Different people will probably tell you different things. I feel that these terms are gender neutral, but the context matters a little bit. Others in different regions would argue that they are gendered.
I see. What I would consider the German translation of buddy or mate is probably gendered, at least if you’re referring to the singular, maybe less if you’re referring to groups. The funny thing is, I can’t really come up with an equivalent in German either.
Stuff like this is why foreign languages are so fun to me. Whenever I speak one, I feel like I am a different person.
…and I also realize how privileged I am to be a native English speaker.
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I use “bud” for females a lot. They never mind unless they are in a position to be considered more than a buddy, then they hate it 
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Many women hate being called “females” far more.
Obviously I’m not running around calling them females. I’m not sure how I should have phrased that?
I use bud for she/her ?
Great stuff happening in here.
By the way I’m reading “highly irregular: why dough, through, and tough don’t rhyme”. You would love it, it’s a fun little romp through the development of English.
I think you meant to say that you use “bud” for women a lot. Unless I totally misunderstood you, and you are referring to what you call female dogs and cats, or some other species.
Thanks! Even more for the recommendation. I will try to get my hands on this soon because it sounds totally up my alley. Funnily enough, a few days I checked out a book that I think you would find interesting. I need to read it first though!
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My mind automatically goes to male or female when specifying gender. Women would have worked. Either way, nothing was meant in a bad way…
Referring to people as “males” or “females” (i.e. using these terms as nouns) robs men and women of their humanity. It’s degrading outside of medical, military, and legal contexts. Though it is disrespectful either way, I notice that men rarely call other men “males” yet for some reason are sometimes uncomfortable saying “women.” I have never encountered women who call men “males.”
It’s alienating at worst and awkward at best.
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Well I guess I’ll just chalk this up to learning something new. I’ve called and been called male fwiw. Never thought twice about it but I can understand how it would effect other humans.
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I mean, you can say whatever you want. But I figured you might like to know if you’re potentially pissing off a large chunk of the population. It irks me, anyway. Male and female are “fine” to use as adjectives (i.e. male doctor, female professor) because of the way English works.
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Me too!
It might be some kind of quirk. I do have a tendency to depersonalize people.
That looks pretty weird when I write it out though. Depersonalize people. 
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For the record, I’ve never considered it offensive or disrespectful either
Learn something new everyday I guess 
I don’t think anything good will come of continuing this conversation
I am willing to be more considerate and conscious of my word choices though.
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It’s a good way to reinforce the idea to not only yourself but to others that women are “other” because of anatomy. When used casually, without incel culture’s malicious intents, it still sounds like I should be watching an Animal Planet documentary on a different species – except it’s about me and other women, who are human beings. It’s creepy. Men and women would rarely say, “I’m going to go talk with that male.”
I think that’s easy for you to say.
Hilly 3 mile run 25:06
I wanted to turn this into less of a race. So, I listened to a podcast featuring Dan John rather than to music, and that did the trick. I cruised at a very manageable pace that I could have maintained for longer if I wanted. It rained in such a cathartic way during the last kilometer or so. It was a good way to end the training cycle.
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Look forward to the book rec!
Have comments on the foregoing exchange but… no time. And unnecessary anyway.
I’ll let you know when I finish it. It’s next on the list.
Haha, I think I come across here as an overly bitter, stubborn, whiny, and self-critical SJW, which is not how I like to describe myself. But it’s my log, and it’s the Internet, so oh well. Of course there are far bigger problems in the world, and I realize I am very lucky that chance has gifted me such a comfortable and privileged life.
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To be fair, you bring up some interesting points. They stimulate some thought, at least in me.
Semantics can be brutal. It’s been used and proven many times throughout history that people can be transformed from friends and neighbors to enemies with just a couple of easy leaps from one word to describe them to the next.
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