I fear coming off as oddly obsessive of the topic doing this, but I went back to a relevant save to provoke the dialogue-box' appearance. I figure it's better to discuss this with factuality in mind if it's going to be a topic.
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Screenshot 2025-05-12 160101.png
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My argument is that when Lae'zel is assumed to be of an unspecified gender (for ease of coding) the correct pronoun is "he".
What I didn't say (so as not to come off as pedantic) is that I thought it would be worthwhile to change the word because "they" in this context is woke-fuckery the bastards have managed to pollute our language with, with the express purpose of anchoring their fanaticism in our culture. There are no stronger mechanism to change culture than to change the language, which is why it infuriates me when I see or hear it. Please don't take that to mean I think I'm owed someone else changing the sentence because of my feelings or reasoning, I accept a no without question and whatever the reason (if any at all).
Grok 3 has an interesting comment on the subject. Be sure to read the second part as well if at all, as that's where the crux of the matter lies (in my opinion at least).
Asked with Think enabled:
"Assuming English gramatical rules. A person of unknown gender (but which I know have a gender, it just isn't known to me what the gender is) rolls some dice. The person gets a result and it's presented to me with the sentence "... rolled 11." What word does "..." substitute for?
Also, has this word and/or rule changed over the last 50 years?"
Grok 3's answer:
► Show Spoiler
To answer your query, let's break it down into two parts: identifying the word that "..." substitutes for in the sentence "... rolled 11," and determining whether this word or its associated rule has changed over the last 50 years. We'll assume standard English grammatical rules, as specified, and consider that the person has a gender, but it is unknown to you.
### Part 1: What Word Does "..." Substitute For?
The sentence "... rolled 11" describes a person of unknown gender who rolls dice and achieves a total of 11. The "..." likely represents a single word that refers to this person, most plausibly a pronoun, given the sentence structure. In English, when the gender of a person is unspecified, we need a gender-neutral pronoun to fill the blank.
The most natural and widely accepted choice in modern English is **"they"**, as in "They rolled 11." This pronoun is singular here, referring to one person, and it does not specify gender, aligning perfectly with the condition that the person's gender is unknown. "They" is commonly used in everyday language, especially in casual contexts like dice-rolling scenarios, which might occur in games or conversations.
Other possibilities exist but are less fitting:
- **"He"** or **"She"**: These are gender-specific and inappropriate since the gender is unknown.
- **"One"**: As in "One rolled 11," this is grammatically correct but formal and impersonal, uncommon in casual dice-rolling contexts.
- **"It"**: This applies to objects or animals, not people, so it’s unsuitable.
- **"He or she"**: While inclusive, this is two words, and the query implies a single-word substitution; it’s also less natural in this context.
Given the sentence’s simplicity and the need for a gender-neutral, single-word pronoun, "they" stands out as the best fit. Thus, the word that "..." substitutes for is **"they"**.
### Part 2: Has This Word or Rule Changed Over the Last 50 Years?
Now, let’s examine whether the use of "they" or the grammatical rule governing it has evolved over the past 50 years, roughly from the 1970s to the present.
Historically, English often used **"he"** as a generic pronoun for a person of unknown gender. For example, in the 1970s, a sentence like "If a person rolls dice, he might win" was standard in many style guides and writings. This practice assumed a male default, reflecting the linguistic norms of the time.
However, over the last 50 years, there has been a significant shift toward gender-neutral language to promote inclusivity and avoid gender bias. Starting in the late 20th century, criticism of the generic "he" grew, prompting a move toward alternatives. The singular "they" emerged as the preferred choice. For instance, "If a person rolls dice, they might win" became more common and accepted.
This change is well-documented:
- By the late 20th century, linguistic authorities began endorsing singular "they" for unknown genders.
- Modern style guides, such as the *Chicago Manual of Style* and the *AP Stylebook*, now recognize it as standard.
- In 2015, the American Dialect Society named "they" the Word of the Year, highlighting its growing use, including for gender-unknown individuals.
Fifty years ago, "he" might have been the default in formal writing for "... rolled 11," but today, "they" is the norm, reflecting both grammatical evolution and societal emphasis on inclusivity. The rule—how we handle pronouns for unknown genders—has indeed changed, with "they" overtaking "he" as the conventional choice.
### Final Answer
The word that "..." substitutes for in "... rolled 11" is **"they"**. Over the last 50 years, the rule has changed: while "he" was once commonly used as a generic pronoun, "they" has become the preferred gender-neutral option in modern English.
While one should be wary that Grok 3 makes mistakes, they can usually be exposed by questioning
his answers. I don't take what he says here as a definite source, but I think it's an interesting point of view and which correlates well with my personal experience over the years.
Of course the above exposes my point of view when it comes to language authorities. I believe they went from being a preserver of culture to become a destroyer of culture as they've gone through the process of wokism. Thus no authority at all, but an enemy that not only should be disregarded but rather actively fought.
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