Stupid shit we did as teens which might suggest powerful drugs and surgery are not the choices to be made at that time

[TheBuffster]

People always arguing children 'know themselves' have the rights to access hormone blockers and surgeries because it's disrespectful to suggest they might not be emotionally mature enough to understand the long term consequences.

But does anyone else remember being an absolute plinker as a teenager? And making really stupid decisions?

Like how I was into Wicca and thought I was a witch.

Wearing knee high boots, skirt and no tights (later fishnets) in the day.

The boots were bloody pink too.

Using sun in even though my mum said it would turn my hair ginger.

Predictably accidentally dying my hair stupid colours by accident, including sick orange and traffic light red.

Drinking vodka in broad daylight and getting it taken off me by the police.

Walking home alone back from nightclubs.

The list of idiocy is endless. Thank goodness I had no access to dangerous surgery.

Anyone else?

*oh god

Self harm, substance misuse, eating disorder. I was a mess and desperately unhappy.

Pretty sure these days if I was a teen I'd take the promise of not having to be girl anymore plus being the most oppressed ever would fit with my mental state.

I thank god every time I see some genderqueer nonsense that I was born at a more sensible time and had parents who allowed me to be who I was without question.

Oh god yes, Sparkles, me too. I get a cold sweat when I think of what is done to gender non-conforming kids now.

This thread just makes me uncomfortable because I think that it stereotypes young people.

Spartacus, that's not what it's about. We're recalling the (naturally) immature things we did, that we thought at the time made perfect sense. There's nothing insulting or humiliating about that -- it's a natural part of human development. The point is that we were young, and our critical faculties weren't yet fully developed.

That's why we don't even let children get tattoos. Yet they've been allowed to have their breasts removed and take drugs that will make them permanently infertile. At a time of life when it's natural for them to have wild enthusiasms and do crazy things, as we did.

I was not even a teenager but I knew my parents were poor and our family was poor.

I never really got much in the way of presents as they could not afford it so I got some books or something educational and that was it. They did actually provide me with lots of opportunity but could not afford toys etc. My father was big instead on making sure I got a better education than he had had.

I remember declaring I did not want toys, dolls or anything girly. I just wanted to wear my black top and black jeans. I did not want the barbies or anything.

This was because I knew my parents could not provide it and I wanted a reason to explain to friends at school why I did not have the same toys.
It was easier pretending I was not into it than seeing other girls choose stuff on catalogues etc,

I often wonder if it happened today would some teacher think I was on some journey???

When I was older and had a part time job I bought myself some toys- even though I did not need them by then, go figure, who knows what it means.

Fortunately it was the 70s and no one really cared about my dramatics.
I do remember one other school mum who must have picked up I was broke and she would sometimes give me lifts and make sure I was ready for school trips and the like, such a lovely lady.

I also feel fortunate that my parents did not actually give me heaps of "gender" reinforcing crap, even though I went and bought some of it when I was older???

Oh and my father used to point out every day sexism to me too.
He used to get wound up if there was some sexist advert somewhere and say well look at that, look at that stereotyping, don't fall for that. He would do the same about racism, and would not accept anyone being racist around him.

He would expect me to do sport and take part at everything at school.

Went to a girl secondary and he was like well there you go, enjoy it, boys won't be able to manipulate the teaching.
Very supportive.

He was also annoyed that one of his sisters who was so clever was basically shoe-horned into being a dictation typist.

But I remember my phase of no toys, no girly stuff, no fancy clothes ...all ofcourse because I was not going to get them, and I felt it was a way I would stop questions about being poor or something.

I begged and begged my Dad to let me have 2 cosmetic surgery operations because I hated my body. I was convinced these operations would solve everything for me.

He refused to let me have those ops and I'm glad every single day that he did. So unnecessary.

I also got involved with a much older man (23 years older) wtaf was that about. I "dated" him from ages 17 to 20. What a joke that was. I even thought it was ok until I was about 26. I reached age 26 and started thinking what the fuck was I doing and why didn't anyone stop me? It was well weird.

Risky behaviour on holiday with my girl friends. Too much alcohol involved.

Trying too hard in a role I was in, only female. Ended up being taken advantage of by the men. I'm pretty sure there's a case of rape (or two) in there but I try not to think about it. (One time I was too drunk too consent, another time I was saying "no, no, no" all the time but was ignored and he outranked me so 🤷🏼‍♀️)