Playing dumb is used by bigots as a shield to continue their bigotry unimpeded. Not allowing any room for them to play dumb is the only way to reach those kind of people.

I’m aware, I’m on her side in this matter to be clear. She’s right to call out “dude”, and in fact it’s a disrespectful term anyway to say to non-friends.

Personally I try to use ungendered terms as much as possible online, and will call out weird assumptions on gender as well. English at least has it great on that front as using genders is a choice in that language (unlike some other European languages I know…).

Though it’s neat you all have the pronouns in the user, and I will of course use the pronouns when available/known.