My Thoughts On The

So it's a bit late, but here are my thoughts on Eurovision 2024. Guest starring my washing machine in the background! Sorry folks, I hope you can adjust. At 6:48, I was referring to UK general elections in 2015, when Russell Brand told people not to vote. I was having gremlins, where Apple Quick Time was freezing on me when I was recording the video, and some parts got cut out.

[@DramaQueenMalena]

You can find Nemo's songs on KZbin: First EP with 4 rap songs in Swiss German is called Clownfish, no label, just music of a 15 years old Then the music of young Nemo: Channel bakaramusic, playlist Nemo The new music is on Nemo's channel nemothings

[@MarkPMus]

Thanks, worthy of a check out. At the moment I have “Be Like You” running around my head like an ear-worm! 😂😂

[@alanmorris8783]

Well put Mark. An odd night indeed, with numbers which did not seem to add up at all. I’m not sure if the actual calculation formula for the public vote is published, but I think it should be. Only by doing this will much of the perceived decline in credibility of the voting be recovered. I think that the expected protest against Israel in the public vote morphed more into a protest against the feeling of being told what to do. Also the fact that the contest appears to have become less about the quality of the song and performance and much more toward partisanship around nation or public cause, created some kind of backlash in the public vote. The booing of the Israel entrant seemingly backfired on the protesters as did Olly’s very sexualised performance. It’s pretty evident from the public vote that Olly would have been much better served with more focus on a great song, than an in-your-face performance style. Finally, I’ve heard 2024 being described as the year of the Trans Eurovision. You made the excellent point about Gender Dysphoria and how it can be a crippling, heartbreaking and very real condition for those very small number of people who suffer. How this has been somewhat crudely lumped in with the rather more contentious and divisive questions surrounding it’s definition and implication of separating the word Gender from (biological) Sex. All this while conversely seemingly hell bent on grouping it with Sexuality making it the number one “cause célèbre” in the Western World. I think that it has significantly damaged the lives of those who suffer from (and seek treatment for) Gender Dysphoria whilst at the same time threatening to tear apart those hugely necessary and tremendously hard fought (and won) rights of women and those who are LGB. All in the name of progress, equality and inclusivity I’ve been told. Finally-finally (thank God everyone says) I wonder if you felt (as I do now) worried about even mentioning Gender Dysphoria in a public forum for fear of abuse and being “cancelled”? Sorry for the somewhat rambling nature of my post.

[@MarkPMus]

I fear mentioning anything vaguely political for fear of being cancelled! But I’ve felt I’ve had to make my feelings known about Israel/Gaza, simply because I think that I couldn’t look myself in the mirror knowing I have an albeit very limited public face, without expressing my disgust at the genocide in Gaza. The EBU hasn’t acted consistently with their past actions regarding banning Russia. And as for poor Joost, what gives? Seems very unfair that he gets the boot on the day of the contest for something as relatively minor as a pique of grumpiness. I don’t think we’ll ever know the full story behind that one. As far as the non-binary/trans issue I tend to judge people on their individual merits, as I’d like to be judged. I think there are issues making life work for everyone eg changing spaces in swimming pools, and loos etc… But nothing that can’t be overcome. I resent the fact that this current political establishment (not just the Tories, but they’re in power and making the most noise) are subjecting the trans/non binary community to as much public mistrust as Lesbians, Gays and Bisexual got under Thatcherism. For me, there is no LGB without T. Although I don’t face the issues the T’s face, I’m their ally. As I’m the ally of anyone who has ever been unjustly oppressed for race or colour or religion. It doesn’t sit well with me that the right wing are using the Nemos of the world as punchbags to try and score votes.

[@alanmorris8783]

@@MarkPMus You were obviously a teacher and I don’t envy how the trans issue is impacting this space. It is obvious that much of what is being peddled as fact cannot yet be known (as no long term studies have/are being done) or is known to be untrue (safety of “puberty blockers” in the young, for example), yet teachers and pupils can be disciplined for not towing the appropriate line. Currently much of the policy seems to be being made up on the fly and driven by ideology rather than fact and that worries me. Particularly as so much of it seems to be being rushed into law. I worry at the wide opportunity for exploitation and that this is already happening. I worry that gender reassignment is being used as conversion therapy for gay kids. From studies that are happening it appears that the vast majority of detransitioning people are actually gay and never had Gender Dysphoria. Had they been given the appropriate psychotherapy instead of medicine and castration they would be able to look forward to loving, sexual and productive lives as gay adults instead of having this stolen from them. As many people born in the 60’s, I’m ashamed that it took me any time at all to dismiss the view that being gay wasn’t merely a lifestyle choice but something born into you. It was such an important realisation for me and opened up a new world of friends and experiences that I cherish. I’m not ready to abandon sex and sexuality to a mere social construct without compelling and well proven evidence.