I haven’t seen anyone calling transsexuality a delusion, only people examining the possibility, and people (who agree with the standard pro-trans positions on policy) declaring the question meaningless. The closest is knb’s claims about autogynephilia, which look like an independent reinvention and are thus pretty interesting evidence. In particular, I haven’t seen any claims that transpeople should be denied anything.
It sounds like you’re offended when people ask “Is transsexuality a delusion?”, not just when they say it’s one. That’s not good at all, for the obvious reasons that if you can’t attack n idea you can never prove it, that politics is the mind-killer, etc.
I’m aware of Bad Things that can happen from simply asking questions—they tend to prime you emotionally, even if you don’t consciously notice and have the best intent in the world (and even if you’re a Martian and thus immune to this effect it affects onlookers). So if you see people sneaking in evil connotations, please complain.
But I’m trans, so if I (in particular, or along with all transpeople) am deluded, I sure as hell want to know.
I don’t think using the word delusion is helpful here. It’s more useful I believe to break down words like gender, woman, man, etc. in order to find what people are ACTUALLY talking about. If someone says they are a woman, to some people it does not matter if they have a penis or were born XY, but to others it does, and it’s much easier to discuss it in this fashion rather than to ask whether they “truly” are a woman or are just “deluding” themselves.
I haven’t seen anyone calling transsexuality a delusion, only people examining the possibility, and people (who agree with the standard pro-trans positions on policy) declaring the question meaningless. The closest is knb’s claims about autogynephilia, which look like an independent reinvention and are thus pretty interesting evidence. In particular, I haven’t seen any claims that transpeople should be denied anything.
It sounds like you’re offended when people ask “Is transsexuality a delusion?”, not just when they say it’s one. That’s not good at all, for the obvious reasons that if you can’t attack n idea you can never prove it, that politics is the mind-killer, etc.
I’m aware of Bad Things that can happen from simply asking questions—they tend to prime you emotionally, even if you don’t consciously notice and have the best intent in the world (and even if you’re a Martian and thus immune to this effect it affects onlookers). So if you see people sneaking in evil connotations, please complain.
But I’m trans, so if I (in particular, or along with all transpeople) am deluded, I sure as hell want to know.
I don’t think using the word delusion is helpful here. It’s more useful I believe to break down words like gender, woman, man, etc. in order to find what people are ACTUALLY talking about. If someone says they are a woman, to some people it does not matter if they have a penis or were born XY, but to others it does, and it’s much easier to discuss it in this fashion rather than to ask whether they “truly” are a woman or are just “deluding” themselves.