[continued]

But as a lefthander, I belonged to that last generation when some teachers thought of the left hand as the hand of the devil, so we were made to write right-handed. I topped the class in one year, but came bottom in Writing. I still hate actually writing. But I throw left-handed, eat, etc. left-handed. I'll go to my grave left-handed.

So at least some things are not as fluid as M. Ward would like to think. [Can one use 'Ms.' or 'Mr.' any more ?] My deepest apologies to her (and, of course, to you) in advance for disagreeing.

Cheers,

Joe

Poirot:

“My point is that you can do and think and identify how you want - Safe Schools is about recognising that and promoting respect and tolerance on that basis.”

Presumably you think that this is not happening for transgender kids and you would like to help them but you cannot even define what a transgender person is so how are you going to know who really needs help?

It seems that you think a person’s gender is defined by what they do – why else would you tell us of the activities that you did if it was not meant to back up your argument? This does not seem to be in accord with the teaching which says you are one gender or another simply on your own say so. Roles or activities of behaviour or clothes or appearance have nothing to do with it. None of us can make a judgement about what gender we think you are and none of us are free to say what we think or it is considered to be bullying or abuse.

phanto,

Unfortunately I have to nip off to the local library for a bit, and having debated you before, I realise you have a penchant to debate yourself into a sizeable tangle.

After which, while attempting to untangle yourself, you end up in a worse position.

So I'll get back to you a little later when I have more time.

Loudmouth,

When I was expecting my first child, and obviously a little bored, I decided to see if I could learn to write with my left hand (being a right-handed writer). So over the period of a week or so I practised, starting with a pencil and then graduating to a pen. Oddly enough, by the second week I could write in running writing with my left hand using a pen. The product was barely distinguishable from that written with my right hand...maybe a little less well executed. I think I could even do a reasonable job if I tried to do it these days.

I suppose it's all about making a neural pathway...and it was an interesting exercise. It helped me appreciate the difficulty experienced by left-handers who were made to write using their right-hand.

Poirot:

"phanto,

Unfortunately I have to nip off to the local library for a bit, and having debated you before, I realise you have a penchant to debate yourself into a sizeable tangle.

After which, while attempting to untangle yourself, you end up in a worse position.

So I'll get back to you a little later when I have more time."

It will be OK I am not exactly hanging off your every word.

P,

I have known lots of Tom boys and I never considered them masculine or gender confused. They grew up, got married and raised a family, and are often still involved in sports. The gender spectrum is a construct of these social engineers. It is like saying that 10 million people live on a spectrum between Sydney and Melbourne and the people in between are on the same spectrum and the people in the cities need to understand what life in small towns is about.

I don't give a crap whether someone is male, female or imbetween. I treat them similarly, and don't need to understand their issues. I have a hard enough time understanding my wife and daughter.

Roz Ward was sacked, not because of her opinions, but because of the damage she did to the program in alienating the very people that the program needed acceptance from namely the parents.

Even Daniel Andrews will find it difficult to stay the course given the vociferous resistance in Victoria.

SM,

"Roz Ward was sacked, not because of her opinions, but because of the damage she did to the program in alienating the very people that the program needed acceptance from namely the parents."

I thought she was sacked for writing something about her falg preference.

"I don't give a crap whether someone is male, female or imbetween. I treat them similarly, and don't need to understand their issues. I have a hard enough time understanding my wife and daughter."

Understanding is the first point of departure in treating fellow humans with respect, but yes I agree with the crux of your point. I tend to treat people as I find them regardless of gender.

What's wrong with a program that focuses on respect and tolerance?

Why is Ros Ward an extremist in your eyes?

phanto,

"It will be OK I am not exactly hanging off your every word."

That's okay....whatever.

"....None of us can make a judgement about what gender we think you are and none of us are free to say what we think or it is considered to be bullying or abuse."

But bullying and abuse does occur on the grounds of gender and sexuality. Safe Schools is attempting to address that.