Comments on: Respect and honour towards women in New England http://apuritanatheart.wordpress.com/2008/01/02/respect-and-honour-towards-women-in-new-england/ Daily quote from the puritans Sat, 25 Apr 2009 20:16:58 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Chuck http://apuritanatheart.wordpress.com/2008/01/02/respect-and-honour-towards-women-in-new-england/#comment-25 Chuck Fri, 04 Jan 2008 21:03:19 +0000 http://apuritanatheart.wordpress.com/2008/01/02/respect-and-honour-towards-women-in-new-england/#comment-25 David, thank you. Of course, to use "they" as a singular pronoun (as is often done) is silly. It's interesting that "they" is feminine; I didn't know that. But it raises a question: What should we use for a mixed group (3rd person)? Also, with respect to the singular, are you saying we should always use "he" as the default? Thanks again. David, thank you.

Of course, to use “they” as a singular pronoun (as is often done) is silly. It’s interesting that “they” is feminine; I didn’t know that. But it raises a question: What should we use for a mixed group (3rd person)?

Also, with respect to the singular, are you saying we should always use “he” as the default?

Thanks again.

]]> By: David R. McCrory http://apuritanatheart.wordpress.com/2008/01/02/respect-and-honour-towards-women-in-new-england/#comment-24 David R. McCrory Thu, 03 Jan 2008 14:52:17 +0000 http://apuritanatheart.wordpress.com/2008/01/02/respect-and-honour-towards-women-in-new-england/#comment-24 Chuck, that's right. We have capitulated to feminism through the defaulted use of feminine gender pronoun usage. Situations in which gender is unknown or netural used to always default back to the masculine form of the noun. This is particularly true in the usage of "they" (f) in mixed company. "They" is a feminine noun. It is a subtle yet important distinction. Chuck, that’s right. We have capitulated to feminism through the defaulted use of feminine gender pronoun usage. Situations in which gender is unknown or netural used to always default back to the masculine form of the noun.

This is particularly true in the usage of “they” (f) in mixed company. “They” is a feminine noun. It is a subtle yet important distinction.

]]> By: Deejay http://apuritanatheart.wordpress.com/2008/01/02/respect-and-honour-towards-women-in-new-england/#comment-22 Deejay Thu, 03 Jan 2008 02:47:36 +0000 http://apuritanatheart.wordpress.com/2008/01/02/respect-and-honour-towards-women-in-new-england/#comment-22 You may well be correct that it has its roots in feminism, as its quite common today too, to hear of God referred to as a "she" or such as some new "bible" translations, go on to make a genderless God. You may well be correct that it has its roots in feminism, as its quite common today too, to hear of God referred to as a “she” or such as some new “bible” translations, go on to make a genderless God.

]]> By: Chuck http://apuritanatheart.wordpress.com/2008/01/02/respect-and-honour-towards-women-in-new-england/#comment-21 Chuck Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:32:50 +0000 http://apuritanatheart.wordpress.com/2008/01/02/respect-and-honour-towards-women-in-new-england/#comment-21 In the last few decades, the default singular personal pronoun has become feminine: "When a philosopher undertakes to investigate the nature of naturalism, SHE must deal with W.V.O. Quine." I have been unable to get on board with this move from the male (or both--"he or she") to the female pronoun in my academic writing, because I have sensed a feminist agenda in it. Today's quote represents the only way I can imagine this practice's possibly being justified. Does anyone have an opinion on the matter? Chuck In the last few decades, the default singular personal pronoun has become feminine: “When a philosopher undertakes to investigate the nature of naturalism, SHE must deal with W.V.O. Quine.” I have been unable to get on board with this move from the male (or both–”he or she”) to the female pronoun in my academic writing, because I have sensed a feminist agenda in it.

Today’s quote represents the only way I can imagine this practice’s possibly being justified.

Does anyone have an opinion on the matter?

Chuck

]]> By: Susan http://apuritanatheart.wordpress.com/2008/01/02/respect-and-honour-towards-women-in-new-england/#comment-20 Susan Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:53:55 +0000 http://apuritanatheart.wordpress.com/2008/01/02/respect-and-honour-towards-women-in-new-england/#comment-20 Wow. I wish it was still that way. We've devolved quite a long way. Wow. I wish it was still that way. We’ve devolved quite a long way.

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