In todays news...

[Screwdriver]

Update: apparently there's 72 gender types. I'm such a dinosaur, I really must keep up.

73.

Now we have "dinosaur". I think I can identify with that too....

[demographic]

Err, didn't Trump more or less had a fucking season ticket for Epstiens island and now owns his trafficking jet?

Don't know. Is there any sort of evidence for that?

Maybe I'll have a quick look on X...

In all seriousness, Epstein was almost certainly a CIA/deep state operative. Links to Israeli secret service too iirc. I doubt if there is anyone of any importance he didn't try and hook up with. How successful that was is anyones guess.

Looks like we will get to find out though. It is one of Trump many promises to release the Epstein list. Promises which almost got him killed.

Well thats certainly one interpretation of the events and Trumps intentions.

[Count Steer]

So the number of women accusing Al Fayed of abusing them is upto 111, Private Eye and IIRC Vanity Fair reported on this years ago.
Theres been several people who enabled his behavior and there were complaints into the Met (who did fuckalll because, hell it was the Met) decades ago.

He's bang to rights. Private Eye says so.

They said so back in the 90s iirc. (In a recent issue they reprinted what they said then verbatim). It seems they were one of the few that would risk the backlash/lawsuits and actually print the story. As said ^^^ the people that should have been interested weren't, or were actively shutting the story down. There may be a few bandwagon jumpers currently but it's more interesting to ask why he wasn't put under any sort of pressure back then. (Or, if you want the spooky music version, why anyone should want to trash his reputation this late in the day. You may draw dotted lines to Dodi/Diana to illustrate any theories as you see fit).

[Screwdriver]

The long awaited alien invasion begins today, ~Tues 3rd Dec 2024 or 39 days after the Trump/Rogan podcast (which might mean tomorrow).

https://www.dexerto.com/youtube/did-joe ... d-2996502/

Amazing how many "predictions" had to transpire to get us to this point but I suspect the alien visit is just one improbability too far. Then again, you never know which branch of the multiverse we may be swinging from so:

Tinfoil hats at the ready...

[Felix]

As long as they dont bring Smash potatoes back with them.

[Noggin]

I wouldn't say I'm obsessed and especially not obsessed with trans women (i.e. men pretending to be women). If a man want to pretend he's woman then I'm all for it. I'll even call him Susan (or Linda or even Lia) if that's his fetish, but that's because I'm polite.

The are many other words that encapsulate what you might be based on this and 'polite' is near the arse end of the list. If this post gets me banned then so be it, I'm so tired of this horrible crap being posted as being an acceptable opinion without it being challenged. I've tried not to get ensnared with people who post this sort of shit but it's just appalling, it's no longer the 70s and no one should have to listen to or read this shit without having the option to call it out for what it is.

I do often want to at least question comments like the one you've replied to but on various forums etc I've experienced a bit of back lash on various topics, so as a single white female, I don't often stand up to discuss stuff. I have enough issues in real life. I know that can be perceived as weak by some, but honestly, I deal with sexism/chauvanism every week (probably everyday, but I learnt to ignore most of it 40 years ago!!).

The trans thing is so emotive to some and I don't 'get' why. I have a friend whose teenage daughter 'identifies' as a boy. Well, back when we were the same age, I can remember a couple of our friends doing the same thing. Only there was no label for it then and they were just 'tom-boys'. Or assumed to be lesbians as they got older. I was labelled a tom-boy as a young teenager as I hated skirts because, just so not practical!!

Now there are actual proper labels, and people are more open about their feelings etc, there is far more opportunity for others to be offended and abusive. It's sad

So, thank you

[Noggin]

You can say what you like about Mohamed Al-Fayed, you can make all kinds of allegations. He will never be able to defend himself, he will never get a fair trial and most importantly, he will not be able to sue you for libel.

Also, he was rich, if people believe you, you might be in line for a windfall. So go for it.

