1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Using “guys” as a general term

Discussion in 'Chit Chat' started by carebear99, May 23, 2021.

  1. carebear99

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2021
    Messages:
    50
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    us
    Gender:
    Other
    Gender Pronoun:
    Other
    Sexual Orientation:
    Other
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    “Hey guys! How are you guys?”

    How do you feel about this word being used as a general term? Should we work towards ridding this word from our vocabulary? Or is this not something important to you individually?
    How would you work towards correcting oneself, are there better words that work for you?
    Just a light hearted chat / discussion!
     
  2. BlueMonday

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2017
    Messages:
    417
    Likes Received:
    3
    Location:
    Earth
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    A few people
    I don't mind.
     
  3. Ram90

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2015
    Messages:
    1,108
    Likes Received:
    394
    Location:
    Canada
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Some people
    I know a lot of people don't mind, but I try to correct myself when I inadvertently type "guys" when referring to a group of people containing multiple genders and sexes. I substitute it with "people" or "everyone".
     
  4. Unsure77

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2019
    Messages:
    589
    Likes Received:
    410
    Location:
    USA
    Gender:
    Female
    Gender Pronoun:
    She
    Sexual Orientation:
    Lesbian
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    I don’t mind it. I see it as gender neutral.
     
  5. LostInDaydreams

    Moderator Full Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2016
    Messages:
    4,300
    Likes Received:
    2,096
    Location:
    UK
    Gender:
    Female
    Gender Pronoun:
    She
    Sexual Orientation:
    Lesbian
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    I don’t mind “guys” and I have used it myself for mixed groups.

    Being called “love” by a total stranger bothers me much more. It’s patronising.
     
  6. HM03

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2013
    Messages:
    2,623
    Likes Received:
    508
    Location:
    Pergatory
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Some people
    It doesn't matter to me. But after hearing it bothers some people, I'd starting using folks or y'all (only in text though)
     
  7. QuietPeace

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2020
    Messages:
    1,706
    Likes Received:
    1,154
    Location:
    Northern Europe
    Gender:
    Female
    Gender Pronoun:
    She
    Sexual Orientation:
    Other
    Out Status:
    A few people
    Early in my transition I had some issues with it if I was in a group addressed that way or if I was addressed as "dude", I do not see it as something to make an issue of anymore though.
     
  8. carebear99

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2021
    Messages:
    50
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    us
    Gender:
    Other
    Gender Pronoun:
    Other
    Sexual Orientation:
    Other
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    Thanks for the constructive debate!
     
  9. Unsure77

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2019
    Messages:
    589
    Likes Received:
    410
    Location:
    USA
    Gender:
    Female
    Gender Pronoun:
    She
    Sexual Orientation:
    Lesbian
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    I never thought about it being triggering for a trans woman. Thank you for pointing out that perspective.
     
  10. Lemony

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2020
    Messages:
    317
    Likes Received:
    138
    Location:
    Australia
    Gender:
    Female
    Gender Pronoun:
    She
    Sexual Orientation:
    Bisexual
    Out Status:
    Some people
    Gender neutral
     
  11. ErickWolf

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2015
    Messages:
    338
    Likes Received:
    29
    Location:
    Virginia, US
    Gender:
    Male (trans*)
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Other
    Out Status:
    Some people
    I see it as just casual and gender neutral and personally do not have a problem with it, but if somebody else does then I just use some other term like "yall" or "everybody," which I also tend to use a lot anyway.
     
  12. Greenvirgochick

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    May 25, 2021
    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Ohio
    Gender:
    Female
    Gender Pronoun:
    She
    Sexual Orientation:
    Bisexual
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    I personally don't care I've never thought of it as a gendered term. However I do know people who don't like it so instead I try to stick to you all or y'all.
     
  13. SimplyJay

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2012
    Messages:
    829
    Likes Received:
    10
    Location:
    Colorado
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Bisexual
    Out Status:
    Not out at all
    I'm totally ok with it (but then again I'm a guy). Seems like its pretty much become a general term these days though anyway.

    Sometimes if I'm typing something where I'm replying to multiple genders I'll use "guys/gals" instead of just "guys". And I've been known to use "yall" too...
     
  14. Tightrope

    Full Member

    Joined:
    May 31, 2013
    Messages:
    5,415
    Likes Received:
    387
    Location:
    USA
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Bisexual
    Out Status:
    Some people
    Yes!

    I'm okay with it.

    Look at it this way. The word "gay" used to only mean happy and joyful. People got used to it meaning sexual orientation and things that were completely different than that and some people probably never used it this new way because it meant happy and joyful for most of their lives. "You guys" has been used in casual conversation for so long that it shouldn't ruffle any feathers. (I hope not.)
     
  15. Shorthaul

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2016
    Messages:
    1,498
    Likes Received:
    231
    Location:
    Idaho
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Bisexual
    Out Status:
    Some people
    I think the only people I have heard dislike it was one one grandma and my mother in law who was a high school English teacher. So I generally used it more because I am an ass.

    To me its almost as unoffensive and unspecific as the word dude.
     
  16. resu

    Advisor Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2013
    Messages:
    4,968
    Likes Received:
    395
    Location:
    Oklahoma City
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Some people
    I am trying to avoid using it when talking to mixed gender groups because it stems from patriarchal culture that lets male terms be the default. This is at least better in English than some languages (Spanish, Latin, etc.) which have gender for most nouns and require the masculine ending for mixed groups. How often have you heard “girls” or “you girls” being used in the same way? That’s a good sign these terms are not as gender-neutral as claimed.
     
  17. Broccoli

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2018
    Messages:
    233
    Likes Received:
    156
    Location:
    UK
    Gender:
    Female
    Gender Pronoun:
    She
    Sexual Orientation:
    Lesbian
    Out Status:
    A few people
    The word feels acceptable/gender neutral to me, but I try to avoid it for exactly these reasons.
     
  18. LostInDaydreams

    Moderator Full Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2016
    Messages:
    4,300
    Likes Received:
    2,096
    Location:
    UK
    Gender:
    Female
    Gender Pronoun:
    She
    Sexual Orientation:
    Lesbian
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    This is a good point. Some women don’t like being referred to as a “girl” or “girls” either though, because it’s seen as being likened to a child.
     
  19. Loves books

    Full Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2017
    Messages:
    1,475
    Likes Received:
    102
    Location:
    Ireland
    I don’t have a problem with it. I think it’s gender neutral. You could call out every gender when talking to a mixed group but it would take a while. I don’t like the term girl because I’m an adult woman but my mother calls her group of friends ‘the girls’ and they’re all around 60.
     
  20. feromoon

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2021
    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    kutjebroek
    Gender:
    Genderqueer
    Gender Pronoun:
    She
    Sexual Orientation:
    Lesbian
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    I do have a problem with it. For the whole world is already dominantly male. I prefer to use the word 'people' if you want to adress more people. It's very logical.