1.19.2009

Tortured Facebook grammar

The good people of Facebook decided long ago - probably to simplify programming - that they would use the gender neutral third person (they and their) in their newsfeeds and such.

For the most part, it's anodyne, but this week I got a big laugh when a friend SuperPoked me.

This is what the notice read:

Maggie McDonnell has gotten their hair did with Adriana Palanca.

Foiled!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Madonn!

But in 'their' defense, not too long ago, a question appeared in our home feed asking us to clarify: "should news about you refer to 'him' or 'her'." I'm guessing that was just for the folks that didn't fill out 'sex' in their profile...

(and why would anyone need to know with whom Palanca gets her hair done? I think I prefer that news *with* the absurd grammar ;)

James

ad said...

I don't remember answering that question... but that doesn't mean much.

But if Maggie answered that question, wouldn't it have indicated, "got her hair done".

I say, bring on the bad grammar. Injects a little excitement in my day.

James said...

Yea, if Maggie had answered the question it should have used 'her'. But who knows maybe it's glitchy or not transferred to 3rd party apps.

You heard about that whopper app glitch? it actually overrode facebook policy and send notices to people informing them they were deleted by their 'friends' in exchange for free whoppers.

ad said...

I appreciate Burger King's zeal - but I get the feeling that creative directors, etc often don't think the campaign through before launch.