What do you think about "it"?

[-Samurai-]

It's a cat, it doesn't care how do you call it.

They is a cat. They doesn't care what you call they.*

I just exchange "it" with "little fucking fucker". Clears up any gender confusion, and isn't demeaning or disrespectful.

 

[Lieju]

I'm Finnish, and we use 'it' or the Finnish equivalent to refer to humans all the time. It's the casual way to refer to people generally.
But in English, it can be dehumanizing. Depends on the context though but generally it's not something I'd use.

Fellow Finn here. I agree with you with "it" in Finnish, though apparently older people don't approve of it that much.

I think that depends on the people, as well as where you're from. None of the old people I know use 'h?n' at all.

 

[Batou667]

With babies? I'd try to avoid "it" and just use nouns like "cutie" or "baby" instead. E.g. "What's this little cutie's name? Alex? Fuck. Boy Alex or Girl Alex? No, it isn't obvious or else I wouldn't be embarrassing myself like this".

With animals? It all day long unless it's a cherished family pet or something. Who gives a flying one.

 

[Jute88]

I'm Finnish, and we use 'it' or the Finnish equivalent to refer to humans all the time. It's the casual way to refer to people generally.
But in English, it can be dehumanizing. Depends on the context though but generally it's not something I'd use.

Fellow Finn here. I agree with you with "it" in Finnish, though apparently older people don't approve of it that much.

I think that depends on the people, as well as where you're from. None of the old people I know use 'h?n' at all.

The person who was against using "it" lived in northern Finland, so that could explain her behaviour.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

I'll use 'it' if I'm referring to a child or a baby though their parents don't seem to like my choice in pronoun for referring to their offspring. As for normal, everyday people I'll use 'they', 'that person' or, 'those people'...you know...them. As for animals I'll generally go with 'it' or 'that _____' where the underscore is the type of animal I'm talking about.

 

[KoudelkaMorgan]

You could always go the Criminal Minds route and refer to it as an unsub (unidentified subject).

Personally I would just refer to it by name, because seriously you should have 2 options picked out already. Don't be one of those people that either has only one, and then pretends its gender neutral when it isn't, or waits until after the birth to even think of one.

Emily is a good name, just putting that out there.

 

[BadNewDingus]

Oh my, I wish "it" was acceptable. I don't know how many times I've called a woman a man accidently, or the other way around. To be fair, that only happens when said woman is really overweight and just gave up.