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The British Red Cross

(30 Posts)
NanKate Sun 01-Sept-24 09:41:32

IMO they are gone looney 🤪

They have produced a pamphlet giving guidance to staff on words to no long use such as Ladies, Gentlemen, maiden name amongst others.

Also to us Mx instead of Mr or Mrs.

Am I living in a dystopian world ?

Maggiemaybe Mon 02-Sept-24 18:12:10

It reminds me of Minnie the Minx aka Hermione Makepeace.

I never knew that was her real name, Allira! It sounds like a good bit of pub quiz knowledge, so I’ll try to retain it for future use. grin

Tizliz Mon 02-Sept-24 11:02:14

M0nica

My current response is 'which day of the week are we talking about. because it changes a lot.'

My husband’s response would be ‘call me what you like as long as it is not early in the morning ‘

Caleo Mon 02-Sept-24 11:00:56

'Hubby' . Yeuch!

Allira Mon 02-Sept-24 10:17:07

Maggiemaybe

I’m past caring, really - girl, guy, lady, woman, I’ll answer to anything as long as it’s well meant. And I suppose Mx makes life easier for those sending the emails - less chance of annoying people who care about these things.

But how is it pronounced? Mix, Mex, Mux? Or is this another minefield? smiley

I reminds me of Minnie the Minx aka Hermione Makepeace.

I don't mind being Minnie 😁

M0nica Mon 02-Sept-24 09:50:28

My current response is 'which day of the week are we talking about. because it changes a lot.'

Macadia Sun 01-Sept-24 23:54:53

Calendargirl

Woman, man, lady, gentleman….

I don’t see anything wrong with any of these words.

Girl, boy, grandma, grandpa

I don't want to be a Granx ! grin

Maggiemaybe Sun 01-Sept-24 23:46:45

I’m past caring, really - girl, guy, lady, woman, I’ll answer to anything as long as it’s well meant. And I suppose Mx makes life easier for those sending the emails - less chance of annoying people who care about these things.

But how is it pronounced? Mix, Mex, Mux? Or is this another minefield? smiley

Jennerdysphoria Sun 01-Sept-24 23:42:39

A not-young woman I knew had a shopping bag with 'Take an old bag shopping' on it. This was when the campaign against plastic bags started. I thought she was quite brave.

Shelflife Sun 01-Sept-24 23:26:06

I am now beginning to use Ms for myself . Men are always Mr so no one knows their marital status. - quite right too. Therefore why should women not do the same , why should I disclose my marital status, it is no one else' s business!!!! unless I decide to disclose it.

Deedaa Sun 01-Sept-24 20:29:25

When I worked at M&S an elderly male customer got very irate because my friend addressed him as "Young Man". As he stormed off she muttered "That's OK I'll just go back to calling you "Miserable Old Git"

MissAdventure Sun 01-Sept-24 18:01:04

If you identify as female, Old Baguette might be more appropriate. grin

dalrymple23 Sun 01-Sept-24 17:56:39

Stuff and nonsense. There are marginally more serious things going on in the world than identifying flipping pronouns. Doesn't anyone have anything better to do? I don't care two figs what anyone calls me. "Old bag" is good for starters!

keepingquiet Sun 01-Sept-24 17:08:12

It's a thing in the fire service too, apparently, they have to get the pro-nouns right before they can save someone's life!

M0nica Sun 01-Sept-24 17:00:34

In which case, woman is sexist or any word that indicates anyones sex or gender.

In fact our whole bodies are sexist because they develop (except in a very few cases) in a way which makes our sex obvious, not only that it has DNA that cannot be changed.

Oh, shock, horror, shock shock

eazybee Sun 01-Sept-24 14:15:05

'Lady is sexist.'

Oh dear me.

Allira Sun 01-Sept-24 11:39:38

Well I shall carry on being:

M0nica Sun 01-Sept-24 11:07:01

'Nigger' was an insult and degrading dismissal of a human being as sub-human. 'lady', 'gentleman', 'Miss', 'Mrs', 'Mr' are not.

Indigo8 Sun 01-Sept-24 10:57:01

Put it this way. If I were in need of the Red Cross and somebody called me old girl, dearie or sunshine and they were kind and thoughtful and efficient I would appreciate it more than somebody who was careful to ask how I wished to be identified and which personal pronoun I preferred and then treated me with condescension and callous indifference.

I have experienced both but not in the context of a Red Cross worker.

I know I am old fashioned and I probably need re-educating.

MissAdventure Sun 01-Sept-24 10:52:32

No idea where 22 came from.

MissAdventure Sun 01-Sept-24 10:51:59

Me neither, though I've been told off on here for using "lady".

I wonder if there's a department of sexism, somewhere, where sexist terms are decided. 22

Calendargirl Sun 01-Sept-24 10:48:46

Woman, man, lady, gentleman….

I don’t see anything wrong with any of these words.

Caleo Sun 01-Sept-24 10:24:59

Allira, sexism and racism are both bad. 'Lady' is sexist in most contexts.
'Nigger' is a hangover from black slavery which I agree was and is a worse evil than sexist snobbery.

Allira Sun 01-Sept-24 10:10:53

These terms are not in the same category as the word you mentioned, Caleo

I don't find it offensive to be called a lady on occasion or referred to as Mrs.
I'm certainly not going to become Mx J.

Caleo Sun 01-Sept-24 10:05:59

To an extent I agree with Indigo however political correctness in use of language has already helped to abolish such words as 'nigger' . Good ideas need all the help they can get.

Caleo Sun 01-Sept-24 10:01:10

It's good to stop using biased words such as 'lady' or 'Miss': 'woman' and 'Ms' are not sexist or loaded with social difference.