More liberal madness.

[Abigail]

This case is one of a few that have hit the papers lately and are very worrying. It looks like these liberal social workers are anti-Christian bigots and are themselves the source of suggestions that this young girl wants to be a boy. Her parents definitely seem like the sane ones in all this. What a load of nonsense to tell a girl she is really a boy because she climbs trees. I climbed many trees in my youth and so did my friends and none of us wanted to be boys.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...change-14.html

[seanD]

The problem, judging by the article, is that she's most likely been indoctrinated by the culture surrounding her. How do you avoid that as a parent when this is everywhere -- schools, media, friends, etc. -- unless you totally isolate your children from the public? I thank God I don't have kids during these times.

[guacamole]

Terminate the social workers abilities to meet with the child and seek outside professsional help. That said, the parents may need to admit they've already lost her. Someone willing to attempt suicide to emotionally strong arm her parents is probably suffering from some serious mental disease.

[Psychic Missile]

This looks like a non-issue. The only facts we are getting come from the Daily Mail, which has fabricated entire stories before, and, if they do exist, the parents, who obviously only represent one side.

[guacamole]

This looks like a non-issue. The only facts we are getting come from the Daily Mail, which has fabricated entire stories before, and, if they do exist, the parents, who obviously only represent one side.

I thrink it's safe to assume we're discussing with the information as given, and if additional information were available, We could change our minds.

At any case, why wouldn't gender reassignment and all that comes along with it be a big deal? Is it standard practice for social workers in the U.K. To advocate minors undergo major procedures against their parents wishes?

[seanD]

This looks like a non-issue. The only facts we are getting come from the Daily Mail, which has fabricated entire stories before, and, if they do exist, the parents, who obviously only represent one side.

I don't see how one can argue a falsified story about transgenderism unless DM had conservative influences. I don't think DM has those influences, at least to my knowledge and based on the type of content they focus on. Your dismal of it as a falsified story is actually contradictory of it being a "non-issue." If it's a factual story, then it's certainly not a non-issue.

[Carrikature]

I don't see how one can argue a falsified story about transgenderism unless DM had conservative influences. I don't think DM has those influences, at least to my knowledge and based on the type of content they focus on. Your dismal of it as a falsified story is actually contradictory of it being a "non-issue." If it's a factual story, then it's certainly not a non-issue.

It's not about DM's influences but their notoriety when it comes to bad and/or outright false reporting. People need to stop reading them.

[Psychic Missile]

I don't see how one can argue a falsified story about transgenderism unless DM had conservative influences. I don't think DM has those influences, at least to my knowledge and based on the type of content they focus on. Your dismal of it as a falsified story is actually contradictory of it being a "non-issue." If it's a factual story, then it's certainly not a non-issue.

I'm not arguing that it's a falsified story, I'm arguing that we lack a reliable source of information* and anyone else's side of the story. It might be falsified. It might be exactly as the article says. We can't know right now.

*The Daily Mail is well known to be conservative and have a bottom of the barrel standard of quality.

[seanD]

I'm not arguing that it's a falsified story, I'm arguing that we lack a reliable source of information* and anyone else's side of the story. It might be falsified. It might be exactly as the article says. We can't know right now.

*The Daily Mail is well known to be conservative and have a bottom of the barrel standard of quality.

You clearly implied it might be a falsified story by bringing up the accusation that they've "fabricated entire stories before." So stop playing dumb and man-up to what tried to claim. If you had just stuck with the fact we may be getting a one-sided story, that's a fair assessment (putting aside, of course, social services' infamous rep, at least here in the states). In either case, it's not a "non-issue."

[JimboJSR]

As a UK resident, I have to agree with Psychic Missile here. The sensationalist and inaccurate qualities of many Daily Mail stories in the past, blended as they are with a nasty brand of conservativism, makes me flat out refuse to accept anything written in it. IMO, it's a lunatic rag which has all the cogency of a plate of beans negotiating their way out of a cow's digestive system. It makes the National Enquirer look sober and insightful.

As an aside, I did hear this story being reported on BBC radio last week, with an interview with the parents, so there is a story here. I've no idea how closely the DM version corresponds to events because I'm not going to click on any links to their webpage. They don't deserve the hits.

[EvoUK]

I'm with Jimbo actually. The only thing in the DMs favour is that I heard it on a morning interview on Radio 4 (probably the same interview Jimbo heard). Since then, though I've looked for a few minutes, I haven't found it in any other major news reports or webpages to corroborate to find out more.

I'm not accusing them of outright lying, I just know they like to sex up the news and blow things out of proportion for the unwashed masses.

[Cow Poke]

As a UK resident, I have to agree with Psychic Missile here. The sensationalist and inaccurate qualities of many Daily Mail stories in the past, blended as they are with a nasty brand of conservativism, makes me flat out refuse to accept anything written in it. IMO, it's a lunatic rag which has all the cogency of a plate of beans negotiating their way out of a cow's digestive system. It makes the National Enquirer look sober and insightful.

But, could you tell us what you really think of the Daily Mail, please, and stop beating around the bush?

[Abigail]

Daily Mail is no worse than the liberal Guardian and in many respects fairer and less bigoted. Also one of the editors of DM is openly gay so hardly conservative on issues of sexuality.

[Tassman]

Daily Mail is no worse than the liberal Guardian and in many respects fairer and less bigoted. Also one of the editors of DM is openly gay so hardly conservative on issues of sexuality.

The Guardian is a reputable, award-winning newspaper. The Daily Mail isn't, it's a sensationalist rag. There's no comparison.

[Starlight]

Social workers complain about somebody's parenting, while those parents insist they are wonderful and that the social workers are making it all up? Not exactly news. An LGBT teenager is having problems and being driven to depression and suicide by conservative Christian parents who just can't understand why she won't conform to their view of how she 'ought' to be? Not exactly news.

Reading the article, I also see she was home-schooled by conservative Christian parents, which I consider to be child abuse.