Self-identification

The media refer to Bruce Jenner as Caitlyn, and call him "her". Countless other stories of "trans-gender" people refer to them as their chosen sex.

Today I saw a story about Grumpy Gertie, the goose, who has been shot dead:

The white goose, known as Grumpy Gertie, was so well-known in Sandon, Hertfordshire, he appeared on the village's sign.
But he was found shot dead at the village pond on Sunday amid reports he was gunned down by a gang in a 4x4.

Now, this is a very sad story, but one thing in particular struck me from the news report:

Gay Ayton said: "He was a real character - he was hand-reared here and thought he was a duck..."

See that? He thought he was a duck. So why does the BBC report persist in calling him a goose? Is that any way to honour his memory? Even his "friends" from the village say he's a goose!

How insensitive.