Afraid of a world
adrift in shifting pronouns,
thoughts remain silent.
Years ago, I was taught that “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Apparently, that’s not true. People are now saying that a simple pronoun can cause great emotional distress if used incorrectly.
Choosing the correct pronoun is not as easy as it sounds. Currently, a problem with the English language is being caused by new definitions of gender, and it is incredibly easy to make a mistake. Because so many people are deciding to change their gender, I am struggling to find ‘appropriate’ pronouns. He wants to be she, her wants to be him, and sometimes one person wants to be referred to as both. I’m lost! Since I no longer know what to say, I often find it easier to remain silent.
I don’t want to insult anybody, but I don’t understand many of these linguistic changes. When people want to be referred to as a “they” or “them,” does that mean they feel one or more people living inside their body (multiple personalities)? How can I accurately address this with words? If someone who claims to be a “them” walks into a room, am I supposed to say—“Oh good! Here them is?”
I have been told that some people are also referring to themselves as “Gender Fluid” — one day feeling like a he, and on another day feeling like a she (or both), with constantly fluctuating pronouns and names. What? Maybe I should just refer to everyone as “you?” That might be the best thing to do!
Do not be angry with me. I do not want to be cruel and thoughtless towards anyone, but I honestly can’t deal with all these shifting pronouns. I am old and have enough difficulty keeping track of who I am, so don’t expect me to remember who everyone else was, or is, or wants to be.
Personally, I have an unnerving feeling that there is a dark motive behind this sudden rise in gender dysphoria–which is fueling unending arguments over nouns and pronouns. I am concerned about where this is all heading. Our freedom to speak is being undermined. If people continue to live in fear of hurting someone with a misplaced word, they are eventually going to stop talking.
Before I Forget 
The gender and pronoun confusion is crazy and designed to entrap the people who think it’s a bunch of nonsense. A good example is the new “hate speech” law in Scotland, which is overwhelming the police from calls of people feeling hated against, and taking them away from dealing with real and serious crime. The perpetually offended, “Me” generation has no concerns for anyone or anything else but themselves and how they feel at any given moment.
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I agree! You probably have seen the video of the Scottish Chief having to apologize for anything and everything he says. It’s funny because it is so true!
https://youtu.be/NBGOryiqZZI?si=SS8QmPa1vyx17jj0
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That was great. That group is a bit like our Babylon Bee.
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It is confusing unless you have a personal relationship with a person and so know what pronouns to use for them. And then it takes time to get used to them. I’ve changed my name several times but don’t get offended if someone calls me a name from my past.
Hopefully soon this will all get sorted out. I know in my nutrition training we learned how the hormones given to animals and the hormone disrupters in plastics are causing early puberty and more feminine shapes for boys and more masculine for girls so perhaps this is part of the gender changes. I’ve read though that there are birds and animals that have a more fluid sexuality, too. I know like you, I desire to support and honor others to my best ability.
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I have a young relative (college age) who just recently told me that he has changed his name and identifies with the opposite gender. I told him that he will have to have patience and understand that, after 21 years of knowing him, it will be difficult for me to remember all of this. One thing I do know–We have always been close, and nothing in this world (or language) will ever change that.
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Oh…I forgot to mention something else about names.
I worked in preschool for 11 years. The 2 and 3 year olds had great difficulty saying my name, mostly because of the ”R” but sometimes the problem was with the “M”, or with everything. I was called Mewee, Moody, Wewee, Mally, Worry, Meemee, Woowee, and on and on. I answered to all the names. Not a problem.
Once somebody told me that you have to use the name Jehovah when you pray, or your prayer will not be heard. I think that f I could answer to all the different names the preschoolers called me, I think “Jehovah” is able to do that and more.
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Absolutely. I don’t believe in dogmatism about prayer or anything. We’re reaching out to a divine essence that is within us, around us, a sea we swim in. We are ONE with that essence. So Meemee would work just as well.
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