I got banned from the New Zealand sub when - in response to someone asking what the Speak Up for Women's billboard "Woman : Adult Human Female" meant. I replied with what it meant, and added that I agreed with it. Got permanently banned from that sub oh-so-quickly (after a few "That's hate speech!" comments).
That ban - without any other action from me - led to a Reddit-site-wide ban for a week, without any recourse or discussion.
It's insane over there. Facebook isn't much better, but at least it's not quite as bad as Reddit.
The biggest sign of something being a cult is opposition to critical thinking. Don't question the mantras. Chant meaningless slogans. Accuse those who stray from the core beliefs of hatred, bigotry, betrayal, treason. Gender identity ideology has this in spades. The activists (I think) had infiltrated Mumsnet and using the word 'cult' would get your post removed. "Repent, mother-fucker!!"
@Lycaerix I was discussing the whole Gender Critical view with a friend of mine who does not agree. One of the things she brought up with me was that she is "queer". She asked "Would you disagree or deny that? Isn't it my own experience that counts?"
I said "All I can say is that YOU say you are queer. Can you define 'queer' for me, so that I - looking at your life choices and behaviors - can decide if that identity jives with reality?"
She got very upset with me. The fact that she's only ever dated men, had sex with men, etc. didn't matter. She was "queer" and I was absolutely wrong to even ask her for a definition of it.
Same when 'trans' ppl who are desperate for a mastectomy start to fantasise they have breast cancer so they can get their breasts removed. Usurping the identity of a person with cancer. I saw it on Twitter ☹️. Identities, even subjective ones, are not mantles to be removed at will.
Ironic when you consider how much they've tried to invalidate and dehumanize women since the beginning of all this nonsense . There have been times when I felt I no longer existed due to their attempts to erase us ,linguistically at least.
I think sometimes that is the purpose of patriarchy, to make women feel as though they don't exist. My husband grew up in a household where the children were basically made to feel they didn't exist (oblivious mother, father who wanted a fan club); if I depended upon him to know I exist I would be dead.
And what about if you don't "identify as" an "identity", as you recognise that some aspects of who you are (eg human, woman, middle-aged, white) are objectively without question and can't be identified into or out of? I'd say that other aspects of who you are eg religion, social class, other 'tribe/community' (eg for me, families with a disabled child), and possibly (very tentatively, and no offence is meant) sexual orientation (especially if you are bi maybe?), which are more open to interpretation/are not fixed, are aspects of identity which can be "identified as". But being a human/ woman or man sure as hell can't be identified out of, ergo can't be identified into/as, either. Maybe I'm wrong to include sexual orientation in the other class. But in some ways it does feel more like an "identity" than being a man or woman. A tribe or community. Help, though! I'm no philosopher! Getting tangled. Need Prof Stock 😀
Regarding your very last paragraph there (I'm too tired at this point of the evening to reply to everything :-D )... I'm an atheist, and one of the reasons I am one is, when I was a kid, I was never told there was a god(s) or anything supernatural. But of course I was surrounded by people (school, friends, etc) who did believe in these things. When I asked my parents if there was such thing as a god, all they said was "Some people believe there is, some people believe there isn't, you get to decide for yourself."
So for several years, I read books and articles, had lots of conversations, etc. regarding religion, spiritual beliefs, their histories, etc.
In the end, it just made more sense to me that people should believe these things because it made them feel comfortable, safe, special, whatever.
But I also decided that I cared more about what actually -IS- than what makes me feel good.
So the above, combined with the fact that I never really socialized well among my peers, made me feel that the ultimate reality is the reality that I can see confirmed in physical truth, repeatable phenomena, science, etc. I rarely have ever believed something just because it made me feel good, or "part of" something, or "special". At least, no more than the average human does (I'm reminded of the "Total Perspective Vortex" from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - humans can't afford "total perspective" or we'd just kill ourselves).
Anyway, all of this makes me feel that I do not determine reality, but then neither does anybody else. Saying something is "so" doesn't make it "so". Belief is just belief - if it's not tied to fact, it has little meaning. And social pressure to change my beliefs from what I see before my eyes is to be resisted as much as possible.
I just told a friend today, "I'd rather see reality as it is, than be happy; obviously I'd rather have both, but if I had to choose one, then reality is more important than feeling good."
Oh, I bet "Ms" Challenor never really went away. The commenter who says ether can ban subs but they can't ban reality is spot on.
Sunlight really is the best disinfectant for this nonsensical ideology.
Pls excuse typos, it's been a long day and I'm tired.
I got banned from the New Zealand sub when - in response to someone asking what the Speak Up for Women's billboard "Woman : Adult Human Female" meant. I replied with what it meant, and added that I agreed with it. Got permanently banned from that sub oh-so-quickly (after a few "That's hate speech!" comments).
That ban - without any other action from me - led to a Reddit-site-wide ban for a week, without any recourse or discussion.
