It’s from a 2018 BBC3 documentary called Becoming A Trans Man – Leo. The 15-year-old child in the video plays with a Rubik’s Cube as Wolton, who was 31 at the time, enthusiastically grooms her into transitioning into a “man”, advocating chest binders, a double mastectomy and the irreversible mutilation of her genitalia (“Lower surgery – you want that”) that will, Wolton confirms, lead to her permanent sterilisation, as well as the destruction of her future adult sexual function.
The BBC presents it as a heartwarming tale of friendship.
As a journalist, readers, sometimes you want to pep a story up a bit. From time to time, it’s perfectly legitimate to sensationalise a relatively minor aspect of something in order to draw attention to a worthwhile but intrinsically dull subject.
At other times, you find yourself in the strange position of having to talk a subject down as much as you can, because if you simply report the facts calmly and neutrally it’ll sound so outrageous and ridiculous and deranged that everyone will think you’ve gone full-on, tinfoil-hat, pencils-up-the-nose insane.
BH on In pursuit of clarity: “Flu Manchu and Dr WHO pulling bigger strings than Westminster.” Jun 8, 21:41
robertkknight on The Massive Face Of Truth: “I just want my Ceau?escu moment… After that, the SNP can finally disappear up it’s own behouchie. I’ll then happily…” Jun 8, 21:31
Mark Beggan on The Massive Face Of Truth: ““Reform voters still support independence” Totally True Rev. Thank you.” Jun 8, 19:37
Ronald Bennett on The Massive Face Of Truth: “I was a ‘Yes’ voter for the first (and only) referendum but changed sides when we voted to leave the…” Jun 8, 19:37
Jay on The Massive Face Of Truth: “YL, your stalker (Mc Hateful) maybe does not realise that he is an anti-semite but avoids facing the truth when…” Jun 8, 18:34
Young Lochinvar on The Massive Face Of Truth: “Meant to say, watched The Longest Day and big Tam fooling about as Flanagan carrying a mk 3 Bren gun…” Jun 8, 18:09
Young Lochinvar on The Massive Face Of Truth: “HMcH Oh I raised a glass alright, relatives were there. June 6th is very well known and hasn’t been airbrushed…” Jun 8, 17:42
Hatey McHateface on The Massive Face Of Truth: “Got to say, YL, absolutely jaw dropping to me that you let June 6th go by without raising a glass.…” Jun 8, 17:19
Hatey McHateface on In pursuit of clarity: “Here’s a fourth behaviour for you, Northy. As you have in the past, on this site, claimed to be a…” Jun 8, 17:11
Hatey McHateface on The Massive Face Of Truth: “I’ve often considered that if Rev Stu were to address his formidable intellect to identifying the best way to generate…” Jun 8, 16:55
Mike on The Massive Face Of Truth: “Hi Stuart,did you get any call,message email etc in 2020 causing you suspicion to look at the accounts ?” Jun 8, 16:35
twathater on The Massive Face Of Truth: “Well done Mr Campbell there is only one thing I would disagree with on your interview, Sturgeon made it clear…” Jun 8, 15:44
twathater on The Massive Face Of Truth: “I have to say I wholeheartedly agree that ANY enquiry into the endemic corruption that exists within the snp, police…” Jun 8, 15:23
Young Lochinvar on The Massive Face Of Truth: “SB When I say written out I am referring to published general histories. These are notoriously Anglo-centric, frustratingly partisan. So…” Jun 8, 13:45
Aidan on In pursuit of clarity: “Alright Northcode – I get you’ve reach the point where the facts are clear, on the table, and you now…” Jun 8, 13:24
Southernbystander on The Massive Face Of Truth: “The Wiki entry is certainly much more substantial for Northallerton, it is true. If I am honest, I had heard…” Jun 8, 12:41
Northcode on In pursuit of clarity: “Now I see why Xaracen became so frustrated when dealing with you, AI Dan. I’ve hit the bullseye on three…” Jun 8, 12:14
Ian Smith on The Massive Face Of Truth: “Wasn’t the institutional pride generated after 150 – 200 years or so of colonialism? Is there a theory as to…” Jun 8, 11:37
Young Lochinvar on The Massive Face Of Truth: “SB True, but that’s not been written out of history.” Jun 8, 11:30
Southernbystander on The Massive Face Of Truth: “Shame about the replay at Northallerton a few weeks later 😉” Jun 8, 11:14
100%Yes on The Massive Face Of Truth: “I am sick and tired of people saying the SNP is the only vehicle to Independence, no their not there…” Jun 8, 10:57
100%Yes on The Massive Face Of Truth: “I’ve repeated this god knows how many times and it falls on death ears. We stayed in England and came…” Jun 8, 10:49
gm on The Massive Face Of Truth: “Iain Lawson’s blog site was along the same lines, excellent site. It is still online. Roddy MacLeod’s site and podcast,…” Jun 8, 09:49
Aidan on In pursuit of clarity: “There’s quite a lot of factual inaccuracies in that post Northcode, but first let’s deal with this issue of representations…” Jun 8, 08:20
John Cutesack on The Massive Face Of Truth: “I commented on these issues over the years and found that this was the only pro-indy site that was willing…” Jun 8, 07:08
Redcliffe62 on The Massive Face Of Truth: “Whilst it is safe to say other monies such as those involving Mone and Hancock and Gove are far bigger…” Jun 8, 02:35
Young Lochinvar on The Massive Face Of Truth: “HMcH Don’t really have any desire to get into a running spat again, but shouldn’t you consider that’s exactly where…” Jun 8, 00:25
Young Lochinvar on The Massive Face Of Truth: “Happy anniversary of the battle of Clitheroe, in Lancashire, 1138 tomorrow.. Another pumping dispensed and pretty quickly (and consistently thereafter)…” Jun 8, 00:15