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    Walk on the Wild Side

    Nury Vittachi celebrates transgender fish and the faux end of Western civilisation.

    A READER NOTIFIED ME of a mass sex-change taking place in his country. Half the male fish in some British lowland rivers have female characteristics, and many can now lay eggs, research indicates.

    This must be causing extremely awkward underwater conversations. FEMALE FISH: “I have news, Stanley: I’m pregnant!” MALE FISH: “Wonderful, darling, me too!” Grandparent fish are surely delighted at the double portions of grandchildren.

    The reader, who wanted only to be known as Concerned Teacher, said he only bought it up because many young males in his class seem to take the same journey. I told him it was probably just a sign of the times, but he should call me if any of his boys actually lay eggs so I can make a video that goes viral, I mean, express my heartfelt concern.

    Concerned Teacher sent a news clipping saying scientists blame the problem on contamination by oestrogen, a chemical known for causing mammals to purchase shoes and care what colour curtains are. But why is there no corresponding contamination from testosterone, a chemical that causes massive growth in the human male’s most prominent organ, the ego?

    “It’s apparently oestrogen from contraceptive pills which leaks into nature and creates feminisation,” Concerned Teacher said. Feminisation was originally detected in fish, whales and dolphins, but has been found in land animals, including seals, otters, polar bears, frogs, alligators, and, yes, humans.

    The good news is that contraceptive-swamped Western civilization is by far the most likely to be wiped out, which may actually be worth it when you consider that the world would be rid of the Kardashians, British “food”, reality TV shows, etc., and even my Western friends agreed with that.

    But further reflection suggests that a world in which the only music, movies and culture were Eastern would be pretty sad. There’s only so much Gangnam Style a person can take.

    On the plus side, females are less affected by oestrogen, so we may end up with a female-dominated world, which might be a good thing. There’d be fewer wars, since geopolitical summits would end up with one leader saying “Fine” and the others trying to work out whether this was good or bad.

    My colleagues were less inclined to panic over the gender-blender trend. One told me about a kindergarten parent he encountered who initially refused to identify the sex of her child, but its two initial acts – the gleeful emission of astonishing amounts of sound from the end of its colon, and the use of toys to commit mindless acts of violence on other toys – were biggish clues that it may not be female. But these days you never know, do you?

    Whilst writing this column, a newspaper arrived reporting that train announcers in London have been told to stop opening their statements with “Ladies and gentlemen”. Presumably, this is to show respect for the many lowland river fish who travel by train these days.

    Not sure what a politically correct columnist should say about that. Maybe: “Fine.”

    Nury welcomes your comments and ideas at his Facebook page: www.facebook.com/nury.vittachi

    This article appeared in Playtimes February Issue 2018.

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