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hoefla in reply to @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?

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gbj_tester in reply to @hoefla

do you use "he/his" generically in day-to-day conversation?

Yes, when the subject is not of an identified gender. In practice, that is usually limited to discussion of Everyman, or of a holder of a position or office. Each time somebody says "An Englishman's home is his castle", he is doing the same, unless he is a complete knob who doesn't think women should be able to own property.

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hoefla in reply to @gbj_tester

I'm not a complete monster, I wouldn't go around shoving Englishpersons into accepted phrases... And yes, it still jars even if I am slow to pick things up :)

The soup was as good as can be expected for tinned oxtail soup. I had most of it as it came, then used the last little bit as gravy on a jacket potato.

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