Dear O Sung Wu,

Thank You so much for such a prompt and caring response.

I've written down some of your questions to ask my specialist
in a few weeks time. And I'll see what he says before making
up my mind.

Dear Jayb.,

I haven't changed my speech in any way - but as I said
earlier - it is interesting to think about words and their
meanings. I'm quite enjoying this discussion.

Dear o sung wu,

Sorry to hear the body is not behaving. Being respiratory I can't even recommend some 'medicinal' pot to take the edge off.

You were rightly quick to accept that a gender neutral term like 'charge nurse' be deployed because of the absurdity of calling male nurses 'Sisters'. I also note that you rightly again didn't raise the term 'Brothers' as a replacement for male nurses.

Do you understand that women might also see as absurd those traditionalists attempting to hold on male gender specific terms for roles that have increasing numbers of women in them? Do you appreciate them as women seeking to have gender neutral labels applied instead?

This has to cut both ways otherwise it is unfair and belittling.

Upon reading/following this thread, I am surprised none of the normall linguists have explained why certain words are what they are.
One person actually opened the door but the lefty loonies quickly shut it again before anyone could expand on his message.
My point is, our language is derived from and beholding to Latin, with a few detours along the way when various Kings and Queens married French or Germans, as is evident in our language.
As was pointed out by one contributor, the word 'chairman' had NOTHING to do with being masculine.
It is a NOUN, a name.
And so it is extremely arrogant to demand the forced changes to any words merely because a few sick and selfish arrogant and ignorant types want to attempt to elevate themselves to a position of superiority and entitlement.
Any changes to a language occur at a much higher level than that of a very sick minority with a baseless reason or an indulgent agenda.
I for one am quite happy to use words like 'foreman', 'chairman', for both male or female, just as 'nurse' or 'policeman'.
These are NAMES not sexual indicators.
As someone already said, what are we supposed to call a 'HUMAN'?
This is a sick agenda promoted by sick people with superiority complexes.
No-one has seriously considered complaining about this issue because they would immediately be labelled, badly.
These people should at the very least be ignored, at the most abused and chastised for daring to impose/force their unwarranted agenda on society.
There is nothing wrong or broken with our language, therefore there is no sane reason to justify these changes, especially when they are being promoted by such social rejects.
Some years ago the govt shut down the mental institutions to save money in trying to balance the budget.
In doing so they basically turfed everyone out on the street. (so to speak)
People have since wondered what happened to them.
Well, some of them have surfaced in the news having committed various crimes.
And some are even contributors to OLO in support and promoting this rubbish.

//Being respiratory I can't even recommend some 'medicinal' pot to take the edge off.//

Sure you can. It's edible as well as smokeable :)

being promoted by such social rejects.
ALTRAV,
I'm impressed by your self control with your rather kind description of these sense-deficients.

Toni Lavis Quote "the Daily Mail is still unadulterated crap"

runner Quote "have to agree Toni"

They at least have the guts to report news some MSM will not touch.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6039407/Hundreds-youths-African-descent-reportedly-attack-police-officers-rocks-Melbourne.html

Locals told to 'stay inside and lock their doors' as hundreds of youths of African descent reportedly attack police officers with rocks in Melbourne's north

Police, air police and dog squad called to Taylors Hill in north-west Melbourne
The youths are believed to have damaged a police vehicle by throwing a rock
Despite damage to the police vehicle window there were no injuries reported
Residents have said that they are scared and were told by police to stay inside

A swarm of youths have gathered and allegedly thrown a number of projectiles, leading to a police vehicle being damaged.

Police were called to Taylors Hill, in Melbourne, following reports that a 'large group of youths' began to gather in the area at 5.30pm.

Police reported that 'a number of projectiles, believed to be rocks, were thrown and a police vehicle was damaged'.

However despite damage to the police vehicle rear window there were no injuries or threat to community safety.

The youths, who were reported as being of African descent by the Herald Sun, left the area a short time later.

A Bronte Way resident told the publication that police told them to 'stay inside'.

A number of specialist units were utilised including the Operations Response Unit and the Public Order Response Team to ensure public safety.'

Police air wing and the dog squad were also present.

It has also been reported by the Herald Sun that responding officers were wearing riot gear.

Police continued to monitor the area and will investigate damage to the vehicle.

* Like usual no arrests *