Influencer has surgery to identify as Korean and non-binary. Is it a stunt?

[Iom92]

Here is the link:

news.sky.com/story/oli-london-british-influencer-defends-identifying-as-korean-after-surgery-to-look-like-bts-star-12344765

I can’t work out if this is a stunt to highlight the problems with self-identification or if they are being genuine?!

I whooped when I saw it.

I’ve been saying to DH that I think I’ll identify as Chinese and if anyone challenges me I’ll called them a hateful bigot.

I am so glad someone did it and whether it’s a stunt or not it doesn’t matter, it shows the utter ridiculousness of the whole thing.

It doesn't look like a stunt.
Absolutely bonkers though.

That's a pretty expensive and painful stunt if that's the aim.

I think if you could identify into a demographic I would identify as a social class, the one that has lots of money, a big house and a pool and home gym, I certainly wouldn't identify into a group who had it worse.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/4277887-I-thought-this-was-interesting-Oli-London-comes-out-as-non-binary-and-Korean

There's already a thread ^

It's not a stunt. The guy is genuinely bonkers. But I completely accept his human right to identify as Korean. Why not, eh?

What a prick.

But I completely accept his human right to identify as Korean. Why not, eh?
Because....it's a lie?!

I was arguing with a friend about trans race. It was good natured. We almost fell out a few years ago about my GC views, she is married to a socialist worker, but we are past that now. She doesn't speak out but is definitely getting more GC
She kept saying trans race is different but couldn't argue with the points I made. She just kept saying it feels different but she knew I had her over a barrel
If you believe in self identification how can it be different?

I am not huge on this issue but why is it ok to identify as a woman but not as a different race? Are both things not a form of appropriation? Happy to be educated!

@GnomeOrMistAndIceGuy

But I completely accept his human right to identify as Korean. Why not, eh? Because....it's a lie?!

Well if people are allowed to lie about their sex, why can't we allow people to lie about race/ethnicity?

Well if people are allowed to lie about their sex, why can't we allow people to lie about race/ethnicity?
Because two wrongs don't make a right, I'd say.

Cunning stunt.

I think the reality is race and ethnicity are a lot more difficult to draw boundaries and are more 'fluid' than sex. However for some reason I will be told I am wrong and identifying as Korean (when you aren't) is wrong and hate ful, but identifying as a woman and expecting to access women's spaces when you have a penis is completely and utterly fine.
Worlds gone mad.

It makes perfect sense to me. If you can be a trans someone you can be a trans race someone. Hell, you can be a trans species. Trans abled too. Why not, eh?

I certainly wouldn't identify into a group who had it worse

Depends whether they have it worse just because of the group they are in.

Publicly identifying yourself as Jewish in North Africa can be dangerous, whether it's true or not, but claiming to be a woman doesn't suddenly mean you face difficulty building your career while having children.

He said 'I am Korean with all my heart and Seoul'
It certainly reads like a parody but this person has a huge following so parody seems unlikely, why would they risk it.

@GnomeOrMistAndIceGuy

Well if people are allowed to lie about their sex, why can't we allow people to lie about race/ethnicity? Because two wrongs don't make a right, I'd say.

What's wrong about it? The man genuinely believes he is Korean, he can speak Korean. He's even gone through extensive surgery to align his body with his inner feeling. He's not harming anyone - just living his life the best way he feels he can.

If one believes that a person's inner feeling should matter more than their physical reality, then it's hypocritical to support someone claiming to be the opposite sex, while denouncing someone claiming to be a different race or ethnicity.
Race and ethnicity are far more fluid concepts than the biological reality of sex.

There are also people who are trans disabled, trans age and trans species. That's what happens when we allow fiction to take precedence over fact.

It seems a lot more plausible than changing your DNA/chromosomes.

All you have to do is immigrate to Korea, become a Korean national and then you literally are Korean. No surgery or self ID needed.

@ArabellaScott that comment made me howl thank you 🤣

@GnomeOrMistAndIceGuy

But I completely accept his human right to identify as Korean. Why not, eh? Because....it's a lie?!

Well yeah but so is transgender and trans-age yet both are a thing, so fuck it and btw I'm a trans turtle (cos that's not furry)

I'm considering identifying as an Alien. I have a broad-tipped, green marker pen and the lid is OFF!
Should I do it or will people just mistake me for Kermit without proper flippers?
What a dilemma...

Why was Rachel Dolezal pilloried for identifying as black - or is one only allowed to identify as a different race if they are non-binary? To be honest I find it easier to accept that people can identify into other cultures/races than a different sex.

No one has actual, physical surgery as a ‘stunt’ surely.
This person is seriously mentally unwell in my opinion.
They need some help.

If I identify myself as a 15 year old I can get all these free dental treatment, not a bad idea.

I don't think it's a stunt. He has had a lot of surgery, I believe.

I think he is mentally very unwell, and I feel very sorry for him. His case does highlight the problems with people "identifying" as things that they're not, though. It isn't logical to accept one and deny another.