Re: virus: Nature of Information

Wade T.Smith (wade_smith@harvard.edu)
Sat, 18 Oct 97 17:02:08 -0400


>Why should "he" be used as a blanket pronoun when "she" works just
>as well?

Well, I am an old bastard, and the word 'he' is the universal to me,
although I have been known to use a s/he every once and awhile, against
my better judgment.

If I _know_ I am responding to a woman individually, (or at least to
someone who claims she is...) I will use 'she', of course.

Interestingly, I think I have noticed a convention gaining ground wherein
the universal pronoun is that of the author- so that I would keep 'he'
and you all would know what I meant, and, Marie, for instance, would use
'she' and we'd all know the same thing.

That seems totally defensible.

*****************
Wade T. Smith
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wade_smith@harvard.edu | shouldn't do to a god."
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