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Original poster

Elliot Page undergoes “lifesaving” “top surgery”

459 replies

OnWednesdaysWeWearMink · 25/05/2021 15:41

BBC R1 news beat has just reported that Elliot page has undergone “life saving” “top surgery”.

Here is the related web article: www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-57239448

This reporting perpetuates the narrative that people will commit suicide if they don’t get the right sort of treatment. I find it deeply irresponsible. Does anyone know if Samaritans are tackling this sort of coverage in their media guidelines? I’d hope work is going on behind the scenes as they are a fantastic charity. (I assume they are not captured?)

A double mastectomy is usually lifesaving when it comes to breast cancer... so I find calling an elective cosmetic procedure lifesaving pretty insulting. But that’s just me being petty and not the main point.

OP posts:
Nellle · 25/05/2021 19:41

OnWednesdays I understand exactly what you're saying, but quoting EP for a headline here is just as legitimate as quoting Meghan Markle's "I didn't want to be alive anymore". Indeed, the more controversial a quote, the more headline-worthy.

Yet here's all this fretting about EP's opinion on his own body and life.

But this place is all for free speech right?

Original poster
OnWednesdaysWeWearMink · 25/05/2021 19:39

@CardinalLolzy

I wonder why you have such a problem with it here.

Again for those hard of thinking: because it goes against guidelines of reporting suicide and suicidal ideation. The thread explains this several times.

If a killer said his wife "deserved to die" would you be happy seeing reports saying "woman killed because she "deserved to die""? The fact it's a quote doesn't change the intention behind the claim.

Great example, thank you!
OP posts:
CardinalLolzy · 25/05/2021 19:38

I wonder why you have such a problem with it here.

Again for those hard of thinking: because it goes against guidelines of reporting suicide and suicidal ideation. The thread explains this several times.

If a killer said his wife "deserved to die" would you be happy seeing reports saying "woman killed because she "deserved to die""? The fact it's a quote doesn't change the intention behind the claim.

bitheby · 25/05/2021 19:35

We're concerned about safeguarding vulnerable people, especially children. Loads and loads and loads of women go through difficulties with their breasts. Others, like me, question their gender. Most of us grow up and don't need surgery. Some do. But I don't want a single girl or woman to go through an unnecessary and life changing medical procedure because they've been encouraged to believe that they'll die without it.

Original poster
OnWednesdaysWeWearMink · 25/05/2021 19:35

@Nellle

Must have missed that leafstamp Would really like to see a screenshot.

OP, headlining the quoted words of the subject an article is such standard practice. I wonder why you have such a problem with it here.

Because describing a surgery a lifesaving implies those who do not have it may take their own lives.

It’s the same reason why I think a headline saying “A woman has died after throwing herself off Beachy Head” is irresponsible. It’s factual... but it also signposts a great suicide spot for anyone else thinking of doing it and implies it’ll probably be successful.

Obviously one article is implying suicidal ideation and the other is taking about suicide methods - so they’re not the same, but both scenarios are covered in Samaritans media guidelines.

OP posts:
CardinalLolzy · 25/05/2021 19:34

@Maggiesfarm

I'm not familiar with Elliott Page but it appears he's Canadian so he wouldn't have been having the breast surgery on our NHS. He robably went privI think this is done more than we realise. Men can have breast cancer, Richard Rowntree did and had the male version of double mastectomy - and recovered!

Ellliott looks very young, younger than 34, and rather feminine. His scars are neat and healing nicely and he is obviously more confident without man boobs.

What is the problem here? We can't measure somebody else's unhappiness by our own experiences, each is unique. His op hasn't cost us anything, good luck to him.

I'm sorry but "man boobs" is disgustingly offensive to trans men who are comfortable in their bodies and don't want surgery.

One day I hope society will be inclusive enough to accept that men can have breasts and look "feminine" and that this doesn't make them any less male. Shame that we're not there yet and Hollywood celebs endorse traditional notions of femininity for women and masculinity for men.

HeadIsFucked · 25/05/2021 19:32

I had a single mastecomy due to breast cancer and wasn't suitable for immediate reconstruction so I asked for them to do a double mastecomy. Got told no as they won't remove healthy tissue.

My mother had the same issue. Ended up having to go private. As one of her breasts was healthy, although she was told there was an extremely high chance the cancer would be back in the other one quite soon. They point blank refused to take it at the same time, as it was healthy 'then' even though the chance it wouldn't be soon was high. They were willing to reconstruct the one they took off though

Nellle · 25/05/2021 19:30

Must have missed that leafstamp Would really like to see a screenshot.

OP, headlining the quoted words of the subject an article is such standard practice. I wonder why you have such a problem with it here.

Abhannmor · 25/05/2021 19:30

@Erikrie

The surgeon posted a selfie of her sad face with the text ''Just realized I only get to yeet 4 teets next week''.

