Biggest Gay Lobby Group in America Urges Schools to Ban Words ‘Boy’ and ‘Girl’

Everyone seems to complain when us "older folks" comment that taking certain actions begin a slippery slope slide down a path where no one (at the time) wants to go. But it never fails...the slide begins. But that was always the agenda. That is why when the majority finally gives in to something they find morally problematic...those we gave in to are never satisfied and always want more. Let's fast-forward a few years and discuss other words we won't be using. Freedom, opinion, belief, religion, liberty, ownership, small business, retirement, savings, wealth, rights, God, etc.

originally posted by: samerulesapply
a reply to: Annee

I know, I commented on a thread the other day about some of the tings my niece has said. My mother is really old fashioned and a total prude - and she's absolutely gobsmacked.

It's pretty insane, I don't think it's a good thing to be honest. Not being allowed to have a best friend because it excludes others...I cannot get my head around that at all.

I find that fact alone quite disturbing.

I'm not old fashion, but some of these young kids still surprise me. Including my own 7 year old grandson (however, he is high functioning autism spectrum). He's been on a computer since 2, and taught himself to read by 3. He got hold of an OK magazine the other day and proceeded to tell me about Beyoncé being pregnant. He's beginning to question. I turned that over to mom (dad died).

I live in a beach area not far from Hollywood. Things might be a little advanced here, but I'm hearing the same stuff from moms all over the states.

They can have a BFF, they just can't make a big deal of it to where it excludes others. It's a good thing.

My grandson prefers to be called: Mr. Man. He's just gonna skip right over the boy part.

You know, as best as I can tell through the din of incessant whining and hand-wringing from those that have no idea what the hell they're talking about along with those with their head up their where the sun don't shine, there's not one damn other person posting here that that could have actually benefitted by not being made uncomfortable and resentful by not having their differences dragged out in front of everybody with the simple suggestion not to group school kids by boy or girl.

You can speculate and conjure up imaginary and hypothetical scenarios until the cows come home but unless you've actually been a child that has been singled out and put on the spot and confused and humiliated by this, as far as I'm concerned, you can all STFU because none of you were one of these kids or been stuck in the middle somewhere anguishing over which line to go stand in because neither one would have been the right one.

I was teased, bullied, harassed and even had my ass kicked multiple times from grade school through high school for being not quite a boy or a girl and the last thing I needed was a teacher dividing a class by gender. Rather than being your poor little crushed snowflake, it made me angry, tough, resentful and rebellious and I built up a huge emotional wall around me for protection that even at sixty years old has been penetrated by only a small few. I don't like people and more than likely, I don't like most of you either.

Quit being such a bunch on pompous jerks riding your high horse of whatever without a clue what this might be like from a kid's perspective. Yeah, it probably isn't an issue for 99% that is unless you do happen to be the odd one out. Nobody is suggesting we do away with boy and girl or that gender doesn't matter, how silly is that, but these two words when used to group children falls short and fails to recognize not everyone fits the binary model. No need to overturn the world or change what being a boy or girl means - just stop using it as a dividing line. Is that so effing hard?

Just talking about this, remembering and reading the posts here makes me angry at the world all over again for being such a stupid intolerant place. Not all of you, of course, but thanks fellow ATS members for restoring my faith in humanity and hope for the future. Not.

Sorry, rant over.

a reply to: Annee

Oh, see, that makes more sense. It seemed at first that you were saying that having a best friend at all was not allowed. And yeah, at 7 you really don't need a girlfriend or boyfriend.

a reply to: Annee

Advanced, you say. Yeah, we're pretty basic over here.

They can have a BFF, that's fair enough. Here was me thinking this was pretty much mind control at its most blatant and obvious. Sorry but that's ridiculous.

Dictating to kids how many friends they can have and to what extent they can be friends? I don't think that's good. Kids will be kids. Maybe in an environment where kids have special requirements things should be handled in a different way I'll give you that.

But this shouldn't be the norm in a typical school As for it being advanced, it is to some extend but advancing down a road I wouldn't want to go down. Good luck with that.

originally posted by: pfishy
a reply to: Annee

Oh, see, that makes more sense. It seemed at first that you were saying that having a best friend at all was not allowed. And yeah, at 7 you really don't need a girlfriend or boyfriend.

It applies to the whole school (K thru 5th).

You can't just go off in a corner and hang with one or 2 friends. It creates an exclusion environment.

Why do we suddenly feel this need to mollycoddle and protect kids to this extent?

Adults should stand back and allow kids to be kids, explore, be curious, be kids - who said they should be having girlfriends or boyfriends? They should be friends, they should be allowed to forge proper friendships with those they have things in common with. Adults should be...well, adult enough to give their children enough freedom to learn about the world they live in and step in when the child is in danger of any kid or misbehaving.

