What is your opinion on this?

[ModernGold7ne]

Skip to relevant; this is the original post.

I want to use the word 'they' as something derogatory, for my universe I want to twist it into meaning, incapable, impotent, genderless.

Example

---

A prostitute advertising herself walks into a bar filled with men, she asks a random man, "Wanna fuck?"
He shakes his head without hesitation, and she reacts by saying, "Oh sorry, didn't realize you were a they."

---

So what do you all think, is it viable for use as profanity?

Edit: According to the dictionary, the word they already carries that definition.

Relevant; a copied post of mine from further down.

---

Something tells me no matter what I make up, it's going to mean something in another language, so I'll just use the fabricated english word 'veii.'

My definition; veiled, impotent, and incapable.

Wait, no, I've been brainstorming a name for the race of my secondary character since chapter 4, 'Veii' that's perfect for my needs.

I'll even have it used as slander, a form of disrespect, I already have a modified scenario in my head.

Scenario in a nutshell;

A self-advertising prostitute walks into a bar, and walks up to a random man before asking, "Wanna fuck?'
The man who's never been in such a situation shook his head on impulse, the prostitute reacted by saying, "Oh sorry, I didn't know you were a Veii."
A fairy the size of an eight months old healthy baby asked her guardian, "Wait, what? What did she mean by that?"
Her guardian who was a faceless humanoid silhouette with hidden sharp teeth turned to her and said, "Veii is the name of my race, some humans use it as slander because we often hide our sex. She used our name to suggest that he's impotent."

---

Yep, not going to use that exact scenario, but that's an okay example.

Thanks to @psycolor for the inspiration.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Yes, it is viable, but you will confuse some readers.

 

[ModernGold7ne]

Yes, it is viable, but you will confuse some readers.

Even if I do a good explanation without exposition?

My protagonists went through reincarnation, has all previous life memories and will be as confused as the readers and will ask her guardian, "What did she mean by that?"

Her guardian will reply, "She called him impotent, that's also used to refer to things like you."

Won't be exactly like that, just an example, one without needless exposition.

 

[Wiifani]

Seems a little strange to me, as non-native english speaker.
Using construction *didn't realize you were a they* feels like cutting eyes with glass. No problems with understanding, although.

 

[ModernGold7ne]

Seems a little strange to me, as non-native english speaker

That's why I think execution is important, with clarification, there's bound to be less confusion but yeah; I guess it's a bit strange without clarification.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Even if I do a good explanation without exposition?

---

My protagonists went through reincarnation, has all previous life memories and will be as confused as the readers and will ask her guardian, "What did she mean by that?"

Her guardian will reply, "She called him impotent, that's also used to refer to things like you.

Won't be exactly like that, just an example, you don't need exposition to explore culture.

I don't know. It obviously depends on your execution, and I can't answer whether you are good enough or not. But I can mention possible repercussions so that you will weigh your options.

Here are a couple of assumptions based on my own experience. I had people who apparently read my novel by using google translate. How do you think this will be translated?

Another possible problem. You probably have mistakes and typos, right? Because even if you use sites like Grammarly or have an editor, you will inevitably miss some. What will happen if they have noticed a legit mistkae\typo and then proceed to read this. Will they think this is a mistake or something intended?

 

[greyblob]

no doesn't make sense to me

 

[Gryphon]

I mean, you can use whatever you want as profanity, but that doesn't mean it'll make sense. Not to mention you gotta set up a reason for why that word has become profanity in the first place, and make it make sense.

What you should do is just make up your own word. Or just use an already existing profanity for that demographic of people. As long as you show that you don't support something like that, and its just something in story, then it should be okay.

 

[LilRora]

I don't have any problem with using 'they', except for the fact it can sound real weird and can be very confusing, especially to non-native speakers (like me), but I'm definitely putting into question in what way 'they' is better than 'them'.

For example: "Oh sorry, didn't realize you were one of them."

I don't know the context and I'm not sure what you are trying to achieve, but 'them' sounds much better, if we take only the linguistical aspect into account. For all I know you have a very good reason not to use 'them', but it just seems like a better alternative to me.

If you insist on using some profanity like 'they', it would probably be better to make your own word and explain its meaning. You can just make a slight change so it would still sound very similar, like 'vey' or something, but not be that confusing.

 

[ModernGold7ne]

I don't have any problem with using 'they', except for the fact it can sound real weird and can be very confusing, especially to non-native speakers (like me), but I'm definitely putting into question in what way 'they' is better than 'them'.

For example: "Oh sorry, didn't realize you were one of them."

I don't know the context and I'm not sure what you are trying to achieve, but 'them' sounds much better, if we take only the linguistical aspect into account. For all I know you have a very good reason not to use it it, but it just seems like a better alternative to me.

Honestly, I didn't think of that but in the context, it would refer to a group of people and doesn't count as profanity.
Haven't checked the dictionary yet, i'll see if there's a better word to use.

Edit: According to the dictionary, the word 'they' already carries that definition.

 

[LilRora]

You can also make a slight alteration to 'they' so it will sound almost the same, but be written differently, like 'vey', 'theii' or something. Dunno, I'm bad with that kind of thing. But you would definitely save a lot of thinking for your readers.

If you want to stick with a profanity, making one up would be a good solution as long as you explain it properly.

 

[ModernGold7ne]

You can also make a slight alteration to 'they' so it will sound almost the same, but be written differently, like 'vey', 'theii' or something. Dunno, I'm bad with that kind of thing. But you would definitely save a lot of thinking for your readers.

If you want to stick with a profanity, making one up would be a good solution as long as you explain it properly.

I like vey, mind if I use it?

