Interesting Links for 21-06-2019

[andrewducker]

"Remain" is more acceptable than either "No Deal" or any kind of softer Brexit. Just about.

(tags:uk europe polls )

When Chinese students were given the uncensored internet

(tags:China censorship internet psychology news viaSwampers )

Scottish transgender reforms put on hold

(tags:LGBT transgender OhForFucksSake scotland )

British politics summed up in a GIF

(tags:politics UK funny )

Lothian Bus bosses make buggy space pledge for new 'superbuses' after row

(tags:transport buses babies disability Scotland edinburgh )

'Clean electricity' will dominate UK power supply by the end of the year

(tags:UK electricity renewables coal nuclearpower viaDanielDWilliam )

Why the age of electric flight is finally upon us

(tags:electricity airplanes Technology )

Eastern European states block bid for EU climate change 2050 decarbonisation target

(tags:globalwarming europe doom )

Decades-long surveys suggest that smoking changes your personality

(tags:smoking personality )

Corsica's 'cat-fox': On the trail of what may be a new species

(tags:cats )

Comments

British politics summed up in a GIF

[jack]

Lothian Bus bosses make buggy space pledge for new 'superbuses' after row

[jack]

For some reason my stupid traitorous brain chose now to read some of the comments. Oh god, why?

Apparently someone looked at this trade-off between provision for people using wheelchairs, and people caring for small children, and decided that for some reason it was all the fault of *spins giant wheel of prejudices* Fat People.

Like, seriously? I mean, I know there's so much undirected hatred out there it's basically anywhere you look, but it just seemed such a gratuitous addition. Like, they didn't want to hate on any of the two groups of oft-inconvenienced people already in the discussion, no, they wanted to drag in virulent prejudice against some completely new group!

Apparently he looked at all the reasons someone with a pushchair might not walk to their destination. Definitely not "it's ten miles in both directions and that's quite a lot when you have a lot of other work and care commitments during the day." Didn't reckon anyone might be caring for a child AND not completely able bodied. He's confident that if he was escorting a 5 year old and a 1 year old in a pushchair, the 5 year old can always walk four or five miles whenever required. Carrying heavy shopping.

No, his guess for "the #1 people use buses" is "they're too fat to walk". I suppose that his head would literally explode with shock if he ever discovers that all those cars you see in the road are sometimes used to drive from someone's origin to their destination, doorstop to doorstop.

[cmcmck]

I'd love to know what people who hate trans women so much are scared of.

I have to admit that their attitudes totally baffle me and always have and I 'came of age' in an era when that hatred could lead to violence and death (and often did)! :o(

[lilysea]

I'd love to know what people who hate trans women so much are scared of.

I have to admit that their attitudes totally baffle me and always have and I 'came of age' in an era when that hatred could lead to violence and death (and often did)! :o(

Yes, they baffle me, too!

[lilysea]

I wonder if it is any of the following [none of which I support, of course!]

1. They are afraid that they will be attracted to trans women and then have feelings about that;

2. they are afraid that their partner might transition, and that this might have consequences for their relationship;

3. they are afraid that they themselves will transition, and about what that will mean for their romantic/social/family relationships;

4. they are firmly committed to a 1950s style gender essentialism where "All women have X qualities/interests/traits/hobbies/jobs and all men have Y qualities/interests/traits/hobbies/jobs" and trans women threaten to expose how silly/ridiculous/untrue this sort of gender essentialism is;

5. they are just bullies who like having someone to look down on/be hateful to, and it is less socially acceptable to do that to people of colour/gay people than it used to be.

[cmcmck]

With four there has long been a TERF argument that we all look like fifties fashion plates so you may be onto something there.

Yeah- I spend my days in the Dior 'new look' and stilletos and take two hours every morning fixing my hair and make up- never look at a pair of jeans, flatties and being make up free (rolls eyes).

And yet again there is the old, old retort- if I'm not saying, how do they suppose they'll know?

[snippy]

Single-level busses here have two spaces where the seats can all be tipped up to provide space for two wheelchairs (or two strollers that don't have to be folded). Yes, people have to stand who can, but if it can be done on a single-level bus, why not a double?