How are the rules made?
“Well we just spoke to Maya Forstater from Sex Matters about the row between JK Rowling and the trans journalist India Willoughby”
Hahaha yes very good, trans journalist indeed. I wish newsreaders would learn how to pronounce Rowling though – rhymes with bowling not howling.
“and judging by iron box [???] our inbox a lot of people at home think that you’re a bit ridiculous on this issue Tom.”
Tom of course jumps to explain how he’s not at all ridiculous but in fact the only reasonable person talking about it. He thinks there are crazy people on either side of the issue, and that it’s rude and wrong not to call people “she” if they want to be called “she.”
Ok why? Why is that a rule of manners or etiquette or political virtue? Is it a general rule? If someone wants to be called Admiral (but is not an actual admiral) is it rude and wrong to fail to oblige? If a criminal defendant wants to be called “Your Honor” in court is it rude to ignore the demand?
Not that I know of. It’s not a general rule, or a generalizable rule, so why is it a rule when it comes to “gender”?
I don’t know the answer to that question. We’re relentlessly and noisily told it is a rule, but I don’t know why, and I don’t really understand how the new and peculiar “rule” about it got so entrenched so fast.
And of course it’s more than just asking to be called admiral; it’s what happens when the non-admirals demand to be given access to the actual admirals’ quarters, and expect to be obeyed in situations in which actual admiralhood is necessary and expected. That wouldn’t be so bad if there weren’t people treating them like real admirals and vilifying all those who refuse to join them in obeisance. It’s no way to run a navy. But at least in the navy their are punishments for impersonating an officer.
“Our inbox”
Oh duh. Of course.
It helps to be English.
Regarding admiral, did you have this story in mind? Turns out that the former White House physician turned Texan congressman and Trump lackey calls himself Admiral even though he was demoted (post-retirement) from Rear Admiral to Captain for general assholery.
All the best people.
I didn’t; it was one of those “rummage around in the brain for an example” type things, but it was probably “Rachel” Levine in the background nudging my brain to choose admiral.