Inclusive Pronouns

[utvolpj]

Yep. I don't think a salary needs to be provided to this woman so SHE can tell us which pronouns are safe and non-triggering.

So you don't agree with exposing college students to a wide range of ideas and viewpoints?

Language evolves. Always has, Always will

 

[f77f00]

So you don't agree with exposing college students to a wide range of ideas and viewpoints?

Language evolves. Always has, Always will

In this case? No I do not think there is any need whatsoever to diverge from the normal usage of pronouns. Nada.

Get it wrong? Fin someone says "oh I prefer ____" and you move on. That someone is sitting in an office being paid to come up with this kind of suggestion is ludicrous.

 

[utvolpj]

In this case? No I do not think there is any need whatsoever to diverge from the normal usage of pronouns. Nada.

You failed to even address my question. This is simply a small part of a much larger issue of people from all sides trying to stifle discussion and debate

What you describe is normal use now. Like I said, language changes constantly

Funny thing is it's being discussed by those who never even took the time to figure out what really happened or just want the clicks . Pretty tough to make a real judgement using only really bad information

 

[f77f00]

You failed to even address my question. This is simply a small part of a much larger issue of people from all sides trying to stifle discussion and debate

What you describe is normal use now. Like I said, language changes constantly

Funny thing is it's being discussed by those who never even took the time to figure out what really happened or just want the clicks . Pretty tough to make a real judgement using only really bad information

I specifically addressed your question. Like, emphatically. Where I wrote "in this case" I was 100% answering your query with a resounding "NO". This was neither needed nor required.

Sometimes there is no reason for language to change. How confident are you in your ability to encounter a new person and rapidly deduce their gender? Why do we need new words when almost everyone will be batting damn near 100% on their gender deductions?

If someone is offended, they can easily correct. A simple "I prefer ___" is sufficient. There is no need to walk on eggshells worrying about triggering someone (and really, if they are shattered by someone using the wroing pronoun...) with an inaccurate pronoun. No reason to pay this lady to sit in her office and type this crap up.

I do read the news. Even our own legislators thought this was a joke when it began circulating.

There are better ways to spend public money than this. Try teaching skills that will actually prove useful and not creating jobs for some SJW who can sit and find things to be outraged about.

 

[f77f00]

Source: Gender-neutral terms encouraged at UT, criticized by legislators - News Sentinel Story

State Rep. Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville, said he thought the suggestion was a joke.

"And then I found out it was true, at which point I thought, ‘Are we really paying somebody to come up with this stuff?' " he said.

Dunn, a graduate of UT, said he would rather see public money spent on other academic areas such as math or technology. The Pride Center is fiscally supported by the state school.

"I just think that when people pay their taxes, they would rather have it go to a university so that people can learn something," Dunn said Friday. "Not be brainwashed into some gobbledygook."

State Sen. Frank Niceley, R-Strawberry Plains, posted on Facebook: "It seems to me the biggest lack of diversity we have at the University of Tennessee is people of common sense. Apparently, this is what happens when the decision is made that no one from Tennessee is smart enough to run our university."

In a phone interview with the News Sentinel, Niceley said, "Maybe we ought to go back to ‘thee' and ‘thou' for everybody and that'll take care of it."

State Sen. Paul Bailey, R-Sparta, wrote on Facebook: "First it was eliminating the Lady Vols. Now this? I doubt if parents spending over $15,000 a year expect this kind of nonsense education from the University of Tennessee. My advice would be find something better and more productive to do."State Rep. Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville, said he thought the suggestion was a joke.

"And then I found out it was true, at which point I thought, ‘Are we really paying somebody to come up with this stuff?' " he said.

Dunn, a graduate of UT, said he would rather see public money spent on other academic areas such as math or technology. The Pride Center is fiscally supported by the state school.

"I just think that when people pay their taxes, they would rather have it go to a university so that people can learn something," Dunn said Friday. "Not be brainwashed into some gobbledygook."

State Sen. Frank Niceley, R-Strawberry Plains, posted on Facebook: "It seems to me the biggest lack of diversity we have at the University of Tennessee is people of common sense. Apparently, this is what happens when the decision is made that no one from Tennessee is smart enough to run our university."

In a phone interview with the News Sentinel, Niceley said, "Maybe we ought to go back to ‘thee' and ‘thou' for everybody and that'll take care of it."

State Sen. Paul Bailey, R-Sparta, wrote on Facebook: "First it was eliminating the Lady Vols. Now this? I doubt if parents spending over $15,000 a year expect this kind of nonsense education from the University of Tennessee. My advice would be find something better and more productive to do."

