Guys and girls?

[James]

I really grew up saying "you guys" meaning guys and girls. Since then I've been a bit paranoid about it while trying to break the habit. What do you folks think?

Someone pointed out to me that this may alienate females. What do you think?

[e2c]

Not me. I grew up saying "you guys" to mean "you" [plural], regardless of the gender of the people being addressed.

Though this could be misunderstood by folks who aren't native speakers of English... but it's a good colloquial phrase, all the same (I think).

I think the updated version is "Dude!"

Edited to add: I'd rather not be referred to as a "girl." "Guys" = people of any age; "girl(s)" seems (to me) like one of those words that a lot of men use when they want to be condescending to women.

That's because the male equivalent of "girl" is actually "boy," not "guy." Boys/girls are not adults.

Just sayin'...

[Djembe-nerd]

I ain't worrying bout this, yous guys can

I think the updated version is "Dude!"

Didn't someone bring out "Dudess" sometime in the forum.

[e2c]

I think so... the thing is, I know women who call each other "dude." (I guess you can blame this on certain movies. )

[Djembe-nerd]

I know, its all over, I think it was popularised by MTV and spread to everywhere.

[Djembe-nerd]

From Yahoo answers (There you go, that provees it )

guy---boy
gal---girl
guys!---boys and girls

[e2c]

d-n, I think a lot of the "Dude!" usage comes from fans of "The Big Lebowski."

[FreekAce]

i call both my male and female friends dude all the time, as a group i'd address them as dudes/guys.
and the Big Lebowski is epic! that rug really tied the room together man!

[e2c]

oh no...