Doesn’t the apostrophe replace an i ? Or in this particular case a singular student could actually be plural students. As in more than one has wishes. !

Edited by cryrst (02 Sep 2022 8.30pm)

Edited by cryrst (02 Sep 2022 8.31pm)

Just for fun, I have a few questions:

1. If any of these students were to join the tragically high proportion of those who transition only to take their own lives, would you feel at all culpable? God forbid suffice to say.

2. As an educator, do you believe in the incorrect usage of language tailored solely for the wishes of a person’s subjective opinions on what they believe they are with no scientific backing whatsoever and actually running contradictory to biological science and application of language? Furthermore do you think it correct that people are told what language they ‘must’ use based on the wishes of others?

3. This ones just for me. I have always felt far superior to most others, I believe this stems from my growing up around predominantly Millwall fans. If I were a student, and demanded to be referred to as ‘His Royal highness’ or addressed as ‘Your Royal Highness’ would you oblige? I believe my claim to royalty is as valid as John’s to be referred to as She/her.

I realise this might seem very aggressive questioning but I am interested and have not ruled out my own ignorance as being a factor in my inability to process this scenario.

Wow, what a plateful!

1) I witness many students who are at a time in their life when questions of their sexuality can cause much pain and confusion. I have many that tell me of their sexuality, whatever it is, and I respect whatever it is, no matter what. It may happen that how they feel about that may change at any time or not. That is for them. It is not for me to dictate anything to them but to let them know that I am supportive of their wishes and their freedom to have them, regardless. As for 'culpable', well the answer is no. I respect their wishes but I have no right to take responsibility for their actions, providing they are not harming anybody else. They are young adults and have the right to choose.

It's so difficult to put these things into words but I've tried my hardest here.

2) I have witnessed such pain over these matters that I believe being supportive of their wishes is the least I can do. Many have been met with such aggression over these matters from others, often from those closest to them. They can be in great inner pain and turmoil.

As for the biological rights and wrongs, I am no scientist and am afraid I am not able to answer about 'scientific backing'. Sorry.

Where I work I see that many of my colleagues sign off their emails according to how they'd like to be addressed - He, Him His, for example and that's fine with me. I don't do that myself and there is no 'dictat' from above that we are obliged to.

3) You may believe that your claim to be called 'Your Royal Highness' is genuine but it would be considered to be bogus in law unless you can provide proof of your ancestry and right to the throne. That will be a matter of fact, I believe.

4) Any Millwall supporter may well be referred to as 'serf' by any Crystal Palace fan worth their salt. Lol

To be serious, though, I work with young people and many of the stories I hear would make you shudder. I'm not perfect, far from it but I do my best to be as supportive as possible to them. I remember being a teenager myself and as well having some of the best times of my life, I remember it being accompanied by periods of great pain, too.

I realise that these answers are by no means complete but I've tried my best to be honest.

We could fill a book discussing it, couldn't we?

If a person wishes to change their gender, can they also change their race?

So, for example, could I insist on being considered as non-white? We hear of white people being accused of cultural appropriation all the time but if I consider myself to be black, why should I not be able to have my hair in dreadlocks?

Lets say I wanted to go to the US, and insisted on being treated as a Native American, because that is how I identify, on what grounds could that be denied to me?

Can I only be defined, racially, based on the pigmentation of my skin?

And why not?

Also what if I want to self-identify as having a mental illness that means I cannot go to work? Or can a Government decide if I am ill or not?

Self-identification is an utter fallacy. Society collapses if you take it to any kind of logical conclusion.

Gender is fixed.
Race is fixed.

Trans anything are not what they proclaim themselves to be, no matter how much they want to play pretend in that alternative role. They can have every bit of cosmetic surgery they want, gulp down hormone blockers like water, wear whatever clothing they like and it makes not a single iota of difference to who they are.

This is all f***ing lunacy. And for what? What does society gain out of any of this? It makes a mockery of so, so much. Where is any of the upside on this?

there is a nasty standoff going on here. The forces of the radical SocLib Left versus a stubborn stalwart of traditional Conservatism.

A career and a reputation in tatters. An institution tainted by a messy ideological battle in the Culture War.

who will win ? will he ? or she ? or they ? or it ?

[Link]
.
[Link]

Edited by PalazioVecchio (02 Sep 2022 4.50pm)