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submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by MajorMajormajormajor@lemmy.ca to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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.

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[-] terraborra@lemmy.nz 353 points 2 years ago
[-] cypherpunks@lemmy.ml 35 points 2 years ago

instance name checks out

[-] The_wild_card@lemmy.today 21 points 2 years ago

Threadkiller

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[-] cyborganism@lemmy.ca 175 points 2 years ago
[-] JoMiran@lemmy.ml 71 points 2 years ago

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

[-] sxan@midwest.social 20 points 2 years ago

I agree. It's the plural of "you" that should be the official standard, since it disambiguates "you." It can even be broadened to include larger groups via "all y'all," as in, not just y'all in talking to, but all y'all in the house.

It can replace "guys", but not "man," though.

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[-] maxprime@lemmy.ml 126 points 2 years ago

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.

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[-] RampageDon@lemmy.world 94 points 2 years ago

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

[-] ada 76 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

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

[-] Jolteon@lemmy.zip 27 points 2 years ago

There's a very big difference between "dude", referring to someone you're talking to, and "a dude", referring to someone you were talking about.

[-] ada 29 points 2 years ago
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[-] corymbia@reddthat.com 87 points 2 years ago

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

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[-] PM_me_trebuchets@lemm.ee 63 points 2 years ago

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 43 points 2 years ago

"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.

[-] PM_me_trebuchets@lemm.ee 24 points 2 years ago

It’s good that OP means well, but also there are so many of us who do not care and are not affected because we know the speaker is using a generalized term and isn’t (usually) being malicious with it. I call several of my cisgender girl friends “dude” and “bro” and I’ll call men “girl” as a joke sometimes (like, girl what are you doing?). Many of these terms simply have completely lost their original gendered meaning in a lot of contexts.

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[-] synae@lemmy.sdf.org 52 points 2 years ago

Try the following for groups:

Hey folks, how's it going?

Listen up assholes!

Greetings, gumshoes

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[-] KingThrillgore@lemmy.ml 50 points 2 years ago
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[-] BreakDecks@lemmy.ml 49 points 2 years ago

"Fuckers" is gender-neutral.

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[-] laurelraven 47 points 2 years ago

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

[-] crispy_kilt@feddit.de 47 points 2 years ago

What's up, cunts

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

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[-] Balinares@pawb.social 42 points 2 years ago

Everypony.

An oft overlooked option that leaves no one indifferent.

[-] mo_lave@reddthat.com 41 points 2 years ago
[-] IgnatiusJReilly@lemmy.wtf 38 points 2 years ago
[-] EdibleFriend@lemmy.world 37 points 2 years ago
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[-] foo@lemmy.ca 32 points 2 years ago
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[-] ComradePorkRoll@lemmy.world 31 points 2 years ago

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

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[-] Regnissik@lemmy.ml 30 points 2 years ago

I mean buddy is already gender neutral.

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[-] uhmbah@lemmy.ca 30 points 2 years ago

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

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[-] davel@lemmy.ml 28 points 2 years ago

Fellow kids

[-] dandroid@sh.itjust.works 27 points 2 years ago

Dude.

I'm a dude. He's a dude, She's a dude. We're all dudes.

[-] nadiaraven@lemmy.world 24 points 2 years ago

Trans women sometimes feel uncomfortable when they are called dude, so if you're aiming for maximum comfort of people, dude is not a great choice.

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[-] BonesOfTheMoon@lemmy.world 26 points 2 years ago

I say y'all. It's inclusive.

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[-] Gabu@lemmy.ml 26 points 2 years ago

"Guys" is gender neutral already...

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[-] sexual_tomato@lemmy.dbzer0.com 25 points 2 years ago
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[-] spittingimage@lemmy.world 25 points 2 years ago

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

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[-] mrcleanup@lemmy.world 25 points 2 years ago

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.

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[-] ChaoticEntropy@feddit.uk 24 points 2 years ago
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[-] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 24 points 2 years ago

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

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[-] Pulpogarden@lemmy.ml 23 points 2 years ago

Earthlings is the only valid option

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[-] Akareth@lemmy.world 22 points 2 years ago

"My fellow great ape"

[-] wolfeh@lemmy.world 21 points 2 years ago

In the words of Kel Mitchell:

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

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[-] EssentialCoffee@midwest.social 21 points 2 years ago

Folks or Everyone tend to be my go to.

[-] manuallybreathing@lemmy.ml 21 points 2 years ago

folks, y'all, youse

friends / friend

comrades / comrade

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[-] BreadOven@lemmy.world 21 points 2 years ago

Cheese bags.

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this post was submitted on 05 Mar 2024
267 points (100.0% liked)

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