I had some close friends and some acquaintances, nobody was regulating the number of friends we had. I have no idea why anyone would do such a thing. most kids will develop social skills and be themselves.

I can't imagine being a child int his day and age, it seems outlandish, almost alien. Seriously.

originally posted by: samerulesapply

Dictating to kids how many friends they can have and to what extent they can be friends? I don't think that's good. Kids will be kids. Maybe in an environment where kids have special requirements things should be handled in a different way I'll give you that.

But this shouldn't be the norm in a typical school As for it being advanced, it is to some extend but advancing down a road I wouldn't want to go down. Good luck with that.

Dictating to kids? Oh, hell yeah!

My advice to any young mom: pick your kids friends for as long as you can.

My advice to kids: your friend does not invite you back, their parents do.

TOPIC: (I try) --- people are too diverse to be divided by physical gender. Boy/Girl will always be part of our language ---- but, trying to be more diverse is a good thing. A very good thing.

a reply to: Annee

It creates an environment where people learn a false reality - the real world isn't like that. Like I said I get that they use different teaching methods and that for children with special needs or requirements. I don't know anything about that and so cannot comment, but in regular schools if such a rule were to be implemented I'd find that pretty alarming.

Kinds need to learn to cope with reality, you can't always get your way. I know it's harsh but it's a fundamental lesson I think we all must learn. We learn from everything we do be it good or bad.

a reply to: Annee

How is limiting a persons choices diverse? What?

I'm absolutely perplexed.

On what grounds will or do you assess potential friends for your children? What criteria must they meet?

Pay attention, everyone - there now follows a lesson in diversity and tolerance. I won't be here to learn anything from it, unfortunately...as there appears to be smoke coming out of my ears.

Goodnight.

originally posted by: samerulesapply
a reply to: Annee

How is limiting a persons choices diverse? What?

I'm absolutely perplexed.

Limiting kids choices? Ages 5 to 12.

I've learned a lot since raising my own ---- during the Dr. Spock, be your child's friend, 70s.

Hell no! You are the parent.

I fully support the diversity suggestions in trying to incorporate diversity pronouns.

And rules that help eliminate exclusiveness in primary grades.

a reply to: samerulesapply

On that point we are in total agreement. Children do indeed need to learn that they can't always have things their way, nor does the world revolve around them. There are much bigger things in live than one's self.

originally posted by: pfishy
a reply to: samerulesapply

On that point we are in total agreement. Children do indeed need to learn that they can't always have things their way, nor does the world revolve around them. There are much bigger things in live than one's self.

Isn't that what not allowing inclusive groups of friends in primary grades teaches?

a reply to: Annee

Didn't argue that point.

a reply to: Annee

You speak of kids being excluded yet you tell us you choose your childrens friends. You judge kids and decide if they're good enough to be friends with your kids...sorry, you can't come 'round here - we don't like your types.

I see your locations tates that you are on the moon...quite appropriate.

a reply to: EKron

Well for what's it worth Ekron your participation has been the most meaningful part of this thread for me. It really is a bummer that your willingness to open up about such a painful part of your life has been met with so much insensitivity, perhaps from myself as well....I hope not, certainly not my intention. I don't know what more we could ask for in a discussion about how schools and teachers should respond to TG kids then to actually hear a 1st hand account by someone who was once a TG kid ! Your story has moved me....Thank-You....

I don't know if this might cheer you up or restore a little bit of your faith in humanity, but I brought this up today to my sister who is the Pres of her daughter's High School PTA...she thought it was a great idea to perhaps bring in a transgender person as a guest speaker at some upcoming workshops and luncheons they have planned for new school year.....

originally posted by: samerulesapply
a reply to: Annee

You speak of kids being excluded yet you tell us you choose your childrens friends. You judge kids and decide if they're good enough to be friends with your kids...sorry, you can't come 'round here - we don't like your types.

I see your locations tates that you are on the moon...quite appropriate.

I can't help you comprehend the difference.

a reply to: samerulesapply

Sometimes I think that parents make the mistake of using their children to undo the wrongs, the injustices and the misfortunes, they feel they had to experience while growing up.

We live in a world now, where many parents don't just think they are doing a good thing by making sure their children have all the material things they did without, but they want a do over, by protecting and controlling the life experiences of their children.

They don't see the mental and societal impact they have on the minds of their children. Many don't even bother to find out what the child really likes, wants or dream of. When we push our ideas of what is best for our children, when we have never given them a real choice, what do we expect?

‘‘Only way you’re gonna have a world with universal equality is if you got one where there’s only one guy left standing.’’
Quoted from a Glen Cook book, one of the Garret series. Pretty much sums it up from what I can see.