Wtf. I haven't seen this before. Evil woman 😡

Sidhbh Gallagher. My least favourite fellow Irish person . And there is some competition.
Abhannmor · 25/05/2021 19:27

Where are all the celebrations of people who have healthy limbs removed?

midgedude · 25/05/2021 19:23

It's starting to sound like the old witches trials

Anyone who won't kill themselves can't possibly be trans

WinterTrees · 25/05/2021 19:23

I’m a psychotherapist grin have had a ridiculous amount of mental health training in my time but why not add more? also why (having worked with a number of actively suicidal clients) I’m happy to count something that stops someone from killing themselves as life saving.

Can we please stop perpetuating the narrative that young women will kill themselves if they don't get this surgery?

EastWestWhosBest · 25/05/2021 19:21

@Wannabangbang

It is lifesaving for a trans person. Only on Mn do transphobic people come out for all to see. See. It frequently on these boards.
That is a very binary way of looking at things. Either the trans person has surgery or they die.

They might well be happier, feel like their true selves, less likely to take their own life but it is simply not true that the options are surgery or die.

BilboBercow · 25/05/2021 19:21

Why don't we give "lifesaving" liposuction to anorexic people with body dysmorphia?

WeavingWandering · 25/05/2021 19:18

@OnWednesdaysWeWearMink

I’m a psychotherapist Grin have had a ridiculous amount of mental health training in my time but why not add more? also why (having worked with a number of actively suicidal clients) I’m happy to count something that stops someone from killing themselves as life saving.

Creative education is a training platform aimed at parents/carers/schools so there’s lots of options - but I felt the gender identity one was good just for its statistics and approaches.

Original poster
OnWednesdaysWeWearMink · 25/05/2021 19:17

I think giving undue prominence to a quote is also irresponsible too tbh.

OP posts:
Leafstamp · 25/05/2021 19:13

@Nellle

Do we really not understand the difference between these two headlines?

EP has life-saving top surgery

EP describes top surgery as "life-saving"

Are trans people not even quotable now?

Of course they are!

The original headline was the one you listed first. Which has been proven to be inaccurate/irresponsible/inappropriate.

Original poster
OnWednesdaysWeWearMink · 25/05/2021 19:12

@pheebumbalatti

He seems happy enough, I don't see the problem. Why is anything trans related immediately attacked on here?
This thread is about responsible reporting of suicide. I started it because I am concerned that describing a trans surgery as lifesaving implies that those who do not have it may decide to commit suicide.

EP can do what he likes and say what he likes. I take issue with how it was reported by a large news organisation which will have received training on how to ensure their reports do not play into the normalisation of suicide.

OP posts:
Leafstamp · 25/05/2021 19:11

This thread'll be gone in a few hours, of course.

Someone said that a few hours ago and it’s still here. See my above post.

Of course, if MN decide that there have been attacks on EP or trans issues then the thread will go. They deleted one this morning.

Leafstamp · 25/05/2021 19:09

@pheebumbalatti

He seems happy enough, I don't see the problem. Why is anything trans related immediately attacked on here?
I don’t think MN posting rules allow “attacks” on trans related matters. What they do allow is healthy debate and challenge where trans rights impact on women’s rights and where trans issues affect the well-being of children and young people.
thedancingbear · 25/05/2021 19:09

@pheebumbalatti

He seems happy enough, I don't see the problem. Why is anything trans related immediately attacked on here?
I think we both know the answer to that.

This thread'll be gone in a few hours, of course.

ThePawtriarchy · 25/05/2021 19:08

@Pandoraslastchance

How is it lifesaving?

I had a single mastecomy due to breast cancer and wasn't suitable for immediate reconstruction so I asked for them to do a double mastecomy. Got told no as they won't remove healthy tissue. So I spent 2.5 years with one tit. That played a right fucking number on my mental health I can tell ya.

It's a cosmetic surgery. I'm sick of the suicide baiting that takes place at the moment. If I don't get what I want immediately then I will throw a strop and threaten suicide to get it!! Blackmail anyone?

That is really shit (understatement). I’m really sorry that happened to you, I can’t imagine. Flowers
Nellle · 25/05/2021 19:05

Do we really not understand the difference between these two headlines?

EP has life-saving top surgery

EP describes top surgery as "life-saving"

Are trans people not even quotable now?

rubberplants · 25/05/2021 19:01

@pheebumbalatti

He seems happy enough, I don't see the problem. Why is anything trans related immediately attacked on here?
You don't see the problem with a young woman being so disillusioned with being female that they amputate their healthy flesh? And potentially encourage other young women to do the same?
pheebumbalatti · 25/05/2021 18:59

He seems happy enough, I don't see the problem. Why is anything trans related immediately attacked on here?

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