Society/Culture Do you understand and accept the importance of neopronouns?

You know how to use himself/herself in a sentence?
In a description yes, in a conversation, not sure. Say I’m talking to a cat person, how do I work “cat self “ into the convo? See, I’m not sure “pronouns” would come up, unless they were the topic of the conversation.
 
Mar 28, 2006
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In a description yes, in a conversation, not sure. Say I’m talking to a cat person, how do I work “cat self “ into the convo? See, I’m not sure “pronouns” would come up, unless they were the topic of the conversation.
* Mary approaches Bob and Sally in the lunchroom *

Mary: Do you two need a lift to the party?
Bob: That would be great. Sally is working back tonight so cat is going to drive catself.
 

hiking

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I reckon Mary is gonna have some follow-up questions after hearing that one for the first time.
 

hiking

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Countercultures moving the goal posts as they start to get accepted by the mainstream.
I think this is obviously the case.

And I'm not saying it's a negative thing. But the more that once supposedly radical (non traditional) agendas become embraced and normalised by the mainstream, it then becomes "what do we fight for next?".

I was unaware about the situation of identifying as a cat before reading these pages. But after using google and finding a "lgbta.wikia" site it gave me all the information including the flags (many of them) of those that the people who identify as a cat use, and all the information.

Sadly I rolled my eyes, and searched the site to see if people wanted to identify as a donkey (surely not), and then came across the search result of "equusgender", which I think involves a donkey somewhere on the niche spectrum.

The first thing I thought of after reading this, was it reminded me of very early youth and the games we'd play in classrooms or drama etc. And then thinking, are people trying to normalise this as what an adult can identify as in life? Tongue out of cheek, with a rational mind.

That's what it looks like to me. Whether it being a mental situation, a kink, a drug induced escapism, I dunno. But I admit it's probably a good thing that people (obviously such a very small amount) are coming forward with these situations, and a good chance not being ridiculed if in a therapist style setting.

But do you think it's better to steer these people away from their neo-ID thoughts and "help" them? Or to try and normalise the situation, maybe getting through to other people in the same position? Or thirdly, it just depends on the individual?
 

bfff

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Jun 6, 2006
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I think this is obviously the case.

And I'm not saying it's a negative thing. But the more that once supposedly radical (non traditional) agendas become embraced and normalised by the mainstream, it then becomes "what do we fight for next?".

I was unaware about the situation of identifying as a cat before reading these pages. But after using google and finding a "lgbta.wikia" site it gave me all the information including the flags (many of them) of those that the people who identify as a cat use, and all the information.

Sadly I rolled my eyes, and searched the site to see if people wanted to identify as a donkey (surely not), and then came across the search result of "equusgender", which I think involves a donkey somewhere on the niche spectrum.

The first thing I thought of after reading this, was it reminded me of very early youth and the games we'd play in classrooms or drama etc. And then thinking, are people trying to normalise this as what an adult can identify as in life? Tongue out of cheek, with a rational mind.

That's what it looks like to me. Whether it being a mental situation, a kink, a drug induced escapism, I dunno. But I admit it's probably a good thing that people (obviously such a very small amount) are coming forward with these situations, and a good chance not being ridiculed if in a therapist style setting.

But do you think it's better to steer these people away from their neo-ID thoughts and "help" them? Or to try and normalise the situation, maybe getting through to other people in the same position? Or thirdly, it just depends on the individual?

I guess that it would be harder to establish a sense of identity when you spend a lot of time socialising online. Maybe engaging with identity in this way takes away some pressure? It’s a playful thing?

Issues around identity should be dealt with in a respectul and kind manner. Not dismissive or disbelieving or mocking.
It’s a person’s self-image you are messing around with, you don’t have to go home and live in their head, you are merely a tourist. Tread lightly. (Not having a go at you hiking, this is a general comment).
 
I think this is obviously the case.

And I'm not saying it's a negative thing. But the more that once supposedly radical (non traditional) agendas become embraced and normalised by the mainstream, it then becomes "what do we fight for next?".

