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

Courts and judges follow sentencing guidelines. This wasn't a crime sufficiently serious within those sentencing guidelines to merit the need for psychology reports. He was fined and awarded costs against him etc as set out in those sentencing guidelines. He will live with his public humiliation for the rest of his life.
👍

eazybee

Why do people bend over backwards to make excuses for people who set out to deceive? It was deliberate and intentional.

Absolutely 👍

I could equally ask why people bend over backwards to be punitive, and to decide that they know the motives of others.

He may have deliberately worn the uniform (and I absolutely understand the annoyance of those who have worked and sacrificed to earn the right to do that), but we can't know what lay behind the decision to do so. We may know what drives us as individuals, but it is not reasonable to assume that others are driven by the same motives as we are.

He may have deliberately worn the uniform (and I absolutely understand the annoyance of those who have worked and sacrificed to earn the right to do that)

Not just once but repeatedly. Unlike dressing up in a long gown and tiara, it is unlawful.

If any person not serving in Her Majesty’s Naval or Military Forces wears without Her Majesty’s permission the uniform of any of those forces, or any dress having the appearance or bearing any of the regimental or other distinctive marks of any such uniform, in such a manner or under such circumstances as to be likely to bring contempt upon that uniform, or employs any other person so to wear that uniform or dress, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [level 3 on the standard scale], or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month.

He is not the only one, there have been a few others in recent years.
No, it did not cause danger to others, it's sad that he needs to do that.

Worrying that such a fantasist was a teacher too.

BlueBelle

What about identifying as a cat ?

I have yet to hear of anyone who has actually encountered a case of this. It’s always a ‘ friend of a friend’, and they swear blind it’s true! One person told me in detail about a girl in her ‘friend’s granddaughter’s class’ who had a litter tray in the classroom.
This ‘identifying as’ business is new, as previously, you either were or you weren’t!

In this particular case, it was not appropriate and , as the judge stated, an insult to the real heroes. Impersonating a police officer is an offence, though I can quite see how many of us feel tempted at times!
So long as it causes no harm to anyone, I suppose it's acceptable. Pretty pathetic though.

Daddima

BlueBelle

What about identifying as a cat ?

I have yet to hear of anyone who has actually encountered a case of this. It’s always a ‘ friend of a friend’, and they swear blind it’s true! One person told me in detail about a girl in her ‘friend’s granddaughter’s class’ who had a litter tray in the classroom.
This ‘identifying as’ business is new, as previously, you either were or you weren’t!

It's quite different, unless you think the other cats were veterans with medals they had earned and could be offended and upset by someone pretending to be Top Cat with fake medals and unifirm.

Yes, I have heard first-hand of a case of a furry , Daddima

mum2three

In this particular case, it was not appropriate and , as the judge stated, an insult to the real heroes. Impersonating a police officer is an offence, though I can quite see how many of us feel tempted at times!
So long as it causes no harm to anyone, I suppose it's acceptable. Pretty pathetic though.

So long as it causes no harm to anyone, I suppose it's acceptable

Obviously not because, as you say, it was the judge who made that comment in a court of law.

It is an offence, unlawful.

Daddima I actually know somebody, who is now in their 70s, who admits to identifying as a cat when they were a child. They were treated by Emanuel Miller (father of Jonathan Miller) who was an eminent child psychiatrist.

stolen valor

dotpocka

stolen valor

I'm not sure it was stolen. If I steal something from you I have it and you dont. Who lost anything?

Think the person who has lost the most is Carely.

theworriedwell

dotpocka

stolen valor

I'm not sure it was stolen. If I steal something from you I have it and you dont. Who lost anything?

I think I know whst dotpocka means.
Wearing fake or purchased medals is not stealing as such but it's more subtle than that.

Think the person who has lost the most is Carely.
Yes. Aka Walter Mitty.

Exactly he's stolen nothing. Total waste of police and court time. The people who organise the parade could have told him to stop, posted pictures in the local paper explaining what he was doing. As has been said people knowing what he's doing is the main punishment not the £500 and that would have been achieved.

Then people complain about the police not having time to deal with problems and victims waiting years for courts to deal with things that have happened to them while this is dealt with with.

He should have joined his local amateur dramatic society. They are all short of men and he could assume the persona of kings, military men and aristocracy till kingdom come.

Theatrical people are doing similar to his efforts, without breaking the law and many of us still have the desire to play act
as we did as children.

Every time I see Admiral now I think of all the Argy malarkey.

Will they prosecute the treasurer whilst they are at it ?

theworriedwell

Exactly he's stolen nothing. Total waste of police and court time. The people who organise the parade could have told him to stop, posted pictures in the local paper explaining what he was doing. As has been said people knowing what he's doing is the main punishment not the £500 and that would have been achieved.

Then people complain about the police not having time to deal with problems and victims waiting years for courts to deal with things that have happened to them while this is dealt with with.

But you are assuming he would have stopped at turning up at Remembrance parades.

If this man is entirely mentally normal this could have been a try on for using other uniforms in more potent situations, for example, posing as policemen or para medic.

If this man is not mentally entirely normal, he could get defensive or violent if challenged by anyone.

If he gets away with it, it will encourage others to behave in a similar manner.

Nowadays what he did is ok.
And I don't mind if you identify as a cat so long as you have had your shots get spayed and clean your own litter tray

Millie22

Every time I see Admiral now I think of all the Argy malarkey.

Well, I asked him what he thought!

He's appalled and wanted to challenge Carley to Naval swords at dawn.
But then he nodded off again.

Shel1951

Nowadays what he did is ok.
And I don't mind if you identify as a cat so long as you have had your shots get spayed and clean your own litter tray

No, it's not.

It's unlawful.

It is not unlawful to identify as a cat.
Miaow 🐱

M0nica 👍

It is not unlawful to identify as a cat.
Miaow 🐱
DD’s cat would object. He sees anyone/anything even another cat taking over his space as unacceptable.

MOnica I didn't say he should get away with it. Perhaps read what I said again, I suggested a different way to deal with it that didn't waste police and court time.

Maybe we should stop the sale of medals. My father's medals were stolen in a burglary, no doubt sold. If buying medals became illegal that would stop. People who win medals for valour shouldn't need to sell them so let's look after our heroes and if families sell them when they inherit them how disrespectful is that?

i have just looked at the title of this thread. This man did not 'identify' as a Rear Admiral. He pretended to be one on several public occasions, with intent to deceive.