what’s up” phrase, and maybe just say “what’s up with you?” “What’s up with you all?” Etc.

[–] lembas@lemm.ee -1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

"Offended" is a bit of a strong word.

Many trans folks are, understandably, bummed out when gendered terms that refer to their AGAB are used to refer to them.

I don't think there's anything wrong with trying to avoid causing that brief moment of dysphoria. That just feels like a thoughtful and kind thing to do.

[–] PM_me_trebuchets@lemm.ee 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

It’s good that OP means well, but also there are so many of us who do not care and are not affected because we know the speaker is using a generalized term and isn’t (usually) being malicious with it. I call several of my cisgender girl friends “dude” and “bro” and I’ll call men “girl” as a joke sometimes (like, girl what are you doing?). Many of these terms simply have completely lost their original gendered meaning in a lot of contexts.

[–] lembas@lemm.ee -1 points 5 months ago

That's great, and it's nice that you don't have to deal with that jolt of dysphoria in those situations.

I'm simply saying that it's also common (and okay) to not be entirely comfortable with those terms. Especially from strangers or acquaintances.

I don't think seeking to reduce the linguistic pattern of male as the default is a misguided effort.

[–] spittingimage@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

"Citizens". It has the added benefit of implying that you're an authority figure and they're in trouble.

[–] crispy_kilt@feddit.de 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Not everyone is a citizen in the place they happen to be. In my country, more than 30% of permanent residents are not citizens.

[–] dutchkimble@lemy.lol 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

But they are still citizens (of somewhere)

[–] crispy_kilt@feddit.de 0 points 5 months ago

Usually yes, but not always, some are stateless.

[–] luckystarr@feddit.de 0 points 5 months ago

Esteemed personages.

[–] SecretPancake@feddit.de 0 points 5 months ago

Fellow humans

[–] terraborra@lemmy.nz 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] Iapar@feddit.de 0 points 5 months ago

Oi! You're a good cunt!

[–] pruwybn@discuss.tchncs.de 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] ada@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Yep. It's a name for teen boys or for men that are significantly younger than the speaker. Typically said by men rather than women too.

No one says "Hey buddy" to a teen girl, or to a woman a couple of decades younger than them

[–] Tedrow@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I'm not no one. Buddy can be used for pretty much anyone. You're definitely right about it addressing younger people though.

[–] Zitronensaft@feddit.de 0 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

My boyfriend’s nephew calls me buddy and I am a woman about ten years older than him, we are both adults so he isn’t a confused toddler either. It might vary regionally. It simply means friend in our case. I don’t think he is trying to make me out to be younger than him. Maybe it is his way of declaring I am “one of the guys”, however.

[–] crispy_kilt@feddit.de 0 points 5 months ago

What's up, cunts

Works best if they're your friends and also you're in Australia

[–] skrlet13@feddit.cl 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Remember, non binary ppl exist too! (in reference of "both genders")

[–] glitch1985@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

The term "fucker" covers all bases.

[–] NoMoreLurkingToo@startrek.website 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

But what about asexual people?

[–] crispy_kilt@feddit.de 0 points 5 months ago

Since the term isn't about actual sex, it's fine