This is an honest question for my #Christian brothers and sisters.
Do you believe that catering to people's "preferred pronons" is a violation of the 9th Commandment?
> **Q. 143. Which is the ninth commandment?**
> A. The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
> **Q. 144. What are the duties required in the ninth commandment?**
> A. The duties required in the ninth commandment are, the preserving and promoting of truth between man and man, and the good name of our neighbor, as well as our own; appearing and standing for the truth; and from the heart, sincerely, freely, clearly, and fully, speaking the truth, and only the truth, in matters of judgment and justice, and in all other things whatsoever; a charitable esteem of our neighbors; loving, desiring, and rejoicing in their good name; sorrowing for and covering of their infirmities; freely acknowledging of their gifts and graces, defending their innocency; a ready receiving of a good report, and unwillingness to admit of an evil report, concerning them; discouraging talebearers, flatterers, and slanderers; love and care of our own good name, and defending it when need requireth; keeping of lawful promises; studying and practicing of whatsoever things are true, honest, lovely, and of good report.
> **Q. 145. What are the sins forbidden in the ninth commandment?**
> A. The sins forbidden in the ninth commandment are, all prejudicing the truth, and the good name of our neighbors, as well as our own, especially in public judicature; giving false evidence, suborning false witnesses, wittingly appearing and pleading for an evil cause, outfacing and overbearing the truth; passing unjust sentence, calling evil good, and good evil; rewarding the wicked according to the work of the righteous, and the righteous according to the work of the wicked; forgery, concealing the truth, undue silence in a just cause, and holding our peace when iniquity calleth for either a reproof from ourselves, or complaint to others; speaking the truth unseasonably, or maliciously to a wrong end, or perverting it to a wrong meaning, or in doubtful or equivocal expressions, to the prejudice of the truth or justice; speaking untruth, lying, slandering, backbiting, detracting, talebearing, whispering, scoffing, reviling, rash, harsh, and partial censuring; misconstructing intentions, words, and actions; flattering, vainglorious boasting, thinking or speaking too highly or too meanly of ourselves or others; denying the gifts and graces of God; aggravating smaller faults; hiding, excusing, or extenuating of sins, when called to a free confession; unnecessary discovering of infirmities; raising false rumors, receiving and countenancing evil reports, and stopping our ears against just defense; evil suspicion; envying or grieving at the deserved credit of any; endeavoring or desiring to impair it, rejoicing in their disgrace and infamy; scornful contempt, fond admiration; breach of lawful promises; neglecting such things as are of good report, and practicing, or not avoiding ourselves, or not hindering what we can in others, such things as procure an ill name.
After reading the above, I think, "how can it _not_ be a violation of the ninth commandment?" Is refusal to go along with this nonsense...picking a foolish fight? ...is it just another flavor of spotlight-stealing self-aggrandizement? ...or is it just, plain, quiet, obedience?
On the more civil/political side of the question, shouldn't we reject 'compelled speech'? Because, unlike a surname or given/chosen name, the "pronoun police" thing leaks out in to one's entire religious worldview, involving the nature of objective reality and the nature of mankind. Some poor/sick soul, born a "Larry," wants to be called "Loretta," fine--but to demand I _lie_ (with the threat of the civil sword, no less) and say he's the opposite sex than what he is, well, that's a whole different ball game. That's a form of linguistic tyranny--which I'm not particularly fond of.
How have you dealt with the "they/thems" and the "he-shes" and the -- whatevers -- in your professional work? For now, my plan is to only use the person's first name and just "stay off the X" by avoiding pronouns altogether...after all, we're there to get good work done, not to devolve into NeoMarxian / Postmodernist political posturing.
* news event happens *
my brain:
```
I can't stand it, I know you planned it
I'ma set it straight, this Watergate
I can't stand rocking when I'm in here
'Cause your crystal ball ain't so crystal clear
So while you sit back and wonder why
I got this ------- thorn in my side
Oh my ---. It's a mirage
I'm tellin' y'all, it's sabotage
So, so, so, so listen up, 'cause you can't say nothing
You'll shut me down with a push of your button
But, yo, I'm out, and I'm gone
I'll tell you now, I keep it on and on
'Cause what you see, you might not get
And we can bet, so don't you get souped yet
Scheming on a thing, that's a mirage
I'm trying to tell you now, it's sabotage
Why?
(Our backs are now against the wall)
Listen, all y'all, it's a sabotage
Listen, all y'all, it's a sabotage
Listen, all y'all, it's a sabotage
Listen, all y'all, it's a sabotage
I can't stand it, I know you planned it
I'ma set it straight, this Watergate
But I can't stand rocking when I'm in this place
Because I feel disgrace because you're all in my face
But make no mistakes and switch up my channel
I'm Buddy Rich when I fly off the handle
What could it be – it's a mirage
You're scheming on a thing, that's sabotage
```
Beastie Boys, "Sabotage"
#tunestr