It's insane over there. Facebook isn't much better, but at least it's not quite as bad as Reddit.
And that's a damning remark if ever there was one.
The biggest sign of something being a cult is opposition to critical thinking. Don't question the mantras. Chant meaningless slogans. Accuse those who stray from the core beliefs of hatred, bigotry, betrayal, treason. Gender identity ideology has this in spades. The activists (I think) had infiltrated Mumsnet and using the word 'cult' would get your post removed. "Repent, mother-fucker!!"
I think I'm going to start identifying as "otherkin" (whatever that is lol). Sounds really cool.
It is the least cool thing you can possibly imagine.
Ah. Think I'll avoid trying to find out ... thanks :)
I am now trying to avoid the word cool. The 30-somethings my husband works with spit out "kewl" (short and sharp) constantly and it drives him crazy!
I’m going to be a ‘been’ from now on !
Prefix .. human and has !
Added my name !
I’m struggling to keep up with all these emails, so I’m afraid I sent my name to baroness Nicholson too late.
@Lycaerix I was discussing the whole Gender Critical view with a friend of mine who does not agree. One of the things she brought up with me was that she is "queer". She asked "Would you disagree or deny that? Isn't it my own experience that counts?"
I said "All I can say is that YOU say you are queer. Can you define 'queer' for me, so that I - looking at your life choices and behaviors - can decide if that identity jives with reality?"
She got very upset with me. The fact that she's only ever dated men, had sex with men, etc. didn't matter. She was "queer" and I was absolutely wrong to even ask her for a definition of it.
People are crazy.
Same when 'trans' ppl who are desperate for a mastectomy start to fantasise they have breast cancer so they can get their breasts removed. Usurping the identity of a person with cancer. I saw it on Twitter ☹️. Identities, even subjective ones, are not mantles to be removed at will.
Ooh, didn't read your comment, you've said what I was trying to say but much mire clearly - thanks!! (Are you Prof S?!)
You have totally amazing self-control 🙌👏 Be proud of yourself!!!
Ironic when you consider how much they've tried to invalidate and dehumanize women since the beginning of all this nonsense . There have been times when I felt I no longer existed due to their attempts to erase us ,linguistically at least.
I think sometimes that is the purpose of patriarchy, to make women feel as though they don't exist. My husband grew up in a household where the children were basically made to feel they didn't exist (oblivious mother, father who wanted a fan club); if I depended upon him to know I exist I would be dead.
they "want to live a falsehood" because its a cult religion. Reality and rationality must be rejected as attacks on their Church.
And what about if you don't "identify as" an "identity", as you recognise that some aspects of who you are (eg human, woman, middle-aged, white) are objectively without question and can't be identified into or out of? I'd say that other aspects of who you are eg religion, social class, other 'tribe/community' (eg for me, families with a disabled child), and possibly (very tentatively, and no offence is meant) sexual orientation (especially if you are bi maybe?), which are more open to interpretation/are not fixed, are aspects of identity which can be "identified as". But being a human/ woman or man sure as hell can't be identified out of, ergo can't be identified into/as, either. Maybe I'm wrong to include sexual orientation in the other class. But in some ways it does feel more like an "identity" than being a man or woman. A tribe or community. Help, though! I'm no philosopher! Getting tangled. Need Prof Stock 😀
Regarding your very last paragraph there (I'm too tired at this point of the evening to reply to everything :-D )... I'm an atheist, and one of the reasons I am one is, when I was a kid, I was never told there was a god(s) or anything supernatural. But of course I was surrounded by people (school, friends, etc) who did believe in these things. When I asked my parents if there was such thing as a god, all they said was "Some people believe there is, some people believe there isn't, you get to decide for yourself."
So for several years, I read books and articles, had lots of conversations, etc. regarding religion, spiritual beliefs, their histories, etc.
In the end, it just made more sense to me that people should believe these things because it made them feel comfortable, safe, special, whatever.
But I also decided that I cared more about what actually -IS- than what makes me feel good.
So the above, combined with the fact that I never really socialized well among my peers, made me feel that the ultimate reality is the reality that I can see confirmed in physical truth, repeatable phenomena, science, etc. I rarely have ever believed something just because it made me feel good, or "part of" something, or "special". At least, no more than the average human does (I'm reminded of the "Total Perspective Vortex" from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - humans can't afford "total perspective" or we'd just kill ourselves).
Anyway, all of this makes me feel that I do not determine reality, but then neither does anybody else. Saying something is "so" doesn't make it "so". Belief is just belief - if it's not tied to fact, it has little meaning. And social pressure to change my beliefs from what I see before my eyes is to be resisted as much as possible.
I just told a friend today, "I'd rather see reality as it is, than be happy; obviously I'd rather have both, but if I had to choose one, then reality is more important than feeling good."
For some people though, atheism is akin to religion, they can get aggressive about it, are tribal etc.
Definitely not me. As long as someone isn't trying to use their religion to tell me what to do, I don't care.