Despite what I wrote, I think you're correct. Politeness is a necessary quality for good human relations. I believe you are also correct that showing respect to a non-binary person comes with relatively zero cost, particularly when you're attempting to get through to people, both in that community and outside of it.
Despite what I wrote, I think you're correct. Politeness is a necessary quality for good human relations. I believe you are also correct that showing respect to a non-binary person comes with relatively zero cost, particularly when you're attempting to get through to people, both in that community and outside of it.
However, I feel the "rudeness" on this issue can go both ways. Insisting that others change the standard usage of English to refer to them in the plural—and if you don't you're a bigot, contributing to transgender suicide, committing "violence," or "refusing to acknowledge their humanity"—that's also pretty rude. I understand that English usage develops over time, etc., but my gut on this is that the transgender/non-binary movement has attracted quite a few entitled narcissists who do not have good intentions. I recall the Stanford law students shouting down Judge Duncan with vulgarities and threats, in part for misgendering serious criminals. We have all seen "trans-rights" activists aggressively shouting down and assaulting parents who are concerned about what's being taught in elementary schools. But I think I've gone too far afield on this issue.
I have never refused to honor pronouns, to a point. In most cases I see it just like a person's name preference: "Do you go by Jonathan, or Jon?" That to me is a costless courtesy, and the kind everyone deserves. The other day I accidentally misgendered a non-binary person in a social setting, someone who I happen to respect very much as an individual. Thankfully, my apology was taken graciously, and I've worked hard to show this courtesy.
I think the movement in the aggregate, however, is producing costs to society, particularly as it's being used to further the oppressor/oppressed, white supremacy narrative in academia, which I believe has greased the rails for the anti-Semitic behavior we have seen since last Saturday. As a Jew, I take this very seriously, and despite formerly showing much more tolerance for the movement, I feel it is time to pay attention. I was not surprised to see that workman was non-binary. That is not the same as saying if you are non-binary, you are anti-Semitic.
In some way I haven't been able to tease out and fully articulate, there is a link between some individuals in the trans/non-binary community, academia, and the burgeoning, contemporary hatred for Jews. I hope I'm wrong.
Despite what I wrote, I think you're correct. Politeness is a necessary quality for good human relations. I believe you are also correct that showing respect to a non-binary person comes with relatively zero cost, particularly when you're attempting to get through to people, both in that community and outside of it.
However, I feel the "rudeness" on this issue can go both ways. Insisting that others change the standard usage of English to refer to them in the plural—and if you don't you're a bigot, contributing to transgender suicide, committing "violence," or "refusing to acknowledge their humanity"—that's also pretty rude. I understand that English usage develops over time, etc., but my gut on this is that the transgender/non-binary movement has attracted quite a few entitled narcissists who do not have good intentions. I recall the Stanford law students shouting down Judge Duncan with vulgarities and threats, in part for misgendering serious criminals. We have all seen "trans-rights" activists aggressively shouting down and assaulting parents who are concerned about what's being taught in elementary schools. But I think I've gone too far afield on this issue.
I have never refused to honor pronouns, to a point. In most cases I see it just like a person's name preference: "Do you go by Jonathan, or Jon?" That to me is a costless courtesy, and the kind everyone deserves. The other day I accidentally misgendered a non-binary person in a social setting, someone who I happen to respect very much as an individual. Thankfully, my apology was taken graciously, and I've worked hard to show this courtesy.
I think the movement in the aggregate, however, is producing costs to society, particularly as it's being used to further the oppressor/oppressed, white supremacy narrative in academia, which I believe has greased the rails for the anti-Semitic behavior we have seen since last Saturday. As a Jew, I take this very seriously, and despite formerly showing much more tolerance for the movement, I feel it is time to pay attention. I was not surprised to see that workman was non-binary. That is not the same as saying if you are non-binary, you are anti-Semitic.
In some way I haven't been able to tease out and fully articulate, there is a link between some individuals in the trans/non-binary community, academia, and the burgeoning, contemporary hatred for Jews. I hope I'm wrong.
It's a complex issue. Thanks for answering.