Batshittery from the Guardian

[PlayerOneReady]

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

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

I’m a non-cat. Unfortunately.

Jeez oh, she needs to get off TIKTOK

Has to be a spoof

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.

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.

"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

@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.

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

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.

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

Some people are just determined to make everything as much hard work as possible!

Sadly, I don't think it's a complete spoof. It might be a pastiche - not sure many 16 year olds write to the Guardian agony aunt - but this is the reality that many of our young people, especially girls, are living in.

I thought the advice - get out there in the real world and expose yourself to different experiences - was good and sympathetically communicated.

This is one of the challenges for feminism at the moment, I think. The divide between middle aged women and younger women is so huge that it's hard to find common ground.

I came here to post this, surely it's a parody?

It’s a spoof, surely?

If said young person is 'ace', then surely the label would be 'non-men not-loving non-men'?

And if one is fluid then perhaps more a case of 'non-man not-loving non-non-men'?

I'm laughing at everyone assuming spoof. Three teens at home here, wide circle of friends around them. This is completely plausible.

As for advice, I think no one puts it better than 2 Unlimited.

'No no, no no no no, no no no no, no no there's no limit!

No no limits, we'll reach for the sky!
No valley too deep, no mountain too high
No no limits, won't give up the fight
We do what we want and we do it with pride'

The more I think about this, if it's not a parody, it's incredibly sad.
That kid needs a hobby, preferably something in the fresh air.

It was the girl herself though who described herself as a ‘non male attracted to a non male’ rather than the Guardian.

The advice she received indirectly from Beaumont seemed sensitive to her feelings, but at the same time, in my opinion
quite wise. For example, suggesting that she try to be with people in real life and find her identity that way, avoid on-line communities, tell tell her parents how she felt; not to worry about having a fluid identity.

Annalisa is the best, the very best, advice columnist anywhere. She's also got a good podcast.

@ArabellaScott

If said young person is 'ace', then surely the label would be 'non-men not-loving non-men'?

See even after all the threads we've had this week I'm still a child of the 80s and when I see ace lesbian I think of lesbians who are ace.

I'm in doctor who with Ace

@ScrollingLeaves

It was the girl herself though who described herself as a ‘non male attracted to a non male’ rather than the Guardian.

The advice she received indirectly from Beaumont seemed sensitive to her feelings, but at the same time, in my opinion
quite wise. For example, suggesting that she try to be with people in real life and find her identity that way, avoid on-line communities, tell tell her parents how she felt; not to worry about having a fluid identity.

Yes, compassionate but sensible.

In effect, 'you might well grow out of this' without actually saying 'you'll grow out of this'.