Dear Abigail,
I hope this letter finds you. You don't know me, but you changed my life.
I used to be an avid watcher of your videos about pilosophy on YouTube. Our interests have since drifted apart, with yous shifting from philosophy to sociology and activism (can't blame you, given the state of the world) and mine shifting from being all in my head to being more in touch with my physicality and embracing Buddhism as a practical philosophy. However, some of your words from years ago will always have a spot in my heart:
Your coming out video really hit me deep, years ago when you originally published it. That part about being tired and irritaded all the time and lashing out at loved ones, because "that job" is killing you. That described my life experience at the time so perfectly. It sent me on a journey of self discovery, thinking to myself well I'm not trans, but I need to find that thing in my life that is fundamentally wrong and not for me, so that I can get better
It took me a few years to figure it out. But your words about "getting a new job" and things getting better were a constant guiding light in all that time.
Fast forward to now. Turns out I actually am simply trans - and that's what it was all along - and in hindsight it doesn't seem like such a difficult puzzle to figure out about myself. I am quite bemused at myself for taking so long to admit that.
But I am finally at where Im meant to be at - and I do sleep a little better now and starting to like listening to that song on the radio.
People do congratulate me on how positive I am about my transition. But really I don't feel I deserve any praise for it. Of course I am happy. I am finally at where I'm meant to be, struggling the struggle I was made for.
So thank you again, Abigail. Your words were meant for me and just what I needed. It just took me a few years to fully get it.
Yours,
Clara
The UK Government has pledged a trans-inclusive ban on conversion therapy.
A Draft Conversion Practices Bill was included in Wednesday’s King’s Speech, outlining Labour‘s legislative programme for the coming parliamentary session.
The Government committed to eradicating what it called “abusive” practices, in line with a pledge made in its 2024 election manifesto.
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I'm not going to fall for some dunning-kruger into thinking that there's not works on this + it will inevitably involve the topic of law, and the forming of legal systems which has obviously been heavily covered by abs and team already
Caveats aside. Taking the statement in the post title at face value, side stepping or reducing the "well which men, then?" response to 'irrelevant' or a hook for the videos proper subject...to what extent is accountability held with "these men" by the opposite "us" given that "we" are all in agreement that patriarchal damage is done to them, and us, and all that fall under it.
Is there a set of existing philosophical principles to help us answer this? and has this exact thing come up in history before? here's betting.
An interesting study, and intended as a value neutral question, I am not shipping for lads, lad culture, boys being boys, the concept of a naturally occurring and implicit male gaze, or very much or anything we've got going on rn. Sorry about it.
I remember philosophy tube made a comment on prageru in one of her old videos…. does anyone remember what video it was and what context?
Many thanks