 

[Psycholor]

I like vey, mind if I use it?

It's a word. They do not own the copyright on it.

That aside, "Oy vey" is a thing in yiddish. It means something like "Oh, woe" and is used to express distress or grief. Using "Vey" as an insult would cause me, as a reader, to think you were calling someone a "woe".

 

[lnv]

I want to use the word 'they' as something derogatory, for my universe I want to twist it into meaning, incapable, impotent, genderless.

Example

---

A prostitute advertising herself walks into a bar filled with men, she asks a random man, "Wanna fuck?"
He shakes his head without hesitation, and she reacts by saying, "Oh sorry, didn't realize you were a they."

---

So what do you all think, is it viable for use as profanity?

Edit: According to the dictionary, the word they already carries that definition.

Generally you would do:

"Oh sorry, didn't realize you were one of them."

But if you plan to still use "they" or what not, you may want to as above bold/italic it to put emphasis on the intention

 

[DetectiveRed]

I want to use the word 'they' as something derogatory, for my universe I want to twist it into meaning, incapable, impotent, genderless.

Example

---

A prostitute advertising herself walks into a bar filled with men, she asks a random man, "Wanna fuck?"
He shakes his head without hesitation, and she reacts by saying, "Oh sorry, didn't realize you were a they."

---

So what do you all think, is it viable for use as profanity?

Edit: According to the dictionary, the word they already carries that definition.

The word "It" carries that dehumanisation already. They usually just means "genderless" or unknown gender, which has no moral, or insulting bullshit. You wont have to explain anything if you just use "it" instead.
They or them can be used to indicate an other or outgroup as someone else said "I didnt knoe you were one of them" but itll still require unneccessary explanation that will pad out your story.

 

[ModernGold7ne]

It's a word. They do not own the copyright on it.

That aside, "Oy vey" is a thing in yiddish. It means something like "Oh, woe" and is used to express distress or grief. Using "Vey" as an insult would cause me, as a reader, to think you were calling someone a "woe".

Something tells me no matter what I make up, it's going to mean something in another language, so I'll just use the fabricated english word 'veii.'

My definition; veiled, impotent, and incapable.

Wait, no, I've been brainstorming a name for the race of my secondary character since chapter 4, 'Veii' that's perfect for my needs.

I'll even have it used as slander, a form of disrespect, I already have a modified scenario in my head.

---

Scenario in a nutshell;

A self-advertising prostitute walks into a bar, and walks up to a random man before asking, "Wanna fuck?'
The man who's never been in such a situation shook his head on impulse, the prostitute reacted by saying, "Oh sorry, I didn't know you were a Veii."
A fairy the size of an eight months old healthy baby asked her guardian, "Wait, what? What did she mean by that?"
Her guardian who was a faceless humanoid silhouette with hidden sharp teeth turned to her and said, "Veii is the name of my race, some humans use it as slander because we often hide our sex. She used our name to suggest that he's impotent."

---

Yep, not going to use that exact scenario, but I guess it can be considered as advertisement for the story 'Anima Aliena' in my signature.
Thanks to @psycolor for the inspiration.

 

[Daitengu]

Are you stuck on "they", because as a mix race in a racist area I usually experience it as:
Souring his face, he says, "I didn't realize you were one of 'those'."

Adding in expression will clarify it regardless of your choice.

 

[Bartun]

I want to use the word 'they' as something derogatory, for my universe I want to twist it into meaning, incapable, impotent, genderless.

Example

---

A prostitute advertising herself walks into a bar filled with men, she asks a random man, "Wanna fuck?"
He shakes his head without hesitation, and she reacts by saying, "Oh sorry, didn't realize you were a they."

---

So what do you all think, is it viable for use as profanity?

Edit: According to the dictionary, the word they already carries that definition.

Yes, I think using "them" would be better. I imagine the prostitute being less polite, dropping the "Oh sorry" and just saying "I didn't realize you were one of 'them',"

 

[RepresentingCaution]

I have carefully considered this, and I approve.

 

[Ilikewaterkusa]

Skip to relevant; this is the original post.

I want to use the word 'they' as something derogatory, for my universe I want to twist it into meaning, incapable, impotent, genderless.

Example

---

A prostitute advertising herself walks into a bar filled with men, she asks a random man, "Wanna fuck?"
He shakes his head without hesitation, and she reacts by saying, "Oh sorry, didn't realize you were a they."

---

So what do you all think, is it viable for use as profanity?

Edit: According to the dictionary, the word they already carries that definition.

Relevant; a copied post of mine from further down.

---

Something tells me no matter what I make up, it's going to mean something in another language, so I'll just use the fabricated english word 'veii.'

My definition; veiled, impotent, and incapable.

Wait, no, I've been brainstorming a name for the race of my secondary character since chapter 4, 'Veii' that's perfect for my needs.

I'll even have it used as slander, a form of disrespect, I already have a modified scenario in my head.

Scenario in a nutshell;

A self-advertising prostitute walks into a bar, and walks up to a random man before asking, "Wanna fuck?'
The man who's never been in such a situation shook his head on impulse, the prostitute reacted by saying, "Oh sorry, I didn't know you were a Veii."
A fairy the size of an eight months old healthy baby asked her guardian, "Wait, what? What did she mean by that?"
Her guardian who was a faceless humanoid silhouette with hidden sharp teeth turned to her and said, "Veii is the name of my race, some humans use it as slander because we often hide our sex. She used our name to suggest that he's impotent."

---

Yep, not going to use that exact scenario, but that's an okay example.

Thanks to @psycolor for the inspiration.

Junior brother, you may or may not know but Veii was a place. A place that the Romans have defeated.