Apparently using *they* as a singular pronoun (to use instead of *he* and *she*) is hardly a new phenomenon. It dates back to 1375 in written records!
In fact, singular *you* is much more recent! Dating back to the 17th century! 😂
Oh, this quote's fun, and it shows that our gender-related issues has been going on for centuries:
> In 1794, a contributor to the New Bedford Medley mansplains to three women that the singular they they used in an earlier essay in the newspaper was grammatically incorrect and does no ‘honor to themselves, or the female sex in general.’ To which they honourably reply that they used singular they on purpose because ‘we wished to conceal the gender,’ and they challenge their critic to invent a new pronoun if their politically-charged use of singular they upsets him so much.
Source:
https://public.oed.com/blog/a-brief-history-of-singular-they/
I'd say it's probably safe to use *they* in general. I do use singular *they* regularly and it's the least fuss imo.
@trinsec I've used it for over a year now and I can highly recommend it to everyone.
It's not even that unnatural, most people don't even notice that I always use "they" unless pronouns have been given.
@trinsec Hetzelfde voor Nederlands trouwens. Ook in het Nederlands is de 3e persoon meervoud een correcte genderneutrale manier om naar een mens te verwijzen.
@bram Hehe, het voelt onwennig aan in't Nederlands.
Die persoon heeft diens wagen, daar heeft die gisteren nog mee gereden. Dat lijkt me meer voor de hand liggend, toch? We hebben al een neutraal aanwijswoord voor 1 persoon.
@trinsec Die persoon heeft hun wagen. Daar hebben zij gisteren nog mee gereden.