This is one that people may ding me for because it's old school, but I was taught that when you didn't know the gender of someone, you automatically referred to them in the masculine. I don't understand why this is so looked down upon today; it is nothing against women in my opinion. It makes the language neater and easier to read. Why should it be necessary to say "he or she", "him or her"...isn't one enough regardless of the gender involved? Why are some so dang sensitive?

In addition, I was taught that when addressing a letter and you didn't know to address it "Dear Sirs:", once again the masculine. If you do this now and it hits the desk of the wrong person, expect to be reemed out for it. And what's the deal with exchanging all of the gender specific words with gender neutral words: mail carrier instead of mailman? Why can't people be confident enough in their own sense of identity and realize that those words were never intended to be sexist? Why should we change the entire language just so we won't offend anyone?

Okay....getting off the now.