And apparently, also when you think that ‘They’ is a perfectly serviceable gender-neutral singular pronoun, but are willing to use other pronouns if asked to.
EDIT: Other removable offenses on Blahaj now include questioning mod/admin decisions and quoting the modlog as a reason why you’re leaving.
I can’t speak for everyone about this, but referring to someone as (like in the example that you use) a “hippopotamus” is fine. I personally think of myself as a cat, and though I don’t personally enjoy actually being referred to as such I can understand other people who would and I can accommodate them. My personal wrinkle with this is far more nuanced.
I’m a gender abolitionist. I regard “gender” as a particular aspect of identity that holds cultural significance. I don’t think aspects of identity should be given so much consideration and weight, and I don’t think it’s useful to refer to something as “gender” when it previously hasn’t been, because that makes my goals less achievable. I also don’t think there should be gendered or personalized pronouns, period. I use gendered pronouns because that’s what society expects of me, but these new ones are not only unnecessary the same way gendered pronouns are but also often aestheticly displeasing. For these reasons and others, I get annoyed by neopronouns, especially bespoke ones. Furthermore, I find the idea of pulling more aspects of identity under the nebulous umbrella of “gender” to be regressive.
Hope that helps you understand.
I like your idea. When I think about it, what’s the point of gender?