Very true, my deviance. But words change meaning and connotations over time. For me "dude" is a blank placeholder. I should of course take more care to see my text from the eyes and mind of the target reader.

IIRC the 2004 bsg called everyone "sir" regardless of gender. I remember that nudged me the first and second time I heard it, but then it was just second nature. It had lost it's (for me) implied gender.