Child identifies as a wolf ... WTF?

[Portakalkedi]

Just on Radio 4 now, discussing a child in secondary school who identifies as a wolf, and the school is going along with this. AIBU to think the world (or at least the UK) has gone mad? If said child is living in the woods, catching its own prey etc etc, howling and running with other wolves, which I doubt, then why the hell is anyone going along with it? They are also saying that some others identify as dogs or cats etc. And here was me thinking men 'identifying' as women was bad.

I agree with that. Until people want access to sex specific spaces and services that don't belong to them.

This was a post about a child identifying as a wolf (though OP made sure to get a dig at trans people in there), not people accessing ‘sex specific spaces that don’t belong to them’. You made it about that. You’re obsessed. How many times has a trans person accessed a sex specific service or space that ‘belongs’ to you? I’m guessing never. Get a life.

And the conversation moved on. Which happens on discussion forums.

I do not think it is right to have males access specific female specific spaces like prisons, rape counselling, domestic abuse shelters, changing areas where women might feel vulnerable, lesbian dating events. Do you?

I do not think it is right for women not to be able to specify women-only services for intimate care when sick or disabled. Do you?

I do not think it is right for men to take women's opportunities in sports. Do you?

Yes, I guess I am 'obsessed' with the rights, dignity and safety of women. I'm proud of that. Some of these women are very vulnerable and have very little clout or society. I will be speaking up for them and no childish retorts are going to stop me.

My eldest son identified as a cat. It was an important part of his identity. It started when he was in a serious mental health crisis at the age of 16 and when he could not attend school and was not in hospital, he began to tame the semi-feral cats at his grandmother's farm. He found a role. He found acceptance. He came to admire some of the behaviours of the cats (their sisterhood, their maternal protection, their trust) and he learnt more about relationships and group behaviour from the dynamics of the cat colonies.

Support staff helped his to moderate his language. He would refer to his bed as his 'cat basket' and he would talk about the toilet as a 'litter tray'. The staff who worked with him accepted that he used these terms, but also made clear that they used different (more standard) vocabulary for these items.

He grew his nails long (like claws) and grew his hair long (like fur), but he kept his hair and nails very clean.

He is in his mid-twenties now. He accepts that the cat is his spirit animal, and he is now well enough to volunteer to work with cats. He collects 'lucky cats' and has stuffed toy cats because he cannot keep a cat in his supported flat. He hopes to move to accommodation soon where a pet cat or two may be allowed. However, he is aware that his anxiety may be overwhelming if he does get a pet cat.

My son's identity as an animal was part of a very complex situation involving family crisis, mental health crisis, neurodiversity and other factors. He needed professionals to work with him, not to negate the identity but rather so he could understand it. It was hard work.

I think it’s ok if it doesn’t cause a massive disruption to the rest of the students in schools or colleagues in workplaces.

I’ve heard of a cat/child in a primary setting who miaows loudly interrupting the teacher all the time, and goes about scratching their classmates with their ‘claws’ because that’s what cats do. Clearly this isn’t fair and shouldn’t be indulged, what if a different pupil identifies as a dog and spends their whole time chasing the cat around the classroom?

Be who, and what you want to be, as long as it doesn’t cause direct harm to others.

And there, if you don't mind me making this observation, is first hand evidence that it is not 'normal' to identify as another species. @sosaad DC was - by her own telling - suffering a 'serious mental health crisis'. And if that lovely sounding relationship with cats helped him through - then great. But the 'ID' bit was clearly linked to being mentally unwell and this is why we should not be 'normalising' this.

When someone identifies as another species and wants to be taken seriously, they are either:

mentally unwell
attention seeking

I hope that isn't offensive to you @sosaad and further hope your DS is able to get a cat soon.

@WoodforTrees Thank you. My eldest lives in supported accommodation, and I see him regularly, We go to the local cat cafe, which is not only full of cats, but it is a quiet and relaxing environment. I would also like him to get to the point where he can have a cat or two.