So the number of women accusing Al Fayed of abusing them is upto 111, Private Eye and IIRC Vanity Fair reported on this years ago.
Theres been several people who enabled his behavior and there were complaints into the Met (who did fuckalll because, hell it was the Met) decades ago.
Now that its been on TV many more women (including one that was 13 at the time of the offence) stood up to what will have been for them years of shame and mental anguish.
I have been close to a couple of women who have been raped and from talking to them I thi k its faaar more common than some people realise. My guess is that its about a third of women have been sexually assaulted in some way so not just golddiggers as you seem to suggest

If its a third of women then thats also a lot of perpetrators, and if theres a lot who am I more inclined to be suspicious about? They would be the ones gaslighting any accusers stories they hear about?

As I heard a bit .ore on this story on the radio today I did a search cos I remembered it being discussed, turns out it was your post because, well of course it was.

I think most women have had some sort of assault but it's virtually unprovable in most cases. Some women just accept they made questionable decisions, get whatever it is over with and move on. That happens way more than most people could imagine. Making an iffy decision and then just knowing that saying no and wanting to leave is going to be far worse. It's mostly less bad than rape as the legal description, but still stays with that woman. Even rape is incredibly difficult to prove and get justice. Which is horrific


Similarly, men being 'handsy'. I mean, Trump has that reputation at the very least but he's now a president, again. And all the world knows the allegations and the rumours, so this now makes it more acceptable to men more likely to behave that way.

I'm lucky that I was always tall and apparently have a resting bitch face and don't give off a feak and weeble air when out alone - but other friends have been assaulted (described as touched up, its not that pleasant, it IS assault) on the tube, the train, in bars/clubs etc. If some men think they can get away with it, they will. And How the Fuck do you prove it. Her word against his, if you can even get someone to take notice and find him.


So yes, in all honesty, men in power with money being accused like this - my reaction is that there is definitely no smoke without fire. Yes, it would have been better to accuse him when he was alive and have criminal proceeding. But no one took any notice of Private Eye's report back then and so few women want to go through the trauma and stress of trying to get someone like that charged (look at the stress and abuse the woman that accused Trump went through). No, I am not sure I'd go up against someone with a small country's wealth and power. And I am not scared of much and really would want a person to be brought to justice. But a 'normal' person is hard enough to bring to court, let alone get justice.

[JackyJoll]

There is some mention of now attempting to prosecute managers in Harrods, for failing to protect the girls from Al-Fayed.

Seems a bit contemptible. If the actual Police and Crown Office were scared of the dirty little man when he was alive, what in Hell could a manager be expected to do?

[Screwdriver]

The trans thing is so emotive to some and I don't 'get' why.

Among grown adults it's no issue at all. I think that's a shared opinion among most ordinary people. What consenting adults get up to in their own time is their own business. The problem is more with "trans activists" wanting to promote this type of behaviour as if it is lit. normal with children and within the education system. That is bang out of order imho. It is way too subjective and years before a child can possibly know anything about love or sex/sexual orientation and whether or not they might one day want to start a family.

[MyLittleStudPony]

The trans thing is so emotive to some and I don't 'get' why.

Among grown adults it's no issue at all. I think that's a shared opinion among most ordinary people. What consenting adults get up to in their own time is their own business. The problem is more with "trans activists" wanting to promote this type of behaviour as if it is lit. normal with children and within the education system. That is bang out of order imho. It is way too subjective and years before a child can possibly know anything about love or sex/sexual orientation and whether or not they might one day want to start a family.

My partner works at a large state school. The kids there are fine with trans, non-binary etc. Quite a few of them do identify in those ways.

IME it's mainly confused old men living in the fear zone who have a problem with these people being recognised and having fair rights.

[Screwdriver]

My partner works at a large state school. The kids there are fine with trans, non-binary etc. Quite a few of them do identify in those ways.

IME it's mainly confused old men living in the fear zone who have a problem with these people being recognised and having fair rights.

Yeah and those same kids want to be astronauts, footballers or filmstars when they grow up.

They are a blank sheet of paper. The human mind is weak, especially true in children and that mind has never had to protect itself from sexually deviant adults so much as it does now.

