One of the downsides of sharing your opinions online is the nagging worry that you’re wrong about something important. What if dogs and knitting really can be racist? What if silence really is violence? And what if, despite all my conversations and research on trans issues, I’ve managed to miss the genocidal human rights violations that activists insist are taking place?
I had a conversation with someone who identified as a trans woman. I asked what made him "feel" like a woman and he said he likes to feel sexy in women's clothing. That was it. He didn't live as a woman, he just dressed up. Has never taken hormones and has no interest in surgery. So basically, he's just a cross dresser. No judgement from me, btw. It's just interesting to me that a) the "trans" concept has become overly broad, and b) this indicates a regression to stereotypes about clothing, and I wonder how far it goes.
Steven, if you haven’t already, read the recent New Yorker interview with writer Masha Gessen. She now uses “they/them” pronouns and identifies an non-binary.
At one point she refers to Judith Butler as “she”, catches herself and then corrects to “they.” (Butler has used “they/them” for years)
It was extremely telling. Even though Gessen, herself, also uses “they/them” pronouns, her immediate instinct was to read Butler as a “she,” as does the rest of the world. That says something about the narcissism of this movement that they want us to 1) know what they feel about their own gender and then 2) memorize it, all evidence to the contrary.
The human rights the “trans” people are denied are (1) getting everything they want immediately all the time and (2) being at the center of attention all the time.
Why are you trying to be logical with people who don’t believe in reality?
People nowadays get crucified for recognizing that social contagion is real and that humans are inherently mimetic. People see trans folks getting all kinds of attention and the edgy delight of victimhood and camaraderie of being a member of a “marginalized community” and think “Me too!” Suddenly the world “owes” them special attention. No wonder it’s a fad!
There are plenty of trans people who are not entitled brats. My guess is the real ones are not; it’s the wannabes who are demanding that we kiss objective reality goodbye, fuck up the English language, and guilt everyone into catering to their every whim.
I too am so fed up with the fight between TERFs & whatever-the-right-term-is-for-trans-activists-with-no-sense-of-proportion.
Of course trans people who "pass" should use the toilets they're comfortable in. Who'd know?
Of course we need space in prisons set aside for trans people so they can be held safely and respectfully. That would put an end to male abusers trying to declare themselves trans, that's for sure.
Of course there are nasty abusive people who try to game the system to gain access to vulnerable people (and how many of them are police or prison guards?) who need to be dealt with, firmly. Some of them use the gender debate, some of them use their job, some their extreme wealth or status on social media. They all need dealing with.
The problem is the abuse & manipulation, not the route the abuser chooses to try to achieve their satisfaction.
And there are people who feel they need help with psycho-sexual-gender issues, who ought to be able to get advice & help without falling into the hands of a financially predatory medical system like the one in the US, or a manipulative abusive medical professional, for that matter. It's never going to be easy.
I had a conversation with someone who identified as a trans woman. I asked what made him "feel" like a woman and he said he likes to feel sexy in women's clothing. That was it. He didn't live as a woman, he just dressed up. Has never taken hormones and has no interest in surgery. So basically, he's just a cross dresser. No judgement from me, btw. It's just interesting to me that a) the "trans" concept has become overly broad, and b) this indicates a regression to stereotypes about clothing, and I wonder how far it goes.
Steven, if you haven’t already, read the recent New Yorker interview with writer Masha Gessen. She now uses “they/them” pronouns and identifies an non-binary.
At one point she refers to Judith Butler as “she”, catches herself and then corrects to “they.” (Butler has used “they/them” for years)
It was extremely telling. Even though Gessen, herself, also uses “they/them” pronouns, her immediate instinct was to read Butler as a “she,” as does the rest of the world. That says something about the narcissism of this movement that they want us to 1) know what they feel about their own gender and then 2) memorize it, all evidence to the contrary.
“And some trans women make convincing enough women that they already use some female spaces without anybody noticing. “
Let’s not lose track of the reality that these are convincing impersonations.
The human rights the “trans” people are denied are (1) getting everything they want immediately all the time and (2) being at the center of attention all the time.
Why are you trying to be logical with people who don’t believe in reality?
“...until it’s no longer fashionable to do so.”
People nowadays get crucified for recognizing that social contagion is real and that humans are inherently mimetic. People see trans folks getting all kinds of attention and the edgy delight of victimhood and camaraderie of being a member of a “marginalized community” and think “Me too!” Suddenly the world “owes” them special attention. No wonder it’s a fad!
There are plenty of trans people who are not entitled brats. My guess is the real ones are not; it’s the wannabes who are demanding that we kiss objective reality goodbye, fuck up the English language, and guilt everyone into catering to their every whim.
It’s working for them. God help us.
I too am so fed up with the fight between TERFs & whatever-the-right-term-is-for-trans-activists-with-no-sense-of-proportion.
Of course trans people who "pass" should use the toilets they're comfortable in. Who'd know?
Of course we need space in prisons set aside for trans people so they can be held safely and respectfully. That would put an end to male abusers trying to declare themselves trans, that's for sure.
Of course there are nasty abusive people who try to game the system to gain access to vulnerable people (and how many of them are police or prison guards?) who need to be dealt with, firmly. Some of them use the gender debate, some of them use their job, some their extreme wealth or status on social media. They all need dealing with.
The problem is the abuse & manipulation, not the route the abuser chooses to try to achieve their satisfaction.
And there are people who feel they need help with psycho-sexual-gender issues, who ought to be able to get advice & help without falling into the hands of a financially predatory medical system like the one in the US, or a manipulative abusive medical professional, for that matter. It's never going to be easy.