Barleymower wrote: ↑Fri May 24, 2024 3:44 pm
Luckily we have a Scientist (Layne) here to teach us right from wrong.
Ha! Well, having a scientist in the membership roster never hurt!
Layne wrote: ↑Fri May 24, 2024 3:06 pm
On any level - I personally find myself back at my old belief: live as you choose and be happy. Dress like you like (I do).
Call yourself anything you want - but don’t expect that everyone should be forced to understand or accept a perceived reality that belongs to you.
I can get behind this, and in fact, I pretty much live by this already. There are aspects to my own "gender identity" that I don't wear on my sleeve mainly for this reason... I don't feel like spending every waking minute of my life arguing with people.
In point of fact, my own view of gender seems to be contrary to those both on the right and left side of the issue, so I'm well accustomed to just holding the sentiments close to my chest.
One thing I hold publicly is that "sex" is absolute, and can easily be scientifically measured and determined. "Gender" seems more in line with philosophy, and thus puts it more in the neighborhood of religion. Thus I don't argue with people about my own gender identity for much the same reason I don't argue about religion.
-- Now I don't expect you [Layne] to agree with that, and that is certainly your right. Many people do indeed consider sex and gender to be one and the same. I just don't.... and that's my right.
Maybe gender is completely meaningless in the grand scheme of things, much like religion, but like it or not, it's all a part of our culture and it isn't going away just because we may not agree with certain beliefs or opinions on the matter.
We are what we are... maybe trans-people are crazy... but then again, aren't we all in some way or another?
But I do agree that nobody should be FORCED to acknowledge something they don't believe in. Nobody should be FORCED to say anything they don't want.
I choose to respect pronouns, but if somebody twisted my arm under penalty of law, I'd just be silent. I do at least have that right.
And I make this choice not because I'm all in on trans politics, in fact, I have yet to meet a trans person that I actually liked being around. But I will still abide their wishes because I aim to be respectful and to always "treat people how I'd want to be treated".