Yes, but the singular "they" has a long, long history. And Googling singular they themselves leads me to a conclusion that the singular "themselves" is what's most often used with the singular "they".
However, to stay on the gender-neutral side, and still have correct agreement between the words, you can reconfigure the sentence like so: It's filler. (Watch the comma splice!) It's condescending (as if the writer thinks the readers can't figure things out for themselves.)
@ChickenFreak - Googling that didn't lead me to any conclusion of that ilk, although I'd probably err towards grammatical logic than herd mentality anyway, given that the whole issue is without standard. (On that front, if/when I'm Supreme Utilitarian Ruler, I'll be revising the standards: don't get too attached to the letter C). @jannert - In the original quote that comma wasn't a splice; it was separating items in a list (ETA: that was the intent anyway. I suppose a clear list wouldn't have repeated the subject...). But I agree that rewriting to avoid the issue is generally best. (There's probably also a joke in there about writers doing what I was railing against never having more than one reader.) So, back on track... non-standard English is a style no-no for you @BayView +/- others? Doesn't bother me in the slightest when reading, although as a writer I'd probably save it for dialogue and forum posts rather than narratives or formal writing. Although that googling did reveal that publishers in my country find singular they perfectly acceptable...
I don't know that I'd agree that it's without standard. Historically, I'd say that the standard was the singular their/themselves. A link, from a different Googling: http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/austheir.html
If you're writing a piece of fiction, you can actually adopt any style you want. Whatever fits best, is probably your best choice. If you choose to use a comma splice in this instance because it reads well, and speed is what you want to achieve (a full stop, or 'period,' slows it down just a tiny fraction more than a comma does) then by all means use your comma. However, subject and verb together does create a complete sentence, so be aware that separating several of these constructions with commas is breaking the rule. If you want to be totally correct, use semicolons in your list instead and you'll be fine. Semicolons are correct in lists, and also between complete sentences if you want the two to be strongly connected. Break the rule if you think it works, but do be aware—as you seem to be—you're doing exactly that. (Which is why I included the smiley! )
I am very fond of the book Writers’ Devils: The Grammar Guide for Fiction Writers, by Dan Persinger, and I refer to it often. Here is a quote from near the start of the book that sums up the author’s attitude: “You should observe the conventions of the language unless you have a reason not to—there is no point in using non-standard punctuation toward no literary purpose whatsoever. You wouldn’t make a run-on sentence or a comma splice or omit the quotation marks in dialogue unless you had some perceived good reason, would you? When you write with nonstandard punctuation for no discernible good reason at all, editors and readers are left to infer that you’re using it for the only remaining reason: that you just don’t know any better. “With that said, I’m not going to even try to tell you to do something the ‘right’ way every time according to some punctuation rule as if you were writing an academic research paper or a refrigerator manual. (Would that refrigerator manuals were so carefully written!-Jannert) In your trade of fiction writing, you might not always use standard punctuation—in fact you might use hardly any punctuation at all if it doesn’t fit your creative plan (Cormac McCarthy, anyone?). However, you do need to know what some standard applications of punctuation are in fiction so that when you depart from them in your writing you’ll know it. You’ll understand what you’ve done and why you’ve done it.” Dan Persinger's attitude is similar to grammatical issues, such as the gender pronoun problem discussed here on this thread. Do what works in a purposeful way, but stick to conventional usage unless there is a good reason to depart from it. I'm a fan of that approach.
@ChickenFreak - Although even more historically, their/themself was the standard, says Wikipedia (referenced), while also suggesting that themself is on the rise and including it in their table as the reflexive pronoun for singular they. Plus a million other links I can find... I'm not convinced there's a standard. I suppose the grammatical argument against themself is that the verbs used with singular they are usually plural (when there's a difference). E.g. 'When I call a plumber, they usually unclogs my drain by themself' matches plurality across the board, but I don't think anyone goes with that. @jannert - No question there, but did that strictly break a rule? Commas are used to separate items on a list, and you can have a list of complete sentences ('Susie likes pizza, Billy likes hamburgers and Maisy likes hot dogs.'). I've never considered the twilight zone between lists and comma splices before... just pedantically interested now. I was happy with how I phrased it regardless of technical right or wrong, although it would be nice to know (as you say). Ditto on the singular they reflexives, although I don't see a solid answer there any time soon. I must seem like a wanker who can't admit fault but I don't want to be a leaf blowing in the wind either.
No Simon, you are my snowflake - buffets upon window pane, Christmas morning, soft landing, but lo, more flakes descend on you, my pillow, and you - crushed in a winter tragedy; melt waters are all together.
Well, I think you're fine, actually. I wouldn't worry, especially if it is actually a list. I was making a pedantic joke ...hence the smiley. Here's what a really pedantic writer would probably do: Susie likes pizza; Billy likes hamburgers; Maisy likes hot dogs. The comma splice issue is more a concern with more complicated sentences, just research anything you're not sure of, then you can move ahead with confidence. (See what I just did? )
I cannot stand common descriptions, actions, and dialogue, written by a common writer (eg, not Hemingway). The laughs, the smirks, the tucking under of the legs, and the trite quips, these things, unless placed under some grand context-cynical or otherwise-are revealing of a dull mind.
"This country"? I think the world is sick and tired of Americans casually assuming that the internet is exclusively American.
You do realize you're referring to a conversation between myself, an American, and another American. So if you're not an American, why don't you Canadian yourself out of here?
I can't tell if you're serious. You have noticed that this forum, and even this thread, has more people on it than you and whoever those other two people are, right? I'm going to assume that you were completely joking in your post above.
But it eventually leads to this sort of nonsense: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Man-Legally-Changes-Name-To-They-2692203.php The singular 'they' is always wrong, as are 'comma splices' flow or no.
The proper use of singular they results in some asshat changing his name to 'They' for humor to address the common reference to "they."? What? Bit of a leap.
But this is silly enough to be irrelevant. Don't forget that Prince changed his name to some unpronounceable splot, and was referred to in the music press as "the artist formerly known as Prince." It didn't last, but it was still silly and it didn't result in a ton of people changing their names to unpronounceable splots.
Feel free to travel back a century or three and tell all of the people who were using it. If you prefer the newfangled rules, that's fine, but new isn't always better.
I had a lengthy reply all typed out when this piece of garbage browser (FF) crashed again, so I'll just say I live and write in 2016 and take some pride in being able to do so while observing today's SPAG conventions. I believe my readers will appreciate the effort. and it's the readers that fiction is supposed to be about.
I mean, you say that, but today's SPAG conventions unarguably include using singular they. No one can make you use it, and I'm certainly not going to waste my time trying to talk you into it, but citing publicity stunts and 'today's conventions' (on a matter that's obviously divisive) isn't a strong argument. If you don't want to use singular they because you don't like it, you can just say you don't like it.
