Resolution #55: Stop Saying... "You guys..." Unless Actually Talking To Nothing But Guys...
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Date: 2-24-2014
Due Date: 2-24-2015
Resolution: I don't know how long ago this started to bother me but I've actually been working on this for a while. The group of people that I hang out with has always been a pretty equal blend of guys and girls. I've always felt weird contacting one of the girls to ask, "Hey, what are you guys up to tonight?" I always thought how weird it would be if it were the other way around. It's also just not an accurate question.
For the most part… I've already cut this out when dealing with them, but I do slip up from time to time, and no one calls me on it because it's such a common thing. So I figured I'd make it a public thing and make a more conscious effort to just cut it out altogether.
If I contact you and start to stammer when I ask what's going on, it's because I caught myself and am torn as to what to say as a replacement. I refuse to say, "Y'all," and "What are you people up to," has its own problems. So until I work out my replacement you'll just have to deal with the awkwardness. :)
Result #55: Hey "You Guys…" I Was Pretty Successful At Avoiding Saying… “You Guys…” Unless I Was Talking Just To Guys For A Full Year!!!
Update #1: The Conclusion…
Date: 2-27-2015
So it's been a year since I officially tried to retire the phrase "you guys" from my repertoire (well, unless talking to a group of guys.) I have to say that I was pretty successful. Sure I slipped up a handful of times but when I did I corrected myself and tried to explain my mistake.
For the most part… no one seemed to care that I made the mistake and they seemed to care even less that I was attempting to make my word choices to be more accurate and less sexist.
I've now worked "you guys" into being a pet peeve and now cringe a bit whenever I hear anyone say it, especially when it's said to a group of women.
Even though it doesn't seem to be that big of a deal, and no one seems to care about my efforts to eliminate "you guys" from my vocab, I'm going to keep at it.
