So i got an 8/10 on my Ipsos report because I used He in my report. This company is asking to no longer have gender specific he/she on this particular shop. Don't know if it will come up on other shops. Any one else dealing with this?

There's one company that's always done this. I don't remember which one. They didn't want names or employee descriptions of any sort including gender.

I kind of prefer it. I don't always know if someone is male or female.

It has/does. Somewhere, there is a thread about it. Typing on phone and still do not know how to link another thread (the phone is infinitely smarter than I am).

One (or more) MSC requires you to say " the associate/employee" instead of names or he/she. And it's been years like that.

The real question to ask is: if the guidelines required the use of gender neutral language, why did the OP opt to use gendered language? And, yes, as others have pointed out several MSCs have required non identifying language for years.

I first encountered this earlier this year while doing the $12 cell phone shops with all the ridiculous narratives. I have always done my narratives like this: "The associate asked which brand I preferred. He said there were promotions....." I received an 8 on one shop, and the editor left a note saying the guidelines had changed, and they only wanted "the associate/the employee/they/them" to be used. It's not natural for me to use "they/them" as a singular pronoun, and I find myself slipping and using "he/she" in my narratives. I always have to go back and double-check to make sure none have slipped in.

To my knowledge, this is the only shop I do that is picky about pronouns, and it only started earlier this year. Guidelines for other clients of this MSC don't mention the use of pronouns. If editors of other shops/MSCs change my pronouns, it's never been reflected in my scores or left in a note.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/01/2023 11:47AM by drdoggie00.

Yes, it was exactly that shop. And I also normally use the associate, the employee etc. But sometimes saying he asked me something is natural. They/ them ...aka plural pronouns for singular beings is something I wont do.

@kittycat wrote:

They/ them ...aka plural pronouns for singular beings is something I wont do.

I hear you, kitty, believe me. I don't like it, either, but as someone pointed out in another thread, the English language is fluid and constantly evolving. The day is probably coming when sentence fragments and comma splices are acceptable.

As for the pronoun change for this specific shop, I grit my teeth and do my best to conform. I feel like if I don't, those scores will get lower and lower as the editors lose patience with someone to whom they've given feedback regarding the issue.

Something to consider: If you can afford to make such a change, choose only gigs that do not have this requirement.

It can be dodgy when you face someone you can tell is one sex, trying to act like they are another...I've had situations no matter what you say to be polite, it makes you feel like your being baited into being finger pointed at for insensitivity.

My response when that happens is, "tell it to a therapist", and walk away.

Had a co-worker who presumed I would neither understand nor condone their transvestite status. They made me always the bigot while constantly pre-judging and labeling me. I would have been arrested or lynched if I had mentioned injustice or therapy. I lived in equal parts fear and shame as the condemned innocent for as long as I stayed on that job.

That driver cut me off, they shouldn't be on the road.

They for singular, either male or female is not new. Of course I've always used it because I didn't know their gender. But no big deal to just do it because I'm asked.
Seems an easier request than the scenarios I had to present at a grocery/natural food store yesterday.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/02/2023 11:04PM by prince.

@prince wrote:

Seems an easier request than the scenarios I had to present at a grocery/natural food store yesterday.

Well, don't leave us hanging, man....

I agree that "they" for singular when you do not genuinely know has always been around, and not new. Though grammatically incorrect, I've used it in that sense and probably will in this post. What I will not do is refer to someone as she, when that person is clearly male, and vice versa. I don't placate feelings. I will be loving and friendly and would give the shirt off my back to anybody, but I do not violate my beliefs.

On shops, I will not use "they," if I am talking about one person. I will use "The associate" or "the employee."

There is a clerk at one of the post offices I shop who I'm unsure whether the person is male or female. The name does not help. He or she does not appear to do anything deliberately to be one or the other, nor does it appear they do anything deliberately to not appear one or the other. What I do know is that person works hard, smiles, helps customers, and seems to really enjoy the job. As a customer, I can't ask for more.

