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Original poster

Batshittery from the Guardian

111 replies

PlayerOneReady · 05/11/2021 16:09

And yes they really did refer to lesbians as ‘non men loving non men’

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/nov/05/i-am-16-and-identify-as-an-ace-lesbian-but-i-dont-want-to-come-out-to-my-parents

OP posts:
zanahoria · 05/11/2021 17:04

It may not be a spoof but I wager including all that gubbins increases thechances that the Guardian will pick that one out for publication

AlfonsoTheUnrepentant · 05/11/2021 17:04

Ms Barbieri is always sensitive and sensible with her response, no matter how bonkers the letter.

I see that Finn whatsername is now The Grauniad's tame columnist.

Yepnothatfeeling · 05/11/2021 17:00

Spoof, I think. If not, I think the old teenage saying 'get a life' might apply.

RacketeerRalph · 05/11/2021 16:59

@PickAChew

Glad I'm not 16.
I remember the anxiety and questioning of being 16. I don't think being 16 in the age of tik tok and "wokeness" would have made it any harder. I'd still have been questioning who I was, who I loved, how I loved them and most of all "was I normal". Having nowhere to seek it out I had to look at those around me and the resounding answer seemed to be it wasn't clear what I was but I wasn't normal (because normal = straight and feminine in my tiny world). Maybe things like tik tok would have helped me realise there is no normal and at 16 everyone is questioning everything.
zanahoria · 05/11/2021 16:59

"It sounds as if your sexuality and orientation will be no surprise to them

Although ace lesbian (NMLNM, or non-men loving non-men) may not have been their first guess

GCmiddle · 05/11/2021 16:59

I especially like the bit where it says she is is trying out she/they pronouns, but hasn't told anyone yet! That's was a nice touch.

FloralBunting · 05/11/2021 16:57

I don't think it's a spoof. My kids are thankfully at the stage of ripping the shit out of the bollocks now, but that's largely because they have a few people in their circle who are just like this.

Vanishun · 05/11/2021 16:56

Has to be a spoof Grin

LowlandLucky · 05/11/2021 16:56

Jeez oh, she needs to get off TIKTOK

TheMarzipanDildo · 05/11/2021 16:55

I’m a non-cat. Unfortunately.

MadameKali · 05/11/2021 16:54

Got to be a pisstake. Surely.
What does it say about the current climate that I just can't tell if it's genuine?

TheMarzipanDildo · 05/11/2021 16:54

“Because when you click on the ‘non men’ definition it also offers a NWLNW flag - ‘non women loving non women’ ie I guess gay men.”

I’ve seen a lot more references to ‘non men’ over the years, and because it seems to be how women have been defined throughout history it rankles. NWLNW is very strange too though.

TheWeeDonkey · 05/11/2021 16:53

It was very good advice but I'm not surprised she/they is exhausted. I was exhausted just reading it. I mean I know navel gazing is quite normal at that age to a certain extent but questioning your identity multiple time a day can't be healthy for a young person?

Anotherbrokenairer · 05/11/2021 16:51

Haha wtf. So you can be a none anything then really. You could swap Non man to Non Chicken, Non Spoon, Non Tree.
Yes tomorrow I'm declaring myself as Non chicken.
NCLAM (Non Chicken Loving Actual Man)

chesirecat99 · 05/11/2021 16:51

It has to be a spoof.

"Also, I feel obliged to inform them of my pronoun change, but I don’t want to be the one to teach them how to use she/they pronouns. I wish they would educate themselves."

Well, quite, one would be obliged to tell one's parents what your preferred pronouns are if you want them to actually use those pronouns Hmm

tricervixtops · 05/11/2021 16:46

Surely that is a wind up?

Babdoc · 05/11/2021 16:45

I know teenagers these days are desperately self absorbed, but dear God, that really has to be a piss take!
The internet seems to have rotted their minds. I wish their parents could turn back the clock to the days when teenagers were too busy with sports, discos, social clubs, hobbies, junior church, volunteering, bike riding etc, to have time to waste navel gazing to this unhealthy narcissistic degree!

Bellusaurus · 05/11/2021 16:45

@TheMarzipanDildo

“Having said that, I’m pretty certain it’s a spoof. Just something about the way it’s written - it contains every cliche going about gender identity.”

🤞

Yep. And the advice - it's normal to be exploring identities at 16, but if this genuinely matters to you you'll come off the internet and talk to real human beings with real connections to you - works perfectly if it's a hoax. And perfectly if it's a tortured young soul - talk to some grown ups. Brilliant column.
HDDD · 05/11/2021 16:44

That letter made my jaw drop and the reply said it was coherent!

Original poster
PlayerOneReady · 05/11/2021 16:44

Seriously though, what IS the obsession by defining oneself by what you are not? Because when you click on the ‘non men’ definition it also offers a NWLNW flag - ‘non women loving non women’ ie I guess gay men. But why? Or is it just absolute sexism safe in the knowledge that NWLNW will never, ever be used?

OP posts:
TheMarzipanDildo · 05/11/2021 16:38

“Having said that, I’m pretty certain it’s a spoof. Just something about the way it’s written - it contains every cliche going about gender identity.”

🤞

TheMarzipanDildo · 05/11/2021 16:36

I can’t read the answer Sad

Non Men Loving Non Men is so unbelievably sexist. We can’t say woman or lesbian but (non) men- crack on. “Women are just that thing that was left over after God made (all important) man”, the ultimate ‘Other’. That’s what these kids and their post modern academic enablers sound like and these don’t even realise. This girl wouldn’t describe someone who is part of an ethnic minority in Britain as ‘non-white’, because hopefully she’s aware that white people aren’t the centre of the universe and the benchmark by which all else must be judged.

aliasundercover · 05/11/2021 16:36

NMLNM

Seriously?

JumperandJacket · 05/11/2021 16:36

@Warmduscher Sure but I think it’s likely her liking if labels is a result of the culture she’s grown up in.

I don’t think it’s a spoof. She sounds like a confused teenager.

Bellusaurus · 05/11/2021 16:34

@HollowTalk

I feel like saying, "Sweetheart, nobody cares, really. You're just trying to draw attention to yourself because you can't bear not to be thought special. Unique." But I wouldn't want to stick around for the temper tantrum that would follow.
That's kind of how I read the answer ... I thought it was a masterpiece of tact.
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