As a postscript to that Laurie Penny business, this from the EveningStandard:
Author Laurie Penny has criticised Right-wing magazine The Critic as “rude and childish” for failing to use their preferred pronouns. A review by Julie Bindel of Penny’s new book Sexual Revolution: Modern Fascism and the Feminist Fightback repeatedly referred to Penny as “she”.
Penny’s publishers Bloomsbury asked that Penny be referred to as “them/ they”. The Critic refused to make the change, instead adding a reference to the request at the foot of the review.
Penny told us: “It’s rude, and it’s childish — and it shows how flimsy the quality of debate… has become. They want to think of themselves as cool and edgy… it would be nice to see them engage with the actual arguments I’m making.”
Ha! Engage with the arguments? That's precisely what Julie Bindel did, with devastating effect, in her review. Rather than attempt any rebuttal - ie engage with the actual arguments Bindel's making - Penny just has a childish little tantrum because Bindel didn't use her ridiculous, self-indulgent, and nonsensical pronouns.
No prizes to the publisher's, Bloomsbury, either.
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