Page 3 | Sunday Times exposé today

mcduffy · 2022-10-09T04:56:50+00:00

This was a tough read. Annoying that they used "assigned at birth" but that might be the clinic's own language. The online pharmacies selling ‘DIY’ transitions to children https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0882c868-4673-11ed-b6ed-f47de7cde676?shareToken=5f3206b33945c1509bb1bb564680c0fd

RhannionKPSS · 09/10/2022 14:22

Well done to The Telegraph, The Times, and Daily Mail they are doing a great job of informing their readers, and thank you for sharing the links.

JellySaurus · 09/10/2022 15:01

MrsOvertonsWindow · 09/10/2022 08:10

The contrast between the shambles of the mermaids site in contrast to those on the charity BEAT Eating disorders site is marked.
BEAT keep children safe via tight moderation, forbid discussions of diets, medication, suicide etc - they've a 4 page user guide. They understand the dangers of online grooming and social contagion with safeguarding being their first priority. It's a stark contrast. No wonder the Mermaids chat room has been shut down.

Perhaps because the objective of BEAT is to prevent eating disorders resulting in permanent changes to children's health, to the bodies, to their minds. Successful outcome for BEAT would be the child no longer needing the website because they are able to live a healthy life in their healthy body, freed from the distress of any eating disorder.

Whereas for Mermaids the objective is to support whatever disorder or distress the child has resulting in permanent changes to children's health, to their bodies, to their minds. Successful outcome for Mermaids would be the child being fully immersed in the website's ideology because they are not able to live a healthy life in their healthy body, ending up entirely in the thrall of the distress of any disorder they might have.

Queuesarasarah · 09/10/2022 15:15

I’ve always thought the parallels between gender dysphoria and body dysmorphia were interesting. Like the person above said- no one would want to help a child who thinks they are fat, but is a healthy weight but thinner because inside they felt fat! To me it’s as illogical to encourage girls that they can become men or boys they can become women. The appropriate treatment in both eating disorders and gender dysphoria is counselling and support to see them selves as healthy, whole people. In both there is a but societal component too.

Datun · 09/10/2022 18:03

JellySaurus · 09/10/2022 15:01

Perhaps because the objective of BEAT is to prevent eating disorders resulting in permanent changes to children's health, to the bodies, to their minds. Successful outcome for BEAT would be the child no longer needing the website because they are able to live a healthy life in their healthy body, freed from the distress of any eating disorder.

Whereas for Mermaids the objective is to support whatever disorder or distress the child has resulting in permanent changes to children's health, to their bodies, to their minds. Successful outcome for Mermaids would be the child being fully immersed in the website's ideology because they are not able to live a healthy life in their healthy body, ending up entirely in the thrall of the distress of any disorder they might have.

Show quote history

Yes. The converse would be teaching children in school that drastic weight loss is aspirational, should be celebrated, and if people don't affirm you immediately, they are bigots.