@ prince - I'm sure the natural food grocery store was a blast. I used to live near one, and honestly it was the neatest place. I could find a lot of stuff that I couldn't find anywhere else. There were all kinds of people who worked there...it was what it was...everybody was always very nice. I actually wish I had a place like that near me now.

@Shop-et-al wrote:

It has/does. Somewhere, there is a thread about it. Typing on phone and still do not know how to link another thread (the phone is infinitely smarter than I am).

That's me too. I tell people, "the phone is smart, the operator, not so much."

@drdoggie00 wrote:

@prince wrote:

Seems an easier request than the scenarios I had to present at a grocery/natural food store yesterday.

Well, don't leave us hanging, man....

I had to say that my husband wants a supplement that will help him lose weight just from his waist. I felt stupid asking that.

Then I had to say I've never made soup from scratch and say that my friend told me they have soup bases. Well that's not making it from scratch! And I felt stupid saying I've never made soup, women my age make soup

I had to say my neighbour told me, she gets a newsletter, how can I get that?

-deleted because my internet has the hiccups-



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/04/2023 02:58AM by drdoggie00.

-deleted because my internet has the hiccups-



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/04/2023 02:57AM by drdoggie00.

And the stupidest scenario award goes to...... -drumroll-..........lose weight just from the waist!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/04/2023 02:58AM by drdoggie00.

Yes. Just yesterday. It is actually good practice but I have only seen it specified by one company. It has always been an instruction for writing the survey for Post Office shops.

I love hearing from fellow shoppers. I edited my report to state "the associate" instead of he. I will just use associate or employee from now on. And I too have come across people with whom I would not use he/she because I didn't know. I just speak to them directly, such as "Excuse me, where are the newest iPads?"

my stupidest question I had to ask recently was "I have started a business selling fake purses and watches. Can I use your services to send payment to my supplier for these fake products?" I felt so silly asking that, because it is not something I would ever do. But, its part of the job.

I'd hate asking that one @kittycat

Student going by awkward “they/them” all year -presents as a “she/her” and now wants “he/him”

Science teacher is not a native English speaker. Getting yelled at every day.

Who is lying?

I would like to be known as a human being. This is not illegal yet, is it?

What do you mean, who is lying?

I haven't run into students asking for different pronouns. But I just call students their name, or use you. Good morning ______. Etc. Are you finished?

If two people say things that are opposites (in point of fact) which of them is lying?

Is the person who made 3 changes this year lying?

Is the person who is consistent all year lying?

I also call students by their name - but do you make exceptions for "preferred" names over legal or "dead" names?

@prince wrote:

What do you mean, who is lying?

I haven't run into students asking for different pronouns. But I just call students their name, or use you. Good morning ______. Etc. Are you finished?

I guess the person who made three changes is:
A. Confused
B. Experiencing different truths at different times
C. Just a very annoying person
¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

I haven't encountered changing names with the little ones I teach. I'm a substitute and I call everyone the wrong name at least some times.

Four words: 84 Charing Cross Road. (Cue at 15:36.)

I did a shop a while back with the following instructions for referring to myself in the narrative:

***Do not identify if you are a male or female. Use “he/she” or “his/her” – Example: The analyst entered the bar and he/she was immediately greeted by the bartender. The cashier asked for his/her drink order.***

They also wanted me to refer to myself as "The Analyst."

It was very annoying to write my narrative that way, but it was a decent fee and a large reimbursement amount, so I was very conscious of this as I wrote.

Then I turned around and wrote my narrative for a different (lower paying) shop and I did the same thing without realizing it! I received the following note from the editor. I could tell they were annoyed, but at least they paid me after they had to make corrections to my report.

***In the future, please refer to yourself as "I" or "me" as appropriate rather than as "the evaluator," "they," and "them" (unless a specific client has made a request for that type of third-person verbiage in your narrative comments). Your comments and answers had to be completely rewritten to be in the appropriate first-person narrative format.***

Oh well – he/she/the analyst/the evaluator lives and learns I guess.