An Unreliable History of Birdwatching (16) by Paul Thomas

Mark 5 Comments

Previous episodes:

An Unreliable History of  Birdwatching by Paul Thomas (1)

An Unreliable History of  Birdwatching by Paul Thomas (5)

An Unreliable History of  Birdwatching by Paul Thomas (6)

An Unreliable History of  Birdwatching by Paul Thomas (13)

An Unreliable History of  Birdwatching by Paul Thomas (15)

 

 

 

 

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5 Replies to “An Unreliable History of Birdwatching (16) by Paul Thomas”

  1. Hi Mark,
    I wish you hadnn’t posted this article. I dare say Paul Thomas feels entitled to poke fun at whoever he wants to. Thankfully these days, many members of the LGBT community are able to laugh off this attempt at humour. But many cannot, especially younger members of the LGBT community, and have severe problems with their self worth. I’ve seen enough of what happens in these cases.

    1. Andy – I don’t think that was what Paul was doing (having spoken to him) and I do know that he was sensitive enough to show the cartoon to some gay birders before sending it to me. But thank you for raising that point.

      At another level, cartoons are meant to challenge. This is the 16th, I think, in a series of cartoons which have challenged many aspects of birding – this is the first ‘complaint’ I’ve had. I take note of your concern though.

  2. Hi Andy, I’m not sure I feel ‘entitled’ to poke fun at LGBT birders. Anymore than I did about birders disenfranchised at a Spurn either. Michael Gove didn’t write in either… I showed the strip to two gay friends of mine to check that I hadn’t overstepped the mark( in their opinion). I know Mark has many members of the LGBT community visiting his site, so I suppose only one complaint, and that on behalf of some other people who so far haven’t said anything themselves isn’t too bad? Sorry for any offence caused though. Not my intention, obviously. Paul Thomas

  3. As one of Mark’s older LGBT followers, I did indeed find this Cartoon of Paul’s hilarious.* I thought if any offence was going to be taken to Paul’s subversive humour, it would be from the non-LGBT audience rather than younger LGBT. Whilst I can’t speak for today’s young LGBT, when I was in my teens I would have welcomed seeing cartoon like this in a mainstream publication as an acknowledgement that people like me existed.

    *I just showed it to my non-birding partner and we were roaring with laughter. Although I had to explain some of the birding terms.

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