Seen in the wild

[SamphiretheTervosaurReturneth]

OK. Now I am amused, confused, bemused

Went to a student house today, 2 tenants met me.

One was dressed like Holly Hobby. Pink ruffled pinafore dress, long hair tied up with a matching hair bow, ruffled ankle socks, Mary Jane shoes and a little gathered bag, also matching the dress, hanging from her wrist with a bow.

Cute and very retro I thought

Other tenant was pretty much Sporty Spice

Then apropos of nothing, I hadn't even asked their names, Holly Hobby says "I am non binary, you can call me They/Them"

I smiled and got on with the job "Is there anything you would like to report to the landlord?"

Holly Hobby stomped out of the house.

Sporty tells me, with an eye roll, I should have phrased that "Is there anything you/they/them would like to report to the landlord?"

I am afraid I laughed and said "but you were both here, talking directly to me, that's weird" and then got on with the job.

I am still trying to work it out. But maybe there is no sense in it?

It's not necessarily the way a person dresses that's ridiculous (although the paedophiliac associations in this case are not good).

It's the attempt to force forms of speech on other people - and daft forms at that, since when addressing a person directly one uses second person not third person pronouns.

That is what is ridiculous, laughable, ludicrous, risible.

Get your counter-complaint ready - they didn't ask your pronouns when you arrived and therefore mis-gendered you throughout your visit. Literal violence that will take a lot of therapy to get over, the cost of which will be deducted from 'their' deposit.

We are partly in the mess we're in because too many people have encouraged this latest round of naval gazing rather than the disinterested "Yes, dear" or "You are not going out dressed like that" response that older generations got from the generations above them.

An adult who flounces off because someone talking to them used the word you does not need to be enveloped in understanding and a love bombing session so they feel listened and attended to.

No, they need to be enveloped in a "Grammar for dummies" book.

The young adult in question did not hesitate to ridicule and be rude to the OP for daring not to pander/mind read.

What is this belief that women should provide endless, unconditional and frankly gooey sentimental pandering to adults who behave this badly to them?

Really interesting. The blurring of the generations also probably contributes to Gen Z/A's lack of its own music culture.

Growing up in the 80s, no one of our parents' generation was into the same music as teens/early 20s. Of course, lots of our parents liked pop and rock, but they listened to the music of their own youth or to more easy listening stuff. Our parents weren't listening to Wham and Duran Duran, or to dance music once the early 90s clubbing scene hit.

But, these days, there are only a few music genres (e.g. drill) that are pretty much exclusively for YP. Older adults are at live gigs, festivals etc. I mostly think that's a good thing - I don't want to be forced to listen to whatever the 2023 equivalent of 1980s soft rock would be. But it does leave younger people without music communities of their own.

Please stop with 'Oh COVID' excuses. It's ridiculous, so children stayed home for a year. If you have a nice home, regular meals and a family you're damn lucky.
This entire generation need to study Stoicism to develop character and resilience.

Lolita fashion is not new- it’s been around for over twenty years in Japan and favours a Victorian doll look. It’s become more popular in the West thanks to the internet the easier and cheaper availability of the clothes via Chinese fashion websites. AGPs tend to like it because it fits into their sissy fetishes

In Japan a lot of the girls make their own clothes and they are actually very intricate and beautiful in their own way. Making the clothes was an original part of the subculture which has similarities to cosplay in some ways. It still gives me the creeps though.

But why would a female - woman who rejected womanhood want to dress like Grayson Perry??? Or Baby Spice. Whichever one it was they identified as. 🤔🤷‍♀️

😱 Is there a Lolita subculture? Have they read the book?

Surely it's natural of the older generation to mock the yoof of today?? My dad definitely laughed at my gofftastic get ups, and my nan told me how much she and my grandad laughed at my dad when he was a punk! Every generation believes they have discovered something new and radical which will revolutionise society, unlike the repressed older generations. That's part of growing up. Sadly these days genuine subcultures are non-existent because of gentrification and the cost of living - no more squat scene - and the internet cementing capitalism by selling us back to ourselves. Self-improvement and blind consumerism - makes me glad to be old!

Do young people still read books???

The only thing she didn't have was the bonnet!

Awww! The bonnet is the best most dramatic part!

Is there a Lolita subculture? Have they read the book?

Do young people still read books???

Before you mock you really should do a little research. I can't comment on HH but the Lolita style has a long history as a girls' subculture in Japan and arises from particularly Japanese origins and with reference to Japanese culture more broadly. Like most subcultures, it embodies elements of resistance to norms, including gendered, sexed and sexual norms. It has spread to other cultures as well (possibly without context and therefore clumsily) and like most subcultures, it has been commercialised to some extent. Costumes used to be handmade and now they can be bought cheaply.

It is a really interesting girls' subculture (where most subcultures tend to be male) and worth reading about.

Interesting that this individual flounced off when addressed as “you”. If you’d called Holly “they/them” directly, you’d look like you were taking the piss!

“Hello Holly, ahh non-binary they say? Ok, do they/them have anything to report? Ok. Thank they very much for their time, I’ll let they get back to it now. See them later, take care of themself.”

I’m pretty sure there’d be grounds for complaint in that instance.

The other tenant said the question should have been phrased "Is there anything you/they/them would like to report to the landlord?"

So presumably the OP should have said something like
“Hello Holly, ahh non-binary you/they/them say? OK, do you/they/them have anything to report? OK. Thank you/they/them very much for your/their /them's time, I’ll let you/they/them get back to it now. See you/they/them later, take care of yourself/theyself/themself.”

PS it took me a good five minutes to work that out in writing. Lord knows how long it would take in speech. The ums and ahs would be numerous.

So fuck that for a game of soldiers.

That is just crazy, Chersfrozenface! There’s no way anyone could do it without tripping up and causing even more offence. And why should they try, when it makes no sense whatsoever?

Really?

Blech!

Self employed.

And the Agent found its all amusing, has had 'dealings' with HH before (real name is quite boringly normal and female).

Not really sure I am ridiculing.

I am, as I said, amused, bemused. Style of dress seemed to me to be very retro, no problem, StudentVille is full of characters.

But how, as @Chersfrozenface etc have tried, how the hell am I supposed to remember, work out what it is I am to remember, not freeze and giggle in nervousness when fixed with a gimlet stare and told "I am They/Them"?