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2. Introduction

2.1. Purpose of this FAQ

Despite the title, the main subject of this document is not frequently-asked questions about gender-neutral pronouns, but instead is a general information source about gender-neutral alternatives to gendered pronouns. However, it's easier to say "gender-neutral pronoun FAQ" or "GNP-FAQ", so i'll adopt that as shorthand.

This FAQ concerns the creation (known as "neologism", or "coining") of new gender-neutral alternatives for existing gendered pronouns. For example, one might coin the word "ey" to replace both "he" and "she". The general purpose of this FAQ is to explore this realm in depth. More specific reasons for writing this FAQ are as follows:

To provide a usage manual for people who adopt GNPs but who aren't sure how to use them correctly
To help set some standards
To convince people to stop inventing new GNPs and start using the good ones that already exist
To reduce the number of frequently asked questions and the more annoying posts that often result from threads on the topic
To accurately depict the motivations and arguments of GNP users (mainly) and GNP opponents (to a lesser degree) on the various issues involved
To provide GNP adopters with a resource they can use to counter negative reactions from others
To provide a liberal helping of my own opinion on the issues involved, hopefully in a way that will make it clear that it's only my opinion
To have fun & play with language — i need to create things
To explore feminist & political issues
To convince others to adopt GNPs
To increase awareness about GNPs and feminist issues
To try to get the GNP community to recognize itself as a community (though i'm not sure this is a good idea, since it also makes it a target)
Misc. other reasons

2.2. Conventions Used in this FAQ

I usually use the GNP's "ey", "eir", and "em" in this FAQ when referring to people, in place of "he/she", "his/her", "her/him". I also write in the first person, and use lowercase "i"; people that are annoyed by that should be thankful that i don't use the neologisms "iy, iy'm, iy'd", and so forth. (I may do that in the future. Haven't decided yet if iy like them.)

It should be noted that "gender" does not really mean the physical sex of a person: it's a more abstract term in language used to describe words. Sometimes a male person or animal might be described with a word that has a female gender. It might be more appropriate to use the term "natural-gender" instead of "gender-neutral", but that's less user-friendly.

2.3. Finding the FAQ

You can find this FAQ either somewhere close to where you are reading this sentence, or at the home site at http://www.aetherlumina.com/gnp/. It's primarily meant to be accessed as hypertext, but text versions of major revisions will also be made available.

I'll also crosspost announcements to the various groups where GNP discussions come up.

2.4. Et Cetera

I decided to call this thing a "FAQ" since that's what people might search for. It's really part FAQ, part REF, part FUQ'N'A:

FAQ:: Frequently Asked Questions — seeks to reduce oft-repeated threads that contain common questions
REF:: Reference file — seeks to provide extended information beyond brief answers to common questions
FUQ'N'A:: Frequently Unasked Questions 'N' Answers to them — seeks to reduce oft-repeated threads by answering questions that people don't think to ask, or which bears upon questions that are asked in an indirect way
RAQ:: Rarely Asked Questions — combo of some of the above
PIP:: Periodical Informational Postings — all of the above. Many PIPs advocate certain views. Some even admit it.

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