The difference is that I don’t think trans women are men and you do. I do think trans women belong in those spaces.

But they clearly, obviously, demonstrably are men.

Saying they are not is like repeating a religious mantra. You're signalling something to others, for reasons best known to your self. But it has no basis in fact.

That particular incident was a hoax. That doesn't mean there aren't other real incidents.

Sorry if this has already been mentioned, but this is affecting other children too.

In a different case, because a classmate would not go along with humouring a fellow pupil by referring to them as a cat, the girl was called despicable by the teacher.
Which begs the question, who the hell is teaching our kids?

If the sad entity had an accident and went to hospital needing a blood transfusion would the hapless parents want them to be given wolf blood, no doubt resulting in a bit of a death? Or would they force themselves to agree to the correct human blood type?

I would guess that the odds are a bit too close to call on that, given many transwomen have an F on their NHS records in the "sex" category.... so may also end up in a bit of a similarly dead predicament:

https://archive.ph/NzA08

I assume no more research has been done into this, given much of the NHS no longer has records about its patients' sex. D'oh:

https://archive.ph/HL4Ws

Presumably it's better just go with people/wolves are who they say they are, give them the blood that matches their identity and hope nobody ever asks questions.

Therianthropy is a non-harmful identity. I would know, considering I am a therian. However therianthropy is not a choice, just like how being trans isn't a choice. Again, However, therianthropy is different from transgender.

Take away the ipads and spend more time in the outdoors, crafting, learning to play an instrument, build dens ect but most importantly stop them watching nonsense and indulging them in this bullshit.
I've just realised I'm sounding like my own mother but anyone who indulges their child in this claptrap is to blame just as much as anything.

If you identify as an animal, how are you able to access Mumsnet and type a response on this thread?

Because I am, unfortunately, biologically human. Therefore, I can log onto mumsnet and type a response

So just to clarify, your identity is in your head and your biology is the reality?

It's a bit cloudy here tonight but I'm guessing it's a full moon? Never heard so much deranged nonsense in my life!

"I am a therian" Jesus tap-dancing Christ!

Like a trans woman is biologically male but wants to identify as female?

So, how are they different? Therian and trans? They sound very similar to me. Both are things you know are not biologically possible but things you wish to identify as. Eg woman or cat.

you’re a human. It doesn’t matter if you want to be a cat. You are not one. You can identify as one if you like, you can identify as a potato, a man, a woman, a wind turbine, none of it matters. You’re a biological human male or biological human female.

the end

I am aware I'm biologically human. No need to bring that up. I do think I made that clear, however it seems I didn't, so, my apologies.

I am Napoleon

Yes, you made it clear.

But the questions about how "being" a therian and "being" trans differ (or don't) are valid.

I've used quote marks because, assuming I understand your position correctly, you recognise that you are a human (owing to the reality of your physical body) but you also believe that you are a therian. Whereas I don't believe that anyone has a therian (or transgender) identity within them.

Personally, I'm happy to call people trans, therian or whatever because I see it as a description of their belief. Just as I call someone who believes in god a Christian, even though I'm an atheist.

However, I draw the line at anyone expecting me to act as if I hold the belief myself.

To give an example: if I was with you in person, I might introduce you as follows to someone "This is TheHamilton. TheHamilton is a therian". I wouldn't introduce you as whatever creature you identify as because obviously I don't believe that you are that creature.... just as I wouldn't introduce Bonkersbilly by saying "This is Napoleon" 😁

If the other person asks me what a therian was I would explain that they are people who believe that they have an animal/creature identity within themselves. I might even say that it's similar to how trans people believe that they have a gender identity within themselves which differs from their sex.

It would be good to hear your viewpoint on the very valid questions that Frozenberries asked above:

Like a trans woman is biologically male but wants to identify as female?
So, how are they different? Therian and trans?

Didn’t he set up Marx & Spencer?