Like I care.

Not sure what it is, but okay.

Re: singular third-person pronoun of unknown gender

All I'm hearing now is "Yuh-huh!" and "Nuh-uh!" Both sides of the discussion have pretty much devolved to "My way is better, because it's clearer" without providing any further arguments to support that claim.

There isn't really a 'best' in this situation. Each one of the possibilities is honestly pretty flawed, and each has their benefits. 'They' fits neatly into a sentence, while he/she is simply clunky to hear and to look at.

I think of it from a writing perspective. You simply wouldn't put he/she in the narrative of a novel. It simply looks wrong. you'd get smacked by the ghost of Oscar Wilde for even considering it.

@ des: Sorry, don't see it.

@ Ginger: Does Soundwave take on the entire Autobot army running solely on Burning Justice and Villainous Valour? I hope he does. Animated will be so cool if that happens.

Armoured Starscream Pony.

Another Starscream Pony.

edited 20th Jun '12 12:35:31 PM by Badwolfwho

Here's a cute image to make up for all the sad ones I've been linking to. I hope.........

http://willis96.deviantart.com/gallery/36010566#/d4pbfqw

edited 20th Jun '12 12:36:19 PM by marston

@Bad Starscream in Animated is basically the traitorous, slimy, pathetic Starscream from G1... just a lot more competent in battle.

for example

Soundwave has a rock off with Optimus

edited 20th Jun '12 12:38:08 PM by gingerninja666

@Kyler: I gave a pretty clear example of where he/she would be clear, but they would be unclear, and I've given multiple arguments as to why they is unclear, and he/she is very clear. I just don't want to repeat them again and again.

@Rose: ...Could you give me an example of when the singular they would be easier to understand than he/she?

That pic gave me Diabeetus.

I still like the Death Battle video that demonstrates just how incompetent G1 Starscream is

edited 20th Jun '12 12:38:17 PM by stevebat

@ Ginger: Beautiful. I'm looking forward to it. G1 Starscream was one of the most powerful Decepticons, it's why Megatron kept him around. I think. I haven't seen much G1.

@ des: Any instance.

His weapons were optimised to fight other Transformers.

edited 20th Jun '12 12:41:26 PM by Badwolfwho

I Take a Third Option and rearrange the sentence so that it doesn't mention the gender of whoever it's referring to.

Look, if you two don't either stop this nonsense or learn to back up your arguments, I'm taking away your debate privelages.

Yeah, I don't think posting sad pics is gonna do much to make you feel better...

Seconding this. It's a needless argument anyway.

edited 20th Jun '12 12:42:43 PM by Bluespade

@Rose: What about the instance of, "And, then, he/she went to the market, " as apposed to, "And, then, they went to the market"? In that example, the first one would be clearly one person going to the market, and the speaker not knowing the person's gender, while the second one is unclear as to whether it's multiple people going to the market, or just one person.

@kegi: I have backed up my argument multiple times...

edited 20th Jun '12 12:43:31 PM by deathpigeon

@death, bad

You both win the argument! The prize is jack-squat.

Fixed that for ya.

@ Bluespade.

Thank you man. It means a lot to me to hear that you don't consider me a pain around here. Because sometimes that's how I feel.

@Blue: Looking at cute pics didn't help me either.

edited 20th Jun '12 12:50:10 PM by marston

@Death: You've backed it up by saying 'it's clearer'. Which is basically the equivalent of saying "It's better because I'm right".

REGARDLESS! This is all sillyness and conjecture. There is no 'better' option, otherwise it would be the standard. they are all equally flawed and silly, for different reasons.

If you don't come back, we'll never be able to fix the hole in our hearts...

...

Yeah, only Fluttershy can get away with a sappy line like that.

If someone just randomly says "And then they went to the market" with no build up then it doesn't make any sense regardless of the term used. But at least with they the nonsense would be over sooner.

Now just stop the debate because clearly neither of us are budging.

Context clues. Learn them. Love them. Then marry them. Raise a family.

I do the same thing as Whatshisgame.

"And then the cobbler went to the market to pick up some bread and milk."

@Applelight: Nah, you're not a pain, your a staple round here.

@Marston: Only thing I do when I'm depressed is just try and do something that's mindless fun so I can turn off my thoughts for awhile. I don't know if that would work for you though.

Neither of you is going to give in, so no one is going to win. And it doesn't matter anyway! What would you gain from winning such a pointless argument? Just end it and save yourself the trouble. Aren't there more worthwhile things you could be doing with your time?

edited 20th Jun '12 12:52:53 PM by Bluespade

@kegi: I've said it's clearer, and then gave examples where it's clearer. I've given sound reasoning to back up every claim I've made, and examples for many of the claims.

@Rose: How about "I know you have a couple of friends, including John, Dave, and Jesse. Jesse sounds pretty cool. Did he/she go to the market yesterday?" vs. "I know you have a couple of friends, including John, Dave, and Jesse. Jesse sounds pretty cool. Did they go to the market yesterday?"? In the first example, it's clear that the speaker is talking about Jesse. In the second example, he/she could be talking about John, Dave, and Jesse, or just Jesse.