Like I said, no problem at all with tomboys/girls. Don't care how they want to dress or behave. I draw the line at surgical intervention, sterilisation, castration and a life long dependancy on drugs. I am sure there are plenty of surgeons and drug companies who disagree.

Then again, I am an old fashioned sort of chap, as you rather caustically suggest and I have a built in response to anyone who would deliberately harm a child. Frankly I can't think of anything worse you could do to a child before they enter into adulthood.

It is called the age of consent because prior to that subjective moment in a young humans life, they cannot give informed consent. They need to be protected from themselves because they have no idea what it is you are so casually in favour of doing to them.

I have nothing but contempt for anyone who thinks it's ok to deliberately mutilate children. I think it should be illegal.

[JackyJoll]

It’s not often I “like” weirdo Screwdriver’s shit!

[JackyJoll]

The trans thing is so emotive to some and I don't 'get' why.

Among grown adults it's no issue at all. I think that's a shared opinion among most ordinary people. What consenting adults get up to in their own time is their own business. The problem is more with "trans activists" wanting to promote this type of behaviour as if it is lit. normal with children and within the education system. That is bang out of order imho. It is way too subjective and years before a child can possibly know anything about love or sex/sexual orientation and whether or not they might one day want to start a family.

My partner works at a large state school. The kids there are fine with trans, non-binary etc. Quite a few of them do identify in those ways.

IME it's mainly confused old men living in the fear zone who have a problem with these people being recognised and having fair rights.

I really don’t think many of us, of any age or either sex, care too much about how people dress up or “identify.”

[Buckaroo]

My partner works at a large state school. The kids there are fine with trans, non-binary etc. Quite a few of them do identify in those ways.

IME it's mainly confused old men living in the fear zone who have a problem with these people being recognised and having fair rights.

Yeah and those same kids want to be astronauts, footballers or filmstars when they grow up.

They are a blank sheet of paper. The human mind is weak, especially true in children and that mind has never had to protect itself from sexually deviant adults so much as it does now.

Like I said, no problem at all with tomboys/girls. Don't care how they want to dress or behave. I draw the line at surgical intervention, sterilisation, castration and a life long dependancy on drugs. I am sure there are plenty of surgeons and drug companies who disagree.

Then again, I am an old fashioned sort of chap, as you rather caustically suggest and I have a built in response to anyone who would deliberately harm a child. Frankly I can't think of anything worse you could do to a child before they enter into adulthood.

It is called the age of consent because prior to that subjective moment in a young humans life, they cannot give informed consent. They need to be protected from themselves because they have no idea what it is you are so casually in favour of doing to them.

I have nothing but contempt for anyone who thinks it's ok to deliberately mutilate children. I think it should be illegal.

It's not entirely dissimilar to babies and or the very young being indoctrinated into a religion or faith that comes with all the associated baggage of guilt and oppression before they're barely house trained.

They're children. Not Christian, Muslim, Jewish etc. How can they possibly make informed decisions and choices at this age? Let them play and learn before exposing them to such things. My kids made their own decisions when they were able to. We merely answered their questions and guided if necessary or asked for. Life's challenging enough as it is.

[Horse]

Yeah and those same kids want to be astronauts, footballers or filmstars when they grow up.

You've hit upon one of my many pet hates, when kids are told "you can be anything you want" 'encouragement'. No, you can't.

They are a blank sheet of paper. The human mind is weak, especially true in children and that mind has never had to protect itself from sexually deviant adults so much as it does now.

They might not be so blank, though. During the mother's pregnancy the foetus will have been washed with all sorts of hormones at different times.

From what I remember reading, the gender of the body is decided at a different time to the brain.

If that is the case, and things get out of sync, there's the 'trapped in a body' thing.

If the child - their brain - was a totally blank sheet at birth it would have no gender

Like I said, no problem at all with tomboys/girls. Don't care how they want to dress or behave.

Is that 'tomboy' terminology sufficient, oralong the lines of 'the slow kid' (learning difficulties), 'eccentric' (autistic), 'distracted kid' (ADHD), etc.?

Understanding increases over time.

If nothing else, applying the term 'tomboy' to someone now is, at best, gender stereotyping.

