Is it wrong to identify as something you aren’t?

But he was carrying a large sword.

Oh dear, was that toooooo rude?

I expect he has a BIG car, too...

Galaxy

The idea that he would know what is damaging to women is hilarious.

Yes that’s true, but the idea that he thinks he does know and goes out of his way to do that is less amusing.

I’m still reeling from reading that being a great performer or a great artist or having written a great book is used as an excuse by people to justify men claiming to be something they’re not.

Mollygo

Galaxy

The idea that he would know what is damaging to women is hilarious.

Yes that’s true, but the idea that he thinks he does know and goes out of his way to do that is less amusing.

I’m still reeling from reading that being a great performer or a great artist or having written a great book is used as an excuse by people to justify men claiming to be something they’re not.

He might be lauded by some (Perry, I mean) but I find him utterly creepy.

On pretending to be someone you are not, I read this today, and it is one of the most bizarre cases I’ve ever heard of.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgkr15el67o

Yes I read that too Casdon, totally bizarre and almost unbelievable. Obviously a very disturbed individual.

Casdon

On pretending to be someone you are not, I read this today, and it is one of the most bizarre cases I’ve ever heard of.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgkr15el67o

The “admiral” was lying but he wasn’t hurting anyone, just offending them.
The catfish was/is dangerous by stalking several people at a time, invading their lives and really frightening them

The “admiral” was lying but he wasn’t hurting anyone, just offending them.

Thst is not the point.

The point is, what he has been doing for years is against the law.

The catfishing story is entirely different and all the comparisons posters keep making on this thread are irrelevant.

The other cases aren’t irrelevant Allira, they are just other sides of the same coin. What the catfish was doing was illegal too, pretending to be someone else.

Magenta8

I think people who pretend to be Rear Admirals are fairly harmless in comparison with people who pretend to be medical doctors* or qualified nurses.

I believe some people pretend to have PhDs or DPhils but that again seems relatively harmless.

Of course, it is morally wrong to pretend to have qualifications you don't have or to be something you are not.

*eg Gillian McKeith

Eg Rachel Reeves 😉

One of my son’s mates is ex army and he gets really cross about these “Walter Mitty” characters who wear uniforms and medals when often they have never served our country or may have been kicked out in the first few weeks.

There is a WM Hunters Group I believe.

Then there are people who lie on their CV to get certain jobs which are often very high flying like psychiatrists, Head Teachers, Doctors, pilots etc.

Then there are people who lie on their CV to get certain jobs which are often very high flying like psychiatrists, Head Teachers, Doctors, pilots etc.
Yes, like the one I worked with. Very plausible and I liked her.

Casdon

The other cases aren’t irrelevant Allira, they are just other sides of the same coin. What the catfish was doing was illegal too, pretending to be someone else.

They’re not irrelevant but attempts are made to make them seem irrelevant by people excusing one case or another of claiming to be someone they aren’t.

Just read through the excuses even on this thread.

Depends. Someone identifying as a surgeon? Well yes, obviously (if they manage to get a job as a surgeon).

'Excuses' can be reasons. Why are some Posters trying to limit the discussion?

Maremia

'Excuses' can be reasons. Why are some Posters trying to limit the discussion?

🤣🤣🤣
If you mean me by “some posters” Maremia, I’m not trying to limit discussions. Rather, you are doing just that.

Am I, in your view, not allowed to hold the opinion that using the brilliance of someone’s performing,
or painting,
or writing,
or whether or not he means any harm
to excuse the fact that pretending to be something that you aren’t is wrong?

Or are we only allowed to say it’s wrong if you approve? Now that’s a real discussion limiter.

Allira

^The “admiral” was lying but he wasn’t hurting anyone, just offending them^.

Thst is not the point.

The point is, what he has been doing for years is against the law.

The catfishing story is entirely different and all the comparisons posters keep making on this thread are irrelevant.

So do you think everything that is illegal should be prosecuted? So no fixed penalties, no stupid teenager getting a talking to and given a chance, every shoplifter prosecuted. How many police officers and courts do you think we'd need? Look out for the hut on your taxes.

Lots of those other things are more damaging to society and/or dangerous than a man wearing the wrong costume to respectfully lay a wreath to commemorate the dead.

Having dealt with the aftermath of my child being hit by a selfish driver I'd rather see more motorists prosecuted.

There have been many cases throughout the country of people posing as nurses, doctors etc.

Here’s one who posed as a psychiatrist and worked in the NHS for 22 Years!

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-49086030

I'd rather see more motorists prosecuted.
Me too theworriedwell

My original point on this thread was that it’s strange how when a man found another man’s pretence offensive the offender was brought to court and fined.
When men’s pretences offend women . . .

I don't think the prosecution had anything to do with the complaint being made by a man. The offence had been committed at least four times, there was eyewitness evidence, and the offence was illegal, impersonating an officer.

As for men's pretences offending women, they have been ruled unacceptable by the Supreme Court; it is the delay initiated in endorsing the guidelines by this and the Scottish government for reasons best known to themselves which is preventing them from being enforced.

Brilliant clarification eazybee.
For Carley’s impersonation offence - illegal so arrest and a fine.
TW - well let’s just say it’s unacceptable rather than illegal , and avoid having to endorse it. After all they’re only offending some women.

What made you think I was referring to you Mollygo?

When people talk about 'some posters' it is impossible for anyone to know if they are being targeted or not. If they try to answer the point they can be accused of seeing everything as being about them, and if they don't answer, the point is being made without opposition. It's not necessarily intentional, but is a very unfair debating strategy. At worst, it can look as though the poster using that strategy is too cowardly to name the person (or people) directly, so it's not great from that perspective either.

To be fair to Maremia, the OP didn't make the point about men versus women though, Molly. It asked if there was a lesson in the fact that someone had been arrested for impersonating a naval officer. I must admit that the parallel with men claiming to be women didn't occur to me until later in the thread (although it is a valid one in some ways).

If a man dresses as a woman, does his shopping, goes to the pub and comes home, I don't see any reason why he should be prosecuted. If he dresses as a woman and uses female changing rooms, examines women in the guise of a female doctor or turns up in a DV refuge saying he is female, there is, IMO, a huge difference. I am not transphobic - I just believe in single sex spaces being respected as such, and these days w need the law to uphold that.

Thanks Doodledog, but when did I post about men dressing as women?

Maremia

What made you think I was referring to you Mollygo?

Why do you think I might have thought that, Maremia?