August 27, 2026

Thoughtful Thursday: Your Guide To The New Etiquette Of Forced Speech

Thoughtful Thursday: Your Guide To The New Etiquette Of Forced Speech

Welcome, friends, to another Thoughtful Thursday, where we explore the ever-expanding minefield of modern social interaction.

Today’s topic: pronouns.

Not the boring ones from seventh-grade English class, but the glitter-dusted, emotionally charged ones that apparently determine whether you’re a decent human being or a relic from the Dark Ages.

Let’s set the scene.

You’re at a coffee shop, innocently waiting for your latte, when someone approaches you, beaming. “Hi! I’m Sage, and my pronouns are they/them. What are yours?”

Suddenly, your brain short-circuits.

You hadn’t prepared a statement.

You thought your pronouns were “coffee/now,” but apparently, that’s not inclusive enough.

So you mumble something like, “Uh… he/him, I guess?”

Wrong move.

Sage’s smile tightens.

Their eyes narrow with the intensity of a disappointed yoga instructor.

You’ve just been flagged for insufficient enthusiasm.

Next thing you know, you’re being handed a 27-page pamphlet titled So You’ve Been Problematic: A Beginner’s Guide to Self-Reprogramming.

Heaven forbid you slip up.

Use the wrong pronoun?

Prepare for the gasps, the dramatic clutching of pearls, the side-eyes that could curdle milk.

It’s like you accidentally set a kitten on fire instead of just saying “she” instead of “ze.”

Suddenly, you’re public enemy number one.

And the only path to redemption involves a heartfelt apology, a donation to a relevant cause, and a vow to do better—preferably in iambic pentameter.

And let’s not forget the ever-growing list.

Just when you’ve memorized “they/them,” someone introduces “fae/faer.”

At this rate, we’ll need flash cards, mnemonic devices, and maybe a part-time linguistic coach just to order a sandwich without causing an international incident.

It’s a brave new world, folks—one where your worth is measured not by your character, but by your ability to flawlessly recite someone’s chosen identifiers.

Fail, and you may as well have kicked a puppy.

Succeed, and you’re rewarded with… the privilege of not being publicly shamed.

#ThoughtfulThursday—What an insane time to be alive 😉 .

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Cheers,
Roy
My Podcast Show Audacious Moves to A BILLION shares the specific Moves I made to achieve jaw-dropping growth in an insanely competitive internet business.

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• Posted 8.27.26 at 06:00 am by Roy Osing
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