this post was submitted on 05 Mar 2024
193 points (78.0% liked)

Asklemmy

43965 readers
1318 users here now

A loosely moderated place to ask open-ended questions

Search asklemmy 🔍

If your post meets the following criteria, it's welcome here!

  1. Open-ended question
  2. Not offensive: at this point, we do not have the bandwidth to moderate overtly political discussions. Assume best intent and be excellent to each other.
  3. Not regarding using or support for Lemmy: context, see the list of support communities and tools for finding communities below
  4. Not ad nauseam inducing: please make sure it is a question that would be new to most members
  5. An actual topic of discussion

Looking for support?

Looking for a community?

~Icon~ ~by~ ~@Double_A@discuss.tchncs.de~

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 

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.

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] terraborra@lemmy.nz 351 points 8 months ago (12 children)
[–] vlad76@lemmy.sdf.org 93 points 8 months ago

We can close this thread now. The question has been answered.

[–] cypherpunks@lemmy.ml 36 points 8 months ago

instance name checks out

[–] The_wild_card 20 points 8 months ago

Threadkiller

load more comments (9 replies)
[–] cyborganism@lemmy.ca 171 points 8 months ago (21 children)
[–] JoMiran@lemmy.ml 70 points 8 months ago (13 children)

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

[–] xmunk@sh.itjust.works 29 points 8 months ago (7 children)
load more comments (7 replies)
load more comments (12 replies)
load more comments (20 replies)
[–] maxprime@lemmy.ml 122 points 8 months ago (18 children)

A lot of people use “folks” for plural.

I feel like “guys” is fairly un-gendered but people disagree with me. Personally, I haven’t used the word “guys” to refer to anything male in what seems like forever.

“Bud” and “fella” are good singulars.

[–] TWeaK@lemm.ee 29 points 8 months ago

I used to have a maths teacher who called almost every number "guy".

"And this guy goes to zero, while this guy goes to infinity!"

load more comments (17 replies)
[–] RampageDon@lemmy.world 87 points 8 months ago (2 children)

A wise man once said, "I'm a dude, he's a dudes, she's a dude. We're all dudes. Hey!"

[–] ada@lemmy.blahaj.zone 53 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (24 children)

Strange though, that when you ask most men how many dudes they've slept with suddenly, she's not a dude...

load more comments (24 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
[–] corymbia@reddthat.com 87 points 8 months ago (7 children)

In Australia the gender-neutral term is ‘Cunt’.

load more comments (7 replies)
[–] synae@lemmy.sdf.org 52 points 8 months ago (4 children)

Try the following for groups:

Hey folks, how's it going?

Listen up assholes!

Greetings, gumshoes

load more comments (4 replies)
[–] BreakDecks@lemmy.ml 49 points 8 months ago (1 children)

"Fuckers" is gender-neutral.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] crispy_kilt@feddit.de 48 points 8 months ago (2 children)

What's up, cunts

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

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] laurelraven@lemmy.blahaj.zone 47 points 8 months ago

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

[–] KingThrillgore@lemmy.ml 47 points 8 months ago (1 children)
load more comments (1 replies)
[–] PM_me_trebuchets@lemm.ee 46 points 8 months ago (5 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 32 points 8 months ago (4 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.

load more comments (4 replies)
load more comments (4 replies)
[–] TexMexBazooka@lemm.ee 44 points 8 months ago (3 children)

The simplest approach is to accept language is inherently gendered, and at a certain point it is exhausting to either take offense to everything or walk on eggshells.

I’m southern, so I use y’all almost exclusively lol

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] mo_lave@reddthat.com 41 points 8 months ago
[–] IgnatiusJReilly@lemmy.wtf 38 points 8 months ago
[–] Balinares@pawb.social 38 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Everypony.

An oft overlooked option that leaves no one indifferent.

[–] CannedTuna@sh.itjust.works 27 points 8 months ago (1 children)
[–] sukhmel@programming.dev 20 points 8 months ago

But very truly

leaves no one indifferent.

[–] EdibleFriend@lemmy.world 37 points 8 months ago (4 children)
load more comments (4 replies)
[–] lud@lemm.ee 36 points 8 months ago (1 children)
load more comments (1 replies)
[–] OceanSoap@lemmy.ml 35 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

All the alternatives make me cringe.

If someone is insulted that you use the term "guys" for a group, they're not worth being friends with. That's a lot of exhausting mental energy to deal with. Ignore 'em and move on.

[–] foo@lemmy.ca 32 points 8 months ago (2 children)
load more comments (2 replies)
[–] uhmbah@lemmy.ca 31 points 8 months ago (9 children)

'round here "guys" has become gender neutral. But "folks" is my go-to.

load more comments (9 replies)
[–] ComradePorkRoll@lemmy.world 31 points 8 months ago (7 children)

I find "y'all" works pretty well, so does "folks" or even better "Fellow Workers."

load more comments (7 replies)
[–] Regnissik@lemmy.ml 29 points 8 months ago (6 children)

I mean buddy is already gender neutral.

load more comments (6 replies)
[–] davel@lemmy.ml 28 points 8 months ago

Fellow kids

[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee 27 points 8 months ago (14 children)

Man, guys, buddy, etc

Just use them as gender neutral. Done.

load more comments (14 replies)
[–] BonesOfTheMoon@lemmy.world 26 points 8 months ago (5 children)

I say y'all. It's inclusive.

load more comments (5 replies)
[–] spittingimage@lemmy.world 25 points 8 months ago (8 children)

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

load more comments (8 replies)
[–] sexual_tomato@lemmy.dbzer0.com 25 points 8 months ago (3 children)
load more comments (3 replies)
[–] ChaoticEntropy@feddit.uk 23 points 8 months ago (1 children)
load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Pulpogarden@lemmy.ml 23 points 8 months ago (6 children)

Earthlings is the only valid option

load more comments (6 replies)
[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 22 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I use "folks" a lot. "Howdy folks." I am also a Tarheel so I can get away with y'all. And howdy.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Akareth@lemmy.world 22 points 8 months ago

"My fellow great ape"

[–] manuallybreathing@lemmy.ml 21 points 8 months ago (1 children)

folks, y'all, youse

friends / friend

comrades / comrade

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] mrcleanup@lemmy.world 21 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Guys is always fine as it refers to followers of Guy Faulks and pretty much anyone has probably considered blowing up parliament at some point.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] EssentialCoffee@midwest.social 21 points 8 months ago

Folks or Everyone tend to be my go to.

[–] BreadOven@lemmy.world 21 points 8 months ago

Cheese bags.

[–] wolfeh@lemmy.world 20 points 8 months ago (2 children)

In the words of Kel Mitchell:

I'm a dude, he's a dude, she's a dude, 'cause we're all dudes.

load more comments (2 replies)
load more comments
view more: next ›