Butterfly - anyone watching

Well, that was subtle as a brick. Appalling dialogue devoted to shoehorning in talking points so that even decent actors couldn't do anything with it.

I thought it was v realistic.

I don't think anyone doubts the emotional distress of anyone involved; just that there is absolute disagreement about the 'solution'. The solution must be reconciliation and acceptance of one's biological reality, even if one chooses to 'play' or 'perform' with gendered stereotypes and roles. Sex and gender are two separate things.

I think the program is getting it about right. Al families have this rift when dealing with issues around our children and yes it puts a real strain on all our marriages. The idea that the father is loosing a son very real and making it harder for him to accept or allow Maxine to explore her gender in any way. The mother reaching out for reassurance that it isn't something she has done - a very real experience of any mother. And the Sister really understanding and acting as a bridge. And then Maxine trying everything to avoid pushing her Dad away but in the end the pressure inside to express herself too strong. Looking forward to the next few week to see where this goes. Hopefully people here will start to understand the pressures on any family dealing with this is any issue that splits them.

My boss said to me today "Floral, never assume people are sensible. You will avoid so much disappointment."

I don't for one minute doubt the intense feelings of distress and/or 'dysphoria' that some people/children feel. However, I do think that the whole transgender agenda is unhealthy. Body/mind integration has always been the goal of most psychotherapies.

I think many of us feel a disjunct between our physical body type and our personality; however the necessary process of adjustment and reconciliation to the limits of bodily reality is a healthy one.

Many get addicted to cosmetic surgery in a bid to stave off feelings of discomfort or insecurity ( see Katie Price) - but it is a dead end. The roots of discomfort are psychological and emotional. Altering your body in response to psychological discomfort may produce a short term fix - but not a longer term one.

People are raving over it on Twitter. I just think people are really really stupid unfortunately and a lot of people do believe the born in the wrong body nonsense.

Radio 5 are going to be discussing it tomorrow. They are asking for feedback. Most of the comments I read underneath that are there currently are very positive.

twitter.com/bbc5live/status/1051578263376683008?s=21

current thread with background etc:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/a3393935-Serious-official-criticism-of-Butterfly

That's exactly what I was thinking Floral, is it defensible in any way a young child is collateral in adults' deficiencies?

Hold on a sec. I've not watched because, you know, stressful, but am I reading that the parents have split up, and the boy is blaming himself, and the thrust of the drama is that he's right?

And the AWAs on Twitter are in ecstacies over this portrayal?

Bloody hell these people are quite simply detached from all decency.

Perhaps it’s too much to hope that Grandad will get on to social media or contact a group like Transgender Trend. Now that really would inject a bit of drama and tension into the series

I have not watched this but the comments on ITV’s Facebook page are pretty much “support your kid no matter what”, I think anyone that tries to voice genuine concerns there would be sadly shot down.

I can't bring myself to watch it.
I appreciate the commentary!

The child is clearly 'feminine' and with a nascent gay orientation. His father is portrayed as hyper-masculinised and expects his boy to be so too. The grandmother is not very helpful, nor sensitive to the child's innate temperament.

The parents have separated and the boy feels the separation was really because of him: because he has disappointed his father by not being the boy he wanted. If only his father could love him for who and what he was......He comes across pro-trans websites and the deal is sealed.

Honestly, this is all so obvious. Childhood emotional health and well being issues; family breakdown; gendered expectations. I just want for this child, and his family, to accept himself for who he is, and how he wants to express himself - not for him to be put on some damaging medical programme which may well result in bodily mutilation - and even more intensified mental and emotional health issues going forward.

The whole trans narrative has coincided with modern the emergence of pharmaceutical' and surgical 'solutions' to mental health issues. It is not healthy; it is not progressive; and it is not breaking down gendered constructs. Quite the opposite.

Taking away the central premise it was a very poor piece of tv drama. Poor acting, weak script, clunky narrative.

With the central premise it was a thinly disguised advert for Mermaids. The "story" was just a vehicle to signal and include their beliefs and propaganda.

I watched a snippet - if the bit I watched was anything to go by, it was appallingly badly acted and had all the dramatic tension of watching paint dry - magnolia paint. And it wasn't that I happened in on a boring moment - I happened to flick channels just as they got to the slap to the face moment. All I could think (apart from "that's bloody shocking and ooh look you're putting it in the context of minimizing it...") was "that's crap direction - why the wooden statue act then the totally unconvincing reaction?"

It is bad because propaganda rarely makes for good drama, and because of the terrible way the theme of suicide is being handled, but also because as TV it's shite.

George was my role model!

Thanks to you who took one for the team.
23 minutes to get to suicide.

I hope the Samaritans have a statement prepared.
When my DD was a teen Hollyoaks did a self harm storyline.
I am 100% convinced that it gave her the idea to self harm

George was clearly transgender.

George was adamant she was a boy and got upset when people treated her like a girl and called her Georgina. It was obvious why - when Julian and Dick reminded her she was a girl, it was to keep her away from the adventure and put her in her place. Docile domestic Ann was the model of femaleness, and George didn't want that. These days... some doctor would be prescribing puberty blockers without even having met her, it seems.

What an absolute pile of wank. Do the TRA really think this will turn out in their favour?

So many indicators to point to other issues that are plain as day to see. Or is it just me?