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[Silvergun-Blue]

The context you used it in was perfectly fine and the person you were talking to sounds like they were really obnoxious.

If you want to be annoyed by the term "you guys" watch the Goonies. It's a significant portion of kids entire dialogue.

 

[MonkeyKing]

I go with "y'all muhfuggers".

 

[Hazmat]

You ran into an annoying pain in the ass. It's a perfectly acceptable thing to say. I applaud you for having restraint that I don't have, but feel bad that this idiot made you feel bad.

 

[LordKasual]

is "you guys" a bad phrase?

not to anyone who's worth having a conversation with

 

[SlipperyFishes]

Stuff like this is why I argue with people who give me shit for saying y'all.

^_^

ditto!

 

[Staccat0]

not to anyone who's worth having a conversation with

Lord Kasual indeed

 

[itwasTuesday]

Hey you guys is fine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN6cJ_wGmsk

 

[Big-ass Ramp]

"You guys" is trans-exclusionary. You should say something else.

 

[perfectchaos007]

"You guys" is trans-exclusionary. You should say something else.

tbf, "guys" in that context is uni-sex. English is weird sometimes

 

[pigeon]

I just say "folks."

I wouldn't say it's a "bad phrase," exactly, but there are better phrases.

 

[Sub_Level]

Glad that y'all is catching on.

Or should I say glad that y'all are catching on

 

[ItIsOkBro]

i try not to say it if im taking to a group of named individuals and one of them is a girl. for example, if im on a call with clients id say 'bye everyone' instead of 'bye guys.'

 

[Unit 33]

I second this. An added benefit is that I'm the only person I know who uses this term, so it comes across as unique.

There's two of us now. That makes us cool folks.

 

[Big-ass Ramp]

tbf, "guys" in that context is uni-sex. English is weird sometimes

it assumes men to be the default.

 

[Summer Haze]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im3Zj9ZBsyU

 

[zeemumu]

The person on the phone was being shitty.

 

[Aiii]

People take this shit too far, this is a good example of it. It only distracts from actual issues with gender bias. You said nothing wrong, the context made it very clear that “you guys” was in no way excluding anyone from the conversation.

In fact, by adding “and gals” you are actually changing “you guys” from a completely neutral statement to a specific “men and women” and that excludes way more people than just saying “you guys”

Sounds like the person you talked to was just being difficult for the sake of it, perhaps they were having a bad day.

 

[AoM]

it assumes men to be the default.

Colloquially it doesn't.

 

[emag]

I've also switched to "y'all" (but not "all y'all") since moving to the "south" (NoVA) a decade ago. "You guys", whether or not it's gender-exclusionary, sounds more antagonistic.

 

[manakel]

People take this shit too far, this is a good example of it. It only distracts from actual issues with gender bias. You said nothing wrong, the context made it very clear that “you guys” was in no way excluding anyone from the conversation.

In fact, by adding “and gals” you are actually changing “you guys” from a completely neutral statement to a specific “men and women” and that excludes way more people than just saying “you guys”

Sounds like the person you talked to was just being difficult for the sake of it, perhaps they were having a bad day.

Exactly. I’d compare this to people being offended by the word “freshmen.” It’s gotten ridiculous.

 

[Macleoid]

I use guys as a gender neutral but I don't think it's universally accepted as such.

 

[LordKasual]

Lord Kasual indeed

indeed

if you get hung-up over the most basic of idioms, especially one that is decidedly and deliberately not-specific, you're probably someone who sucks the fun out of every room you're in

but to each his[their] own

 

[Pilgrimzero]

This should have been the first reply.

 

[marzlapin]

"You guys" is fine. It's effectively gender-neutral in usage where I live (in CA).

 

[Phased]

it assumes men to be the default.

It really doesn't, for the same reason "Man" when talking about us as a species doesn't. Only in the most basic, strict definition would this be the case.

When someone says "hey you guys" they mean everybody, men and women by default. Some people look for things to be offended by I think.

 

[Subpar Spatula]

"you guys" is problematic cause it assumes the default. imagine if there was a push for instead of "you guys" it was "you gals" to encompass all -- there would be such anger towards it cause status quo.

 

[L Thammy]

i just say "you fucks"

.

 

[Dude Abides]

This is so low on the micro aggression scale that objecting to it just makes you look like a dipshit.

