Understanding transgenderism.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

This did not originate with me, "But, is transgenderism hardware or software?  Or, perhaps, more appropriately, firmware?"  I would opt for the third option.

I don’t really care, mostly because it’s none of my bloody business. If a person with breasts and a uterus says, ‘I’m male’, I’m ok with that, whether it’s biologically determined or not.

To paraphrase Jefferson, it is of no concern to me if my neighbour identifies with a gender different from the one they were assigned at birth. It neither breaks my leg nor picks my pocket. 

Boru

[Abaddon_ire]

I am seeing a noticeable rise in vocal anti-trans people. And it is almost exclusively from people who have no knowledge, experience or training in such issues. It originates from the fear that ignorance always generates.

This post will, of course, provoke some genius to ask what knowledge, experience or training I might have to even be qualified to venture an opinion. Well let us just nail that one right away. My eldest came out as trans at the age of 14, and since then I trained as a counselor for similarly challenged kids The horror that such self-righteous pearl clutchers are happily willing to inflict on children is, frankly, the reason that the team of counselors have a back room team of counselors for the counselors. The things one hears when one is staffing the support lines are just heartbreaking.

I have said it before and I will continue to say it, but the best commentary came from my youngest. At the time the elder came out, she burst out with "I don't know what the big deal is. It's the same fucking person."

[Jackalope]

I would agree with that, but, of course, there are conservatives (including, some academics) who would say that being transgender is a choice, kind of like choosing Domino's over Pizza Hut.

...and to that I would say, I think they're probably wrong but so what if they aren't? Treating someone as they wish to be treated costs nothing. As another poster paraphrased Jefferson - whom conservatives are fond of quoting - it neither breaks their leg nor picks their pocket.

[Anomalocaris]

I would agree with that, but, of course, there are conservatives (including, some academics) who would say that being transgender is a choice, kind of like choosing Domino's over Pizza Hut.

...and to that I would say, I think they're probably wrong but so what if they aren't?  Treating someone as they wish to be treated costs nothing.  As another poster paraphrased Jefferson - whom conservatives are fond of quoting - it neither breaks their leg nor picks their pocket.

Treating someone as they wish to be treated almost certainly does not cost nothing, if second, third, forth order effects are all considered.   There is an element of shirking of thoughtful responsibility in saying if it doesn’t take a penny out of my pocket now then I shouldn’t care.    You may say the cost is not worth treating them differently than they wish to be treated, but you must first have some idea what those cost might be.

Too much of our discourse has devolved down to trying to get people to look at any problem mono-dimensionally, only down the depth where the desired conclusion seems evident, and dissuading people from looking deeper lest any problems be revealed with the desired conclusion.

[The Architect Of Fate]

What effects? Your simply treating someone with respect.

[arewethereyet]

I remember as a kid that being labeled a tomboy or a boy being referred to as sensitive was not exactly complimentary.

Many people see very narrow parameters that they want people to fit into, even very young people. Anyone not conforming to those rigid roles is looked at with suspicion. I don't understand being transgender as I am not, but I don't have an issue with people being true to themselves...whatever that may be as far as, for lack of a better word, gender is concerned.

[Peebothuhlu]

I would agree with that, but, of course, there are conservatives (including, some academics) who would say that being transgender is a choice, kind of like choosing Domino's over Pizza Hut.

Hello!

I'm pretty sure I have no 'Choice' in being nearly blind is about the same as some one having a 'Choice' as to how their mind works out what it is that they 'Think' they are. In the same way that people don't make a 'Choise' as to where the urges to put their dangly parts, either.

Jus' sayin'.

 

Not at work.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

I would agree with that, but, of course, there are conservatives (including, some academics) who would say that being transgender is a choice, kind of like choosing Domino's over Pizza Hut.

If they tell you that tripe to your face, an effective counter is to ask them, 'And when, exactly, did you choose your gender? When did you sit down and weigh all the pros and cons of male versus female and opt for one over the other? What factors influenced your decision, you insufferable twatwaffle?'

Boru

[Divinity]

Let's not call it an 'ism'. Peoples identities can't and shouldn't be reduced to a condition. I doubt anyone intentionally used it that way, but it's a word that's become so entrenched in our vernacular by anti-trans folks that people don't give it much thought when they use it.

People will say "Being transgender is a choice." It's not. Science shows that it's not. Male and Female brains have different structures, and transgender brains more closely resemble the brain of the gender they identify with. Of course, that doesn't matter to the people who claim that transgender is a choice. Because the truth is they aren't interested in the science. They aren't interested in anything, other than their own pre-concieved opinion based on their religious beliefs.

Being transgender isn't a choice. But being a Bigot is. People are going to choose to be bigots because they need someone to hate and look down on because they're worthless excuses for human beings, and they need it to validate themselves.

[Anomalocaris]

Let's not call it an 'ism'.  Peoples identities can't and shouldn't be reduced to a condition.  I doubt anyone intentionally used it that way, but it's a word that's become so entrenched in our vernacular by anti-trans folks that people don't give it much thought when they use it.  

People will say "Being transgender is a choice."  It's not.  Science shows that it's not.  Male and Female brains have different structures, and transgender brains more closely resemble the brain of the gender they identify with.  Of course, that doesn't matter to the people who claim that transgender is a choice.  Because the truth is they aren't interested in the science.  They aren't interested in anything, other than their own pre-concieved opinion based on their religious beliefs.  

Being transgender isn't a choice.  But being a Bigot is.  People are going to choose to be bigots because they need someone to hate and look down on because they're worthless excuses for human beings, and they need it to validate themselves.

It is too easy to misuse scientific factoids.     Biological Science does not say social convention about gender has to follow brain structure.     What social science say is unclear.     People who claim transgender is a choice is not explicitly denying self-identification of gender may have a strong basis in underlying brain structure.   What they are claiming is self-identity is not important to social identity, and social identity is a sort of duty that one might chose to carry out or shirk, but which is damaging to the society for people to shirk and therefore a dutiful person would not shirk it.

My opinion is continuing to impose the tradition social identify of gender in defiance of self-identity does not bring wider social benefit commensurate with the cost imposed on those with a transgender self identity.    Therefore the effort should stop.    

But I certainly don’t think it is as clear and open and shut case as some people think.     I think in the long run, intellectual honesty of a society is degraded by pretending what is debatable to be clear cut merely in the name of a good cause.    Pulling a fast one for a good cause is no different from lying for jesus.   A few good causes is not worth the degradation of intellectual honesty.

When a hood cause is advanced on the back of intellectual laxity, it gives cover to all those seeking to advance bad causes through duplicity.