to think that children in your child's class don't identify as animals?

No, far from the same - but equally, I keep seeing on MN people talking about goths as though they were models of virtue from a Victorian Sunday School book who happened to like black eyeliner, so I thought it was worth the correction!

I've been to TG too back in the day and it's precisely because I have been around the scene as an adult that I am worried about the mission creep from kink and furries down to therians. NOBODY on the Goth scene was encouraging vulnerable 11 year olds to think of themselves as having an inner Goth soul and post pictures or videos of themselves on social media for adult goths to admire. Who knows, if tiktok had existed back then maybe they would have done, because there's creeps in every community, but I think the extreme appeal of this to children and especially to autistic children makes it particularly worrying.

The main difference between the original sub cultures and the new ones is the Internet. Punks, Goths and New Romantics had to work hard to feed their interest in the real world, meeting up, DIY costumes, saving up for gig tickets etc. And it was a subversive rebellion thing - the shock element had a political thrust as well.

These days (Christ, I'm turning into my grandmothers - but perhaps that's not an entirely bad thing as thrmey were pretty wise crones) every whim can be satisfied at the click of a button. There weren't any Therians because who the feck knew what a Therian was?

Obviously it's nice for people to find "their people" and social isolation is an unhealthy thing but these days how do you know who you're connecting with on the Web? If they're even real - or a bot generated to steer one towards the current zeitgeist and whatever colour of pound generation is this week's trend?

A good proportion of Goths / punks hung up their studs and PVC and look fondly back on their wild youth. Some of us didn't but hey, we're at best the entertainment and at worst a terrible warning.

And that is where much of the subject of this thread will likely go too. But children need proper guidance when it goes a step further from imaginative "play" and starts potentially fucking with their perception of reality.

Litter trays may be a myth, and the odd set of ears and tail blown out of proportion, but as the whole trans debate has shown, the way to hell can very much be paved with good intentions (and capitalism without thought or compassion).

I feel for parents these days, I really do, and also for the children struggling with the world we live in. I can choose to opt out and do for the most part because I'm too old for this shit. But I remember peer pressure and loneliness and still occasionally have existential crises because I struggle to "get with the programne" because it changes every five minutes.

So hats off to those navigating the stormy seas of adolescence in this crazy world, both parents and tweens / teens. It's certainly above my paygrade these days.

If affects others when we're expected to go along with it. It's not nasty to tell a child they can't be a non existent therian, or a different species.
Most children aren't "nasty bitches" or identifying as impossible things. There's a happy middle ground 99% occupy.

Stop calling girls bitches.

You weren't popular at school? Fine. Stop dressing up openly calling girls bitches with faux concern about kids dressing as cats.

I couldn’t believe it but this is definitely a thing. There were three “cats” at a sports hall event I went to recently. All about 13. I think wearing the masks must’ve been quite hot as they kept taking them off, but the tails stayed on the entire time 🤷‍♀️

Children can play games in their own time. It should not be brought into the classroom.

I read online recently that American schools keep cat litter in the classroom in case they go into lockdown because of a shooting. It’s there in case the children need to pee while locked in their classrooms.
I wonder if this question about fetishism is the internet spinning out of control.

The problem is that online communities of furries are linked to fetish and bdsm and worse.

So a child who's picked up the term may move on to other things online if not appropriately safeguarded and the potential to be groomed.

Very well known case linked to the Green Party. David challenor

The pr

There isn’t ever adjustments made. That’s a load of crap that is just rolled out by ignorant people.

I don't think legally the teachers are under an actual obligation to make adjustments for a preference (dressing as an animal) which isn't a protected characteristic (not should it be. I don't think any of the "identity" guff should be to be honest).

Being bitchy and nasty affects others. It is directed at others. Wearing a mask and a tail does not. That is the difference. I can see you are one of these snowflakes that is triggered by other people doing their own thing minding their own business. If you don’t want to wear a mask then don’t. But why does that give you the right to tell others they can’t do it either.

honestly. It’s like the gay marriage debate all over again. You don’t want a gay marriage? Great, don’t have one. But why are you triggered by other people doing it? Why be so hateful? Stay in your own lane.

that’s all I’m saying. If kids are being nasty to others that should stop. But when they are doing their own thing minding their own business leave them be. They aren’t hurting anyone. Unlike bitchy girls sending nasty messages and sharing photos ect. They ARE hurting others.

So it's fine to call out bitchy netball girls, but we can't call out the ones thinking they're a different species?
If it's fine for you to call children bitches, then it's definitely fine to tell them they can't be cats.

there is nothing wrong with calling out behaviour - just because they are 11 or 12 doesn’t mean they can’t be bitchy. As I said a 12 year old near me recently killed herself due to the relentless bullying from other 12 year olds in her grade. Being 12 doesn’t mean you are exempt from being called nasty when you are being nasty. The messages and taunts the girl endured were horrendous.

I’d dare to suggest you can’t transition biological sex either.

To be fair @Neodymium you're now calling an 11 year old a nasty bitch.

no she isn’t, and none of the therians are. Where the fake news comes into this is all the talk of litter trays and adjustments. They are just normal tween kids. I know a lot of therians and not one wants to use a litter box or insists on crawling round purring. they just make masks and tails and sometimes wear them out in a group.

This myth came from a school in America that had litter tray filled buckets in the classroom in case they had a school shooting and had to lock down.

Well some tween girls are. A 12 year old local girl in my area killed herself recently from the relentless bullying from other bitchy tween girls in her grade. I’m just saying I’d rather a kind daughter who doesn’t bully others but likes to make masks than one who is a nasty bully 🙄.

To be fair to @Neodymium, her daughter isn't asking for special accommodations to be made for her, and she sounds a pretty cool kid! I say this as someone who hates the whole identity and gender bollocks, and has no patience for it at all.

I can't believe we're calling children "nasty bitches" to be honest.

Oh and the people saying that subcultures like goths aren’t connected to a kink - really??? Dog collars and fishnet stockings?? I wore a dog collar during my teenage goth stage. Didn’t associate it with bdsm at the time but that’s what it represents. I just thought it looked cool.