I draw the line at surgical intervention, sterilisation, castration and a life long dependancy on drugs.

I appreciate that here you are referring to kids. But it reflects the commitment made by those adults going through reassignment.

I don't pretend to understand any of this, I don't have any direct experience.

But in a world where people self-harm so physical pain temporarily blocks mental pain, it shows that those people (adults) probably are not taking the decision lightly.

Then again, I am an old fashioned sort of chap, as you rather caustically suggest and I have a built in response to anyone who would deliberately harm a child. Frankly I can't think of anything worse you could do to a child before they enter into adulthood.

I have nothing but contempt for anyone who thinks it's ok to deliberately mutilate children. I think it should be illegal.

I doubt anyone here would challenge you on that

[Saga Lout]

South Korea's president declares martial law.
South Korea's parliament votes against martial law.
South Korea's president cancels martial law.
I think that suns it up.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0lgw1pw5zpo

[Screwdriver]

It's not entirely dissimilar to babies and or the very young being indoctrinated into a religion or faith that comes with all the associated baggage of guilt and oppression before they're barely house trained.

They're children. Not Christian, Muslim, Jewish etc. How can they possibly make informed decisions and choices at this age? Let them play and learn before exposing them to such things. My kids made their own decisions when they were able to. We merely answered their questions and guided if necessary or asked for. Life's challenging enough as it is.

The difference is a parent has a duty of care to provide shelter to a child and that shelter has to be within a society. No individual family group can easily be self sufficient in the UK for example. Therefore the child must be trained or indoctrinated if you insist so that they can integrate into their local society and comply with those local norms.

The Judeo Christian way is the one that has worked for Europeans and made our world the way it is. I agree those values are pretty hard to shake off but you don't have to go "all in" or really believe in the literal word of the Bible. As Jordan Peterson once said when asked do you believe in God: "I act as if I believe in God, at least to the best of my ability".

So the child in our case is fooled into believing "thou shalt not kill", "...commit adultery", "...covet thy neighbours whatsits" etc. It's a demonstrably "good" rulebook with Christian values helping maintain order within a secular state, backed up by an entirely separate rule of law.

Later in life they can still do murder even after having been "indoctrinated" into accepting the ten commandments. Commit adultery, lie cheat, steal and basically do as they please with their newfound adult responsibility.

Can't grow a dick back though can you...

[Screwdriver]

South Korea's president declares martial law.
South Korea's parliament votes against martial law.
South Korea's president cancels martial law.
I think that suns it up.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0lgw1pw5zpo

Quite a relief to wake up to that news.

I hope Kier Stalin takes note....

[MyLittleStudPony]

The trans thing is so emotive to some and I don't 'get' why.

Among grown adults it's no issue at all. I think that's a shared opinion among most ordinary people. What consenting adults get up to in their own time is their own business. The problem is more with "trans activists" wanting to promote this type of behaviour as if it is lit. normal with children and within the education system. That is bang out of order imho. It is way too subjective and years before a child can possibly know anything about love or sex/sexual orientation and whether or not they might one day want to start a family.

It is normal within the education system and for children. It's not the majority, but it is normal.

Schools have policies in place and staff with responsibilities to ensure anyone expressing opinions against minority groups are dealt with appropriately. This is good practice and the law.


Some old men do seem to be afraid of change; and incandescent with rage when someone pisses in what they believe to be the wrong pot. But they are anachronisms of no real relevance.

As Weeksy said, it's like using the term "Pakki". It was never good; but now it's absolutely not tolerated. And rightly so.

[Cousin Jack]

Schools have to conform with the law. The law says that sex/gender is a protected characteristic' so it is ilegal to discriminate because of it. Of course teachers treat abnormal as OK, and teach kids to do the same: to do otherwise would (and has) lead to dismissal.

Is the law 'right'? Opinions differ, but the 'good old days' were NOT good if you were perceived as different.

OTOH I can remember PIE. That was also touted as 'normal' . Be careful what you make legal , there are some twisted people just waiting to exploit loopholes.