The fact that there are parents out there who may mould their children into anything which is detrimental to the child’s health and wellbeing, especially changing them hormonally and/or surgically for their own means is atrocious and surely that is a mental illness and worse than a fully competent, willing, able and educated adult who wishes to transition.
I personally don’t think that fully a competent, willing, able and educated adult who wishes to transition is suffering from a mental illness.....because, although transitioning can involve invasive procedures and irreversible affects, how is the desire - nay, the need - to live in a way positive for them any different to, for example, being sexually attracted to the same sex?
(The person may have mental illness and complicating factors but the transitioning is not ‘it’)
Indeed, being different to the norm and behaving in ways not conforming to the majority or society at large in any way has always been accused of being a mental illness......but, as consenting adults, not hurting anyone else, such hatred is uncalled for, surely?
Going back to whether Elliot and his wife can be happy, and the so-called abomination that is Elliot’s transition - your thoughts are against this freedom of choice?
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PrimeMinisterX (8290)
3 years ago
Well I'm glad to see that we're in agreement when it comes to children. As far as I'm concerned any parent who would put their kids through such a physically (and potentially emotionally) harmful and destructive process is grossly irresponsible, and any doctor who would go along with it should lose their license for malpractice.
I should point out that I have a neighbor who is transgender and we've had multiple conversations about the subject. He's a nice person but, in my estimation, also clearly troubled. I don't doubt that he FEELS like he is supposed to be a female, but he's also very clearly not a female. I think it's far preferable for medical science to focus on trying to make people like him feel comfortable in their own skin, rather than try to give them new skin via highly destructive and often very painful hormonal and surgical procedures.
In regard to your question about freedom of choice, I think there is a fine line that has to be tread between personal freedom on one hand and social cohesion on the other. As someone who IS a big fan of personal freedom and a broad swath of rights, I do think that if an adult genuinely wants to put themselves through the ordeal of "transitioning" then they should be allowed to do it. But at the same time, I don't think it's something that society at large should really approve of. This doesn't mean that I think we should be mean or cruel to these people--if anything, they need compassion for their plight--but it also doesn't mean that we should normalize this kind of decision-making and we for damn sure don't need to be introducing these kinds of ideas to our kids and letting them grab hold of the notion at young and impressionable ages. If anyone chooses to put themselves through this sort of thing it should be done quietly and it's certainly not something that should be celebrated in the media as if they're fucking superheroes.
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OratiaGlake (1234)
3 years ago
Thank you. I appreciate a more robust discussion of opinion, which for me is a lot better than simply labelling it an ‘abomination’. I’m glad we’ve had this conversation. We do agree on many points no doubt.
I too really don’t care about such things being shouted from the roof tops, but I do think that it helps those feeling lost, oppressed etc (and thus more susceptible to harm) in gaining some comfort and strength in seeing others like themselves. I really think it’s a personal choice and has nothing to do with me.
I don’t think it normalises it though. Impressionable people will always be around and potentially influenced, no matter what.
I’m sure people transitioning have a lot of psychiatric help and support, but they cannot stay as they are and be comfortable in their own skin; that’s the reason they transition. I understand the view some have about using medical science in other ways that may seem more pressing so to speak......but again, transitioning does save lives. I guess there’s the whole utilitarianism aspect though - for the greater good or for the few in need? I’m sure the monetary costs involved vary depending on the country and health care system; I would find it totally gross for plastic surgeons etc to be raking it in for unethical reasons (the same for any surgery).
I’m amazed at what surgeons can do for transitioning people and it’s of scientific interest to see the results of the treatments (hormonal and surgical). The amount of pain - physical, emotional etc - they go through during transition must be worth it.
It’s interesting to hear about your neighbour. When you say ‘he’s clearly not female’ is that because they haven’t fully transitioned yet, or because they have but don’t look very feminine? Some people never fully transition - and some, even then can, unfortunately, never (to the observer) look like the other sex completely.
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