Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Should people be able to officially identify as whatever they like?

238 replies

Whatdidisay · 07/02/2022 22:38

With the news that Bristol university has issues guidance to staff on the correct use of pronouns for students identifying as cats (catgender) has it now gone too far?
Surely if someone seriously believes they are a cat, then they need a doctor and a reality check not pronouns and validation?

OP posts:
BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation · 07/02/2022 23:05

Absolutely.

I identify as a cylinder head from a 1989 Renault 25 V6 Turbo.

Littlehouseonthefairy · 07/02/2022 23:05

I'm too old for this shit.

PaddleBoardingMomma · 07/02/2022 23:07

@BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation

Absolutely.

I identify as a cylinder head from a 1989 Renault 25 V6 Turbo.

1989 was a good year tbf

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
TheAbbotOfUnreason · 07/02/2022 23:07

Doh! Everyone knows that cat pronouns are Fuck / You.

EishetChayil · 07/02/2022 23:15

"Noah, get the ark."

Whatwouldscullydo · 07/02/2022 23:19

It really shows the necessary question of " how kind is it really"

I have always told my kids that colluding with others to lie and to encourage someone onto a harmful path by letting them believe things that aren't true is a despicable thing to do to someone.. even someone you don't like.

How far to you go with cat gender? I mean u can agree to drop a meow in conversation every now and then but you sure as hell better pack it in befire they decide to climb a tree and test out the landing on all fours phenomenon.

Who's benefit is this for? Kindness is telling the truth even when it hurts. Because if their closest friends and family won't tell them it's humiliating to shit in a tray on the floor then who will.

Those who get off seeing others do harm to themselves. That's who.

You don't expect anything from strangers. U r supposed to he able to trust your family.

YankeeDad · 07/02/2022 23:20

People who identify as dogs are barking mad!

FourChimneys · 07/02/2022 23:30

Littlehouseonthefairy you and me both.

Utter self indulgent nonsense. Universities are fast becoming not fit for purpose.

Unsuremover · 07/02/2022 23:31

Genuinely though, have people calling for this for a grip of what pronouns are for? I don’t know any in real life, and I feel like universities are full of smart people but it’s like a massive misunderstanding.
When I was young (not that long ago) we were all desperately declaring ourselves in various subculture. If my body-moding 17 year old self could see my single pair of plain stuff she would weep (from various scabby piercings). But is this not what this is? Like I’m catgender means I’m really into cats (and cat culture) and want everyone to know, not actually that I need to be coaxed into lectures with a bag of dreamies.
Demisexuls can only feel sexual attraction after an emotional connection - that doesn’t need a name that’s just personality!

Runningupthecurtains · 07/02/2022 23:31

My cat is pretty blood certain her pronouns are your highness/your supreme magisty

Runningupthecurtains · 07/02/2022 23:33

*majesty

Pyriah · 07/02/2022 23:35

People definitely should be able to identify as whatever they want. Next time I go to Sainsbury for some Tu clothes I will insist on changing in the vegetable aisle because I identify as a potato.

caranations · 07/02/2022 23:38

What about the students who are allergic to cats?

They are obviously being catist and we can't have that, can we?

Retisestress · 07/02/2022 23:43

Cannot be aresed to give it any thought…sorry!

Mumoftwoinprimary · 07/02/2022 23:48

@caranations

What about the students who are allergic to cats?

They are obviously being catist and we can't have that, can we?

Never mind the students with actual allergies - what about the students who identify as being allergic to cats?
TheDoveFromAboveCooCoo · 07/02/2022 23:52

Ooh I would love to be a cat! Sleep 23 hours a day, fed on demand and no work!

🎶everybody wants to be a cat, because a cats the only cat, who knooows where it's at🎶

DepthOfTheAbyss · 07/02/2022 23:52

My dd used to do this when she was 4. I would be seriously concerned if she was still acting like a cat at 19.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 07/02/2022 23:53

If this is true then I'm really glad. Hopefully it will make the general population wake up and see that identifying as anything outside of your DNA is absolutely ridiculous.

Sex not gender, human not cats.

I completely agree - that was my thought too. If you can't rein in somebody's ridiculousness and bring them back to reason, the next best thing is to let them take it so very far ad absurdum - whack it right up to 11 - so that nobody could possibly be left in any doubt whatsoever or deny that the emperor is indeed stark staring naked.

Ultimately, this is a very good development in the scheme of things.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 07/02/2022 23:56

Never mind the students with actual allergies - what about the students who identify as being allergic to cats?

As well as anybody identifying as a committed cativore - that could be interesting....

Mothermorph · 07/02/2022 23:57

I'm probably too old (and in my teen DDs eyes) too uncool to understand but why cats?
Is there a catgender community? What about other animals, if you can identify as a cat , then surely someone else could identify as a dog/wolf/rabbit/gerbil/budgerigar etc. Are there going to be pronouns for all of them?Confused

IncompleteSenten · 08/02/2022 00:03

Interesting. If I identify as a pensioner then the government and my private pension would have to start paying me my pension.

Ozanj · 08/02/2022 00:06

Good. Hopefully the more people who do it, the more ridiculous they’ll find the stuff that spawned it

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 08/02/2022 00:14

Interesting. If I identify as a pensioner then the government and my private pension would have to start paying me my pension.

A Dutch chap tried it the other way around a few years ago, as he said he 'felt' 20 years younger than he was, so he wanted to be able to put his 'true' identified age on OLD apps and attract more interest.

I saw one of his interviews and I got the very strong feeling that he wasn't one of the bonkers lot at all, but rather an intelligent man who was trying to shine a light on how utterly ridiculous this all was and give people who have fully accepted other 'self-identifying' scenarios being validated in law huge pause for thought.

Unfortunately, whilst everybody (correctly) spluttered about how absolutely crazy this all was, very few of them seemed able to connect the dots and achieve that crucial lightbulb moment.

SiobhanSharpe · 08/02/2022 00:18

@IncompleteSenten

Interesting. If I identify as a pensioner then the government and my private pension would have to start paying me my pension.
Didn't something like this just happen? A Swiss man has identified as a woman so he can get his pension a year early.. Swiss women get their pension at 64, a year earlier then men. Since Jan 1 Swiss people can identify however they like on payment of a fee of 75 SFR. rmx.news/switzerland/swiss-man-changes-gender-to-retire-and-receive-his-pension-a-year-earlier/
Singlebutmarried · 08/02/2022 00:20

Surely correct pronouns for cat are Tom/she?