 

[Goro Majima]

"Youse Guys" is the Wisconsin "Y'all" so no problem

 

[manakel]

"you guys" is problematic cause it assumes the default. imagine if there was a push for instead of "you guys" it was "you gals" to encompass all -- there would be such anger towards it cause status quo.

I work in a profession where all of my immediate colleagues are women. Emails to all of us are constantly addressed as “Hey ladies”, etc. I move on with my life.

 

[Rentahamster]

My usage of "you guys" is gender neutral. So is "dude", sometimes unless the context is explicitly cited that it isn't.

 

[Cagey]

"Youse Guys" is the Wisconsin "Y'all" so no problem

Was there some great guido migration to Wisconsin in the 80s or something?

 

[Souzetsu]

I use "y'all" and "you guys".

 

[itwasTuesday]

What if i told you one of the founders of gafs favorite burger joint 5 Guys, is a gal.

 

[ThisGuy]

Say 'you homo sapiens'. Fuck 'em all up OP.

 

[Staccat0]

indeed

if you get hung-up over the most basic of idioms, especially one that is decidedly and deliberately not-specific, you're probably someone who sucks the fun out of every room you're in

but to each his[their] own

I know what you mean. I just have trans people that I create content for and saying "ya'll" is easy enough. I fear potentially offending someone I don't really have any clear context for their life and what they have coming at them in a day to day.

I'm not gonna lecture someone for doing it. Especially not a client, but I wouldn't go so far as to say someone who doesn't like it isn't worth talking to.

All this sounds like I'm being a passive-aggressive scold, but I assume you aren't actually so absolute in your feelings. It's just an interesting thing that's been on my mind and your reply here was a nice jumping off point.

It only came to my attention when a female colleague of mine got ribbed for it.

 

[NervousXtian]

The anti you guys thing is pretty new.. I've seen it come up more often as of late.

It's never meant mean just men.. and adding "and gals" is just lengthening the amount of words you need to say.

Someone having a problem with it says a lot more about them than the one who said it.

 

[Mattakuevan]

I've always used "you guys" to include everyone and no one has given me shit about it.

Its gender neutral.

Edit: I use dude for both as well. Someone got on my case about it once.

 

[Fred-87]

I manage three queer women at my job in SF. I called them "you guys," then asked - "oh, I should probably not use that term huh?" They laughed, and with some pity for my clueless straight white ass, told me not to worry about it. Anecdata and ymmv and all that but it's not a universal anathema, yet.

You meaned well ofcourse, but its annoying when people treat you like you are something special. By pointing out that you should not say that.

 

[umop_3pisdn]

I try to avoid using "you guys" if they're from the baby boomer generation or later. IME people around my age aren't very likely to take it as discourteous.

 

[kirblar]

"I'm going to hang with the guys" is definitely gendered. "I'm going to hang with you guys" is not.

 

[Fulminator]

Nah guys is basically a gender neutral term in a lot of contexts imo

 

[DarkKyo]

Say "y'all" instead.
It's a perfectly acceptable contraction

I would rather die.

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

Guys seems ok around these parts for all genders.

 

[UraMallas]

I live in Iowa and it is a common phrase for all people. Gender neutral as a phrase like that can be.

 

[t hicks]

You guys is fine imo, I always just say y’all cuz I’m from Georgia tho
or I just say What’s good

 

[Subpar Spatula]

I've always used "you guys" to include everyone and no one has given me shit about it.

Its gender neutral.

it's not gender neutral. it never was. the word "guy" refers to males. i'm sure there are plenty of people who dislike the phrase hence why you see "Hey all", "Hey everyone" "Hey folks" etc. because they know it's exclusionary and keeps the status quo. Just men all around would make a stink if they were asked to use something else.

 

[strafer]

Say "y'all" instead.
It's a perfectly acceptable contraction

Jared Padalecki agrees with this.

 

[Turin]

*shrug*

I've frequently called girls "dude" and no one's seemed to mind at all.

 

[pigeon]

It really doesn't, for the same reason "Man" when talking about us as a species doesn't.

Many people believe that using "man" instead of "human" for the species does exclude female experiences and contributions, for the same reason!

It's weird to see so many people say "it's just like how man includes women." The argument actually started like thirty years ago explicitly about that!