New article: language of 'trans child' compared to cult language

[RevUlsion]

‘A characteristic of cult language is what linguists call a thought-terminating cliché. This is a platitude that signals virtue, but stops discussion.’

Christian writer compares terms such as 'trans child' to cult language, and defends Rachel Rooney's book My Body is Me.

www.flaneurnotes.com/post/weaponised-kindness-the-language-of-the-cult

Well isn't that a fantastic article? It's great to see the onslaught on vulnerable children being centred. Thank you for sharing.

Interestingly there's a thread on Site Stuff about posters on FWR that perfectly exemplifies what's described in the article:

"... values degrade into badge-wearing, flag-flying and sloganeering. Nuanced ethical debates become polarised. My side is self-evidently good, your side evil. I’m motivated by kindness; you, by hate. If I vilify a hater, I’m on the side of virtue because I’m fighting for goodness. The language of kindness is weaponised".

Was thinking exactly the same thing after reading that thread this morning.

I'm off to site stuff to look at that thead and to read the link in the OP. It sounds like they are interesting to compare.

Excellent article and echoes my thoughts exactly.
My first and only deletion on here was because of a post making similar points a couple of years ago.

I've a long held interest in the topic of the article (still being careful!) and that was what my earliest sense of dis-ease with the cultural shift/language changes came from.

This would be good to add to the specific sermon thread too maybe?

Many thanks for posting OP!

It's particularly helpful that the writer frames it in the context of a school cult that did much harm to children. That's what I see happening now - in plain sight. The glacial pace of change post Cass with too many professionals still terrified of speaking out in favour of safeguarding children. The "be kinders" threatening, abusing and still pushing the discredited #nodebate. Even though I can see the scales falling from adult eyes about what's happening, it's despairing that there are so many children caught up in the belief that they can change sex and magic away all their pubertal angst.

Yes, agree with all of this. I hope the article gets wider coverage – not least in church circles where a rather unthinking 'just be kind' can be the default. It's poking a hornet's nest, in a good way.

I've been reading Flaneur's articles with interest for some time, but hadn't read this latest one. Thanks for linking to it.

I've also read the full text of The Sermon. Like Flaneur, I agree with much of it, but I was disappointed at what it left out (though any preacher inevitably does leave things out). It was only the final section that left me feeling frustrated and disappointed. It seemed to show that the Bishop had swallowed some "progressive" assumptions whole. It would be hypocritical of me to berate her for that, as I was in a similar place only three years ago. But I hope she starts looking more deeply into the meaning of "kindness" and into her assumptions about fear, and what fears and levels of fear are legitimate, and what are the result of misplaced kindness. The Bible doesn't stand for wishy-washy patting on the head of oppressed people, but has plenty to say about truth and justice as well as love and mercy (and it's a complex set of books with a lot of ideas in it). Justice that is only there for groups that are recognised as marginalised is not justice.

Thanks for sharing @RevUlsion. Interesting article that makes some valid points. I think I will have to reread it a couple of times though to properly comprehend. I used to go to church but left because of the us/them mentality generally but found the supposedly more progressive groups equally as us/them like the article says if you're not classed as 'be kind.'

A characteristic of cult language is what linguists call a thought-terminating cliché. This is a platitude that signals virtue, but stops discussion.’

I love this quote because this is exactly what Gen AI does. Any debate or controversy is easily and elegantly ended with a thought-terminating cliche.

Interesting timing too, given the White House's new Executive Order, Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation.

Thank you for posting the link to this article. It is very interesting. I have for a long time felt a little uncomfortable with the use of language in this area. I think for some people there was a genuine desire to try to be kind, but it was too difficult to try to be kind to everyone, so they ended up coming down on one side with "no debate". As the writer says, everything is more nuanced than that and the risk in such thought terminating cliches is that we start to other people and then end up in our own silos.

One of the things I notice is how transactivists (and the foolish adults trying to be kind) always swerve discussion from children to adults (folk etc). You see it regularly on here - there's a discussion about children and safeguarding and then a poster (often a transactivist) will start going on about "people" and their rights. Aways desperate to swerve the discussion away from children too young to consent or understand this adult ideology onto "trans rights" to exist, to self determine etc.
In most cases, it's a deliberate attempt to derail posters from speaking about the dangers to children.

And even when they're talking specifically about children, they use the term "young people".

This isn't just transactivists and be-kinders, but even some of the doctors working with these children.

For example, Professor Gary Butler (formerly of GIDS) in a meeting with the Women and Equalities committee last week. And Professor Simona Giordano (WPATH) at the same meeting who insisted that they were discussing adolescents, not children.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5258247-women-and-equalities-committee-today-22-jan

I'm loving the fact that even 6 months ago using the C word would end in a deletion.

How things are changing and people are now beginning to see the Emperor is naked, despite his lipstick and wig!!

Just looked up ‘thought terminating cliches’ as I realised I wasn’t actually sure what they are… realised that they don’t really work for me as I’m autistic/ADHD and if anyone says ‘don’t rock the boat’ or ‘it is what it is’ it tends to just herald major pushback from me. They do my stubborn, logical, need-to-be-right, brain in!

Thanks for sharing. That's a well written piece. And like others I found myself drawing parallels with the recent thread in site stuff.

It never ceases to amaze me how little real compassion cult members have for people with gender dysphoria. Lying isn't being kind. And weaponising of language is a known cult tactic. Believers are more special than those who aren't yet enlightened blah blah.

In the context of my post, is the 'C word' you refer to Cult, Child, Christian, or Cliché? 😁

I just came across this article in a WhatsApp group and was about to post it -= yes, some great observations here.

From looking at his other article titles it seems he might be a gay man not enthralled by Stonewall?

Yes. There are an increasing number of gay men waking up to the reality of gay children being "transed away" and speaking out.

Had a look at the Site Stuff FWR board. One poster made a comment I have found to be true. That feminism is accepted here on the FWR board but that on other boards if one suggests that sex work is not work, or that sex positivity might not be the bees' knees, or that pornography is degrading to women, the pushback is harsh and one is treated as a pariah, where 'out of date' and 'prude' are the politest thing one might be accused of being. Thanks @/CurlewKate, for voicing what I have found elsewhere and been a bit surprised by, not realising (in my sheltered ivory tower!🤓) how pornified the world has become. It worries me for the sake of my GDDs, and indeed DDs.

I think it may be something to do with Tuesdays.

When I saw his name at the bottom of the article, I realised I know him. He used to be a vicar not far from where I was living and was married with children. He'd been a journalist before ordination and is now back doing that and broadcasting (Thought for the Day, etc.) I haven't seen him for years, but remember him as a very thoughtful man.

Incidentally he's no fan of drag either. Another very thoughtful article: https://www.flaneurnotes.com/post/dragging-the-seine

I saw this without knowing any back story

Then following a comment below the video I looked it up https://www.americanexperiment.org/border-patrol-agents-murder-connected-to-trans-terrorist-group/
I didn't know there was a violent trans group.

Me neither. But as aggression, threats and violence appear to be the modus operandi for extreme transactivism, we shouldn't be surprised (see our own "Punch a terf" SJ Barker) 😑

He's written this, too. https://www.flaneurnotes.com/post/on-activism-for-toddlers
I think it was written before 7th Oct 23, but exactly explains why the horrors of that day were praised as 'resistance' by many on the left.