I was unaware about the situation of identifying as a cat before reading these pages. But after using google and finding a "lgbta.wikia" site it gave me all the information including the flags (many of them) of those that the people who identify as a cat use, and all the information.

Sadly I rolled my eyes, and searched the site to see if people wanted to identify as a donkey (surely not), and then came across the search result of "equusgender", which I think involves a donkey somewhere on the niche spectrum.

The first thing I thought of after reading this, was it reminded me of very early youth and the games we'd play in classrooms or drama etc. And then thinking, are people trying to normalise this as what an adult can identify as in life? Tongue out of cheek, with a rational mind.

That's what it looks like to me. Whether it being a mental situation, a kink, a drug induced escapism, I dunno. But I admit it's probably a good thing that people (obviously such a very small amount) are coming forward with these situations, and a good chance not being ridiculed if in a therapist style setting.

But do you think it's better to steer these people away from their neo-ID thoughts and "help" them? Or to try and normalise the situation, maybe getting through to other people in the same position? Or thirdly, it just depends on the individual?
I remember seeing a documentary, quite a long time ago, about some people who fell in love with inanimate objects. One of them (can’t recall if male or female) got married to a lamp post. It was in America of course. They seem to have more weird stuff per square mile going on over there than anywhere else. And we want to enable it here :oops:
 

hiking

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Yeah, I'd believe that and it sounds familiar.

I suppose there would be the two ends of the spectrum as well. Those that identity with a neo-pronoun and really hate it and want help to change that situation. And the others that embrace their neo-ID and not only want to share it, but to a degree expect all others they associate with to respect it and use it.
 

CharlieMortdecai

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Everyone has basic human rights. We should all respect those. Trans folks have the same rights as everyone else and should be protected from violence, vilification and discrimination. That is a basic liberal principal regarding the treatment of minorities.
What an odd sentence. Surely it is a basic principle regarding the treatment of people.
 
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What an odd sentence. Surely it is a basic principle regarding the treatment of people.
There are plenty of examples of vulnerable minorities being mistreated by majorities. I'd say liberal values are particularly invested in protecting against that i.e. minority rights are insoluble and are not contingent on the whims of the majority.

Go to an illiberal society that doesn't value pluralism and see if that applies.

I frequently suspect SJ claims victory after boring his interlocutor to death.
I can't say I have any opinion about you whatsoever.
 
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CharlieMortdecai

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There are plenty of examples of vulnerable minorities being mistreated by majorities. I'd say liberal values are particularly invested in protecting against that i.e. minority rights are insoluble and are not contingent on the whims of the majority.

I can't say I have any opinion about you whatsoever.
"Basic human rights" are universal, they are not "liberal values", whatever that is supposed to mean. They also have no special relationship with a person's status as a minority. What does it even mean to be a minority? I presume it means to have some sort of characteristic that marks you as part of a group that is a minority in society? Yet in our plutocratic society I would think there are many minority groups who mistreat members of a majority group. Who decides when a minority is vulnerable and needs protection? How do we regulate or legislate such protections? Especially given that vulnerable minorities can no doubt change from year to year.
 
Dec 20, 2014
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"Basic human rights" are universal, they are not "liberal values", whatever that is supposed to mean.
Oh, I see the point of confusion.

I didn't mean that "basic human rights" were exclusive to liberal values.

I meant that protecting minorities from discrimination and the defence of pluralism was a particular liberal commitment.

My statement about "basic human rights" was a more general acknowledgement. I didn't mean they were exclusive to a liberal worldview.
 
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There are plenty of examples of vulnerable minorities being mistreated by majorities. I'd say liberal values are particularly invested in protecting against that i.e. minority rights are insoluble and are not contingent on the whims of the majority.

Go to an illiberal society that doesn't value pluralism and see if that applies.

I can't say I have any opinion about you whatsoever.
For f*** sake. Its human rights. Not minority rights. Human rights exist to protect minorities to ensure they get the same rights as majorities. Not special rights of their own.
 
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