I've read that in the 1930's-'40's, Mussolini insisted that the common familiar 2nd person singular "tu" had to be shunned and replaced by "vos" (or it might have been other other way around) because "tu" was supposedly effeminate and unworthy of manly patriotic Italians.
It made no sense grammatically, but it had the effect that all Italians labeled themselves as for, or against, Mussolini whenever they opened their mouths. It was simply a way for the Fascist Party to instantly label "unreliable citizens" --- opponents of the regime.
Yes, as EvilOverlord so succinctly observed, “It’s a feature, not a bug.”
I listened yesterday to an interview with Douglas Murray about his new book “The Madness of Crowds,” for which I am still on the library’s waiting list. Mr. Murray said he understands that most people just want to be kind to others, but we have to redefine it or lose all connection to reality.
No matter how difficult it is, nice people have to say, “He’s a man. She’s a woman. He’s a boy. She’s a girl,” when that is what is true.