Am I the only person who is offended that the people of Lesbos think that “lesbian” is an insult?

I’m not easily offended.

The people of Lesbos are surely free to think what they like (about Lesbians or whoever)?

Maybe. It’s all the other people who are commenting on it who seem to just ACCEPT that the word lesbian is a heinous insult. It’s not. It’s just a description, like short or thin or hairy.

However, while they are free to think what they want, we’re free to consider them ignorant tree dwellers.

)

Huh, Jennie?

I don’t think it is a matter of offense, but a matter of accuracy – which is quite important when it comes to descriptions.

Do you find the idea of male Lesbians confusing or amusing?

Somehow ‘female same-gender partnerships’ doesn’t quite trip off the tongue as easily.

As a point of interest it caused no end of convulsions for my schoolmates when they found out my mum’s short name is Gay, which was only compounded when they found out my uncle (on the other side) was called Gaye. Sometimes there weren’t enough hours in the day for all the comedy!

What’s going on indeed!

“Do you find the idea of male Lesbians confusing or amusing?”

Neither. The capital letter is a dead giveaway.

Capitalisation doesn’t work in speech, which is most probably where the greatest contention lies for the islanders – I’m guessing that they find it tiresome for ignorant tourists to snigger in their faces.

It is also a big factor in the tourist trade, as tensions can rise when guests begin to have greater influence over the character of a place than the long-term inhabitants.

Where do you stand on colonisation?