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I think it's good to remind people of their own assumptions
You're assuming that people using masculine pronouns are making assumptions.
I was of course pointing out that "his" is incorrect for me as an individual
You're making public a thing which was hitherto private. That is for you. It would not be acceptable for somebody who knew you privately to presume to reveal your gender by using feminine pronouns on here if they were not already certain that you wanted that information shared publicly, just as it is not acceptable for people who know your real name to address you by it in place of your user name.
gbj_tester-
You're assuming
You're quoting selectively. I said "If not meant generically, I think it's good to remind people of their own assumptions."
You're making public a thing which was hitherto private. That is for you.
Um, yes. It is for me, and I did it.
It would not be acceptable for somebody who knew you privately to presume to reveal your gender by using feminine pronouns on here if they were not already certain that you wanted that information shared publicly, just as it is not acceptable for people who know your real name to address you by it in place of your user name.
No argument from me there.
Out of interest, do you use "he/his" generically in day-to-day conversation?
hoefla
Shrug. I find generic use of he/his incredibly clumsy and jarring, and singular they/their not at all. I don't really see the relevance for colloquial language to "buy into" rules about legal language, and besides in this instance I was of course pointing out that "his" is incorrect for me as an individual. If not meant generically, I think it's good to remind people of their own assumptions. If meant generically (I mean - pedantry aside do you actually do that in a normal conversation?) I'm still in favour of shifting away from its use.