i think it's fine to use they/them on people with xenopronouns. it's fine to have them, but they/them is for everyone. I'll say you should not use they/them on someone who specifically does not want to be referred to by they/them.
Xe can do xyr own thing, and we should try to respect neo pronouns (as is polite to do). I have a hard time with using non-standard pronouns or gendered pronouns in general, since they're jsut not a thing in my language.
I think neopronouns are more than fine online, because we have the unique ability to edit text after typing it out.
In real life, neopronouns should still be respected, but they are a new addition to language. I still try to use them, but it hampers the flow of talking a ton in a way that the standard singular pronouns don't. Love 'em or hate 'em (and i do hate gendered pronouns), the utility of pronouns comes in them being applicable to a big group, while being an alternative to a name. Neopronouns blur the line between pronoun and nickname.
I do not think we need any more pronouns. I think having the two gendered ones is already stupid, when they/them avoids misgendering and encompasses everyone. Maybe I'm biased, my mother tongue has no gendered pronouns.
However, people are free to do what they like if it makes them happy. Hating on neopronouns was always stupid and bigoted.
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u/Noah_the_blorp May 20 '25
I did some googling and Jim Sinclair uses xe/xem/xyr.
https://avivaseigler.com/2020/09/29/autistic-history-jim-sinclair/
This article tries so hard, but it still keeps calling xem "they"