On Tue, Aug 03, 2004 at 11:35:39AM +1000, Paul Hampson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> was heard to say: > On Mon, Aug 02, 2004 at 07:57:13PM +1000, Ben Burton wrote: > > I'd propose using "(s)he" and "his/her", or else using "they" and > > "their", depending on where your aesthetic tastes lie. > > > (Similar comments apply throughout the WNPP overview page.) > > Does Debian have a specific policy about this? 'cause I don't > think either (s)he or his/her type replacements are nearly as > aesthetic... > > Also, try the text marked '*' at the bottom of this link: > http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/04/08/new_winnt_2k_xp_security/ > for a justification to leave it as it is.
That text is an argument against using "she" as a generic pronoun, and to that extent I agree with it: attempting to genericize "she" is just confusing and leads to funny-looking prose. You will, however, note that this is not one of the alternatives Ben suggested. Daniel -- /-------------------- Daniel Burrows <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> -------------------\ | "A game which, from the viewpoint of the other players (ie, everyone) might | | be compared to playing poker with blank cards, for infinite stakes, with a | | Dealer who won't tell you the rules and who /smiles all the time/." | | -- Terry Pratchett, _Good Omens_ | \----------------- The Turtle Moves! -- http://www.lspace.org ----------------/