Agreed in full.

 

[utvolpj]

I specifically addressed your question. Like, emphatically. Where I wrote "in this case" I was 100% answering your query with a resounding "NO". This was neither needed nor required.

No my question was not specific to this act. Your "in this case" qualifier was simply a way to avoid a real answer. Limiting educational and discussion opportunities on college campuses seems to go against the reason they are around.

And I'm pretty sure the TN legislature has done its fair share of embarrassing acts. Is a bunch of Stacy Campfields really who you want to use as backup? Did they really try to tie the lady vols into this? :lol:

 

[kiddiedoc]

"It seems to me the biggest lack of diversity we have at the University of Tennessee is people of common sense. Apparently, this is what happens when the decision is made that no one from Tennessee is smart enough to run our university."

That has me rolling.

PJ, lighten up. You are literally the only person I've come across that doesn't think this whole thing is ludicrous. Free speech is one thing, but this department is financially supported by the state/university.

 

[utvolpj]

That has me rolling.

PJ, lighten up. You are literally the only person I've come across that doesn't think this whole thing is ludicrous. Free speech is one thing, but this department is financially supported by the state/university.

Sorry for attempting a discussion.

As for the joke, does he feel the same about his fellow legislators who are not from TN or didn't go to UT?

I've never said the idea wasn't ridiculous but that has never been my point. As an example, I thought Butch trying to bring back the reading of the maxims was idiotic and was shocked no one stopped that idea from getting out. What I didn't mock him for was trying to do something he thought was good. Not really different than this idea

Until the govt wants to get serious on cutting stupid things they pay for this small dept at UT is truly the least of my worries. They likely waste more taxpayer money on catered lunches than this dept

 

[kiddiedoc]

Sorry for attempting a discussion.

As for the joke, does he feel the same about his fellow legislators who are not from TN or didn't go to UT?

I've never said the idea wasn't ridiculous but that has never been my point. As an example, I thought Butch trying to bring back the reading of the maxims was idiotic and was shocked no one stopped that idea from getting out. What I didn't mock him for was trying to do something he thought was good. Not really different than this idea

Help me understand. You equate reading the General's maxims before a football game to coming up with new pronouns for 46XX and 46XY?

 

[Freak]

The whole concept is ridiculous.

And whether or not the school has a formal policy, having the article on the official website tends to imply that it supports the suggestion. The fact that someone felt the need to tweet about the "many questions they received", and make a statement about it, should be proof of how it's been received.

[I just noticed the "Pronoun Czar" in the picture above :lol:]

 

[Freak]

Until the govt wants to get serious on cutting stupid things they pay for this small dept at UT is truly the least of my worries. They likely waste more taxpayer money on catered lunches than this dept

I'm not sure this is at the top anyone's worry list, but I bet many would agree with "stupid" and "waste" in this case.

 

[FLVOL_79]

First problem I see is there is an office of diversity and inclusion..what the.

 

[Nerd-Vol]

First problem I see is there is an office of diversity and inclusion..what the.

You don't care for diversity?

 

[kiddiedoc]

And whether or not the school has a formal policy, having the article on the official website tends to imply that it supports the suggestion.

Not to mention the many news and op-ed stories that now link this to the University. It just makes UT look foolish.

 

[Biopsyman]

It's like there is different word for everything

 

[volinbham]

It was an idea put out by a dept at UT but it is not policy and has zero effect on anything.

What do you think the deputy of diversity and inclusion would do? Are you in favor of limiting their ability to offer ideas?

The reality is that is a diversity office at a university puts out something like this it is more than just "offering ideas".

It is not official policy but it does have impact - believe me, I've been in the biz for a long time and the "ideas" offered by the diversity office have considerably more weight than ideas offered by other offices. Nature of the beast.

 

[volinbham]

You don't care for diversity?

So here's the rub and I've seen this often in my job.

When someone questions a specific item like this then others react with a "you got a problem with diversity" type thing.

(NOTE: Nerd, I know you are reacting to a "there shouldn't be a diversity office" post not just questioning this dumb policy suggestion. I'm just using your post as a jumping off point).

So yes this is just a dumb idea that will fade away however the act of questioning puts a target on you as someone who has deeper questions about equality or is a bigot, etc.

I've seen it in action and as a result I keep my mouth shut when it's at my institution because of the larger labeling that occurs when you speak out.

In the end, that's the bigger issue here - the atmosphere that produces items like this (and the trigger/micro-aggression stuff) is stifling to speech and thought.

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