Thoughts

Just an FYI to Hagrid, here, in writing; my name is NOT Oliver Aragorn F-P. That's your only contribution so far to the Great Middle Name Debate, and hopeful repetition of it does not increase my liking any.

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My facebook status has, for weeks, been "Oliver is in the doldrums" and "Oliver is still in the doldrums". The feelings of inadequacy that keep me there are not likely to depart. I was with two friends yesterday, whose conversations are able to go, with no bending of the truth, like this:

"What about when you were living with a Pygmy tribe and you caught that weird tropical disease?"

Me: "Wait - you lived with a Pygmy tribe?"

"Well, yes, because I have experience in jungles, so my friend wanted me to come along as a guide."

I have known this man for a YEAR. He always tells the truth. He has never, ever mentioned this vast body of jungle experience. He's mentioned other cool shit, like his music PhD and his farm, but always in an offhand manner as if the listener's life must be far more interesting.

The other friend has had equally awesome experiences, but my personal favourite is:

"You know when you were hired to train all the Alton Towers staff in how to talk like a pirate?"

See, if I had had an interesting experience, it would be shouted from the rooftops. HELLO, NICE TO MEET YOU, DID YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCE IN JUNGLES? YES, REAL JUNGLES! I KNOW ALL THE SECRETS OF THEIR NATIVE INHABITANTS, SO I CAN DO SOME PRETTY AWESOME SHIT, AND INCIDENTALLY, I ONCE WON A WRESTLING MATCH WITH AN ELEPHANT.

Is this just me?

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You know when things are so incredibly dreadful, your only options are to laugh, or to cry forever?

Hagrid thinks we should make leaflets to hand out in the street. They would suggest to the average Joe that he shouldn't murder any trans women. That day, at least.

They would explain that, if he meets a trans woman, or has sexual intercourse of any variety with one, the logical next step is not *necessarily* to kill her.

Some men do seem to treat it as an ordinary, ethically neutral action, like eating lunch or combing their hair.

Our courts, like the American courts (I don't know enough about the justice system of any other country) treat it the same way.

I can't deal with this shit any more. I mean, what can I do? Does anyone have any suggestions? Does anyone actually care?

I'm beginning to think that handing out those leaflets would probably help.