I’ve been so bemused by this sudden hostility to “they” as a singular. I was born in the 80s, and when I was growing up it was completely uncontroversial to all but the most pedantic of grammar snobs. (“My next door neigbour stopped me as I was heading out this morning.” “Really? What did they want?”) I mean, I know…

I clicked through to Merriam-Webster’s pages for they and for their “Word of the Year” using the links that Hughes provides and I don’t see anything about the 1950s mentioned on either of them. So I’m not even sure where he’s getting that. Maybe they revised it and deleted whatever Hughes is referring to. More antics!

At the time, Merriam-Webster also noted that the use of “they” as a gender-neutral pronoun goes back to at least the ‘50s, so anyone who objects to its use in this way is wrong.

What did they do that was so bad?

You ok bro?

Now there’s a measured response if I’ve ever read one. 

Because in using that word you’re attempting to make it look they didn’t have complete control over the content and release of the podcast.

To pretend the hosts of the podcast were powerless to control their own product is very strange. As I said, they had plenty of options regarding how to proceed.

Sorry macattack, my comment was directed towards people who have friends and engage in regular human interaction.

What backlash could there have been? It’s easy for them to either explain what happened and not release it out of respect for the guest, if that’s the direction they chose to take, or just say there were unforeseen issues during the recording and they wouldn’t be releasing it.

This is a horrible take, which probably says a bit about you

They’re called “live” albums because they’re recorded in front of a live audience. Honestly not sure what you’re trying to imply with “live” here—they’re not reading from a script, I guess?

Pivoting from “live” to “recorded live” is misleading because “recorded live” is meaningless in this context. Podcasts are routinely re-started, edited, or not released. The “live” aspect of “recorded live” doesn’t change the fact that podcasters had several options for how to proceed after things didn’t go as…

Pivoting from “live” to “recorded live” is misleading because “recorded live” is meaningless in this context. Podcasts are routinely re-started, edited, or not released. The “live” aspect of “recorded live” doesn’t change the fact that podcasters had several options for how to proceed after things didn’t go as…

Wonderful. I was behind on my podcasts, somehow missed that this happened, and I was considering skipping the episode altogether because of how infamously hateful the game itself is. I’m glad that I didn’t. It was a kick to the stomach, but a necessary one. I like Nick and Heather. As far as I can tell, they’re good…

This episode was so incredibly good. I had alot of misgivings when the show had announced it as the subject the week previous, and Joey did not disappoint. 

I went into this episode without knowing what was going to happen, and thought Joey sounded off at first. Didn’t know if he was just tired or high or what, but it made a ton of sense when you know that he was racked with nerves the whole time leading up to it. It was a great episode, though, and I hope HDTGP follows…

Listened to this on the plane ride back to my parents house for Thanksgiving. Safe to say it was a profoundly uncomfortable experience and I was cringing on behalf of everyone involved. Uncomfortable, but ultimately productive, though, and good on Clift for having the courage to go there. Frankly, they shouldn’t have…

Heard this the other day after I saw it brought up on social media and listening to it kinda made me hopeful. The confrontation was rightfully heavy but the hosts were contrite and accepted the accusation and sounded like they really wanted to make a change (nothing I hate more than when someone fights something like…

Learning moments aren’t a bad thing. They can be uncomfortable, but sometimes people need to be told when they’re hitting a blind spot.