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Why is the term 'guys' used generically to refer to any group of people?

Is that because of the male-ification via religion where God is considered male and a 'father figure'?

Why can't the term 'girls' be used instead of 'guys' or would that offend the vast bulk of men who would think they are being inferiorised? ;-)
revenant · F
that is a lot of overthinking
MrSmooTh · 31-35, M
Because people have been saying it forever and we all just kind of went with it. So it works. Don't fix what isn't broken.
MissAAnzai · 18-21, F
Honestly? Who cares?
Because women are inferior, duh.
meJess · F
Guys is accepted as gender neutral despite have origin in single sex activities.

If you don’t like a word English has the largest vocabulary. Don’t ask to change what is, learn what is already available.
onewithshoes · 22-25, F
@meJess
And it's origin as a boy's name. Language evolves and changes.
huskyguy89 · 31-35, M
On the god thing. I'd honestly PREFER if such a being does in fact exist to be female. 🤷‍♂️ That's me, and I've always tried to say "girls", or ladies, cuz I thought calling a group of women "guys" was weird...lol. I just try n go with the flow.
spjennifer · 61-69, T
It should only be "guys" if the whole group is male or "girls" if the whole group is female, if it's a mix of male and female, you use guys and gals, pretty simple really...
MartinII · 70-79, M
@spjennifer Yes, but lots of people, especially girls in my experience, use “guys” to mean everyone present. It’s a non-issue, in my opinion.
spjennifer · 61-69, T
@MartinII Depends on the group, I've seen people lose their jobs for less than that...
Magnolia21 · 22-25, F
Alright guys, let me state my opinion: Because it's common slang. Easy to say, even when sloshed.
SW-User
wouldn't it be gals? i'll field-test calling groups gals regardless of gender and report back
MarkPaul · 26-30, M
It's just accepted and makes sense. Calling a group of mixed genders, "girls" would be offensive.
onewithshoes · 22-25, F
There are often interesting histories about the origins and histories of such expressions.
try 'hullo flockers', but say it really quick.
ronisme1 · 61-69, M
I dont believe God has a sex, neither male or female
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val70 · 51-55
Yep, my opinion exactly

[media=https://youtu.be/amtjEgUo3Jw]
It’s entirely possible. I don’t know if there’s a religious angle, but in some languages if you refer to a group with both men and women, you always use the masculine form of "they".
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