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Being correct cuts both ways, I'm afraid. If you'd like to offer an opinion on the matter we have to ask that it have some basis in reality. (This is not satisf

by sctb 10y ago

Being correct cuts both ways, I'm afraid. If you'd like to offer an opinion on the matter we have to ask that it have some basis in reality. (This is not satisfied by uttering "Science.")

wtbob 10y ago
The reality is that Mr. Manning possesses an X and a Y chromosome, that he has male genitalia, that he is at risk for prostate cancer, that he will never have ovarian cancer, that he was able to father children but was never able and will never be able to bear them: the reality is that he is a man, regardless of what he thinks. I'm not saying that rudely, or cruelly. I think that his condition — to feel to the core of his being that he is a woman, when every objective fact says that he is a man — must be truly horrible to experience, and that he deserves our sympathy and our kindness. To feel so alienated from one's own body is not something I can relate to, but it must be terribly unpleasant. As I've noted, I think it would probably be kind to treat him as a woman, and I would probably do so myself, since there's no reason for me to cause him any more distress than his condition already does. But the objective reality is misaligned with his perception.
- KirinDave 10y ago
  > The reality is that Mr. Manning possesses an X and a Y chromosome, that he has male genitalia, that he is at risk for prostate cancer, that he will never have ovarian cancer, that he was able to father children but was never able and will never be able to bear them: the reality is that he is a man, regardless of what he thinks. See, the problem with this completely absurd argument is that for any given item on this list, I can find someone you'd happily agree is "a biological woman" who meets or has met these criterion at some point in their lives, including that "male genitalia" bit. > I'm not saying that rudely, or cruelly. You can assert this, but it is both rude and cruel to those who receive it. Communication is a two way street but you're taking your half of the road out of the middle and asking why everyone is so mad. > But the objective reality is misaligned with his perception. Would that the western world viewed gender objectively. Sadly, we do not. If we did, the concept of a strict gender binary would be laughed out of the room.

by sctb 10y ago

Being correct cuts both ways, I'm afraid. If you'd like to offer an opinion on the matter we have to ask that it have some basis in reality. (This is not satisfied by uttering "Science.")

wtbob 10y ago

The reality is that Mr. Manning possesses an X and a Y chromosome, that he has male genitalia, that he is at risk for prostate cancer, that he will never have ovarian cancer, that he was able to father children but was never able and will never be able to bear them: the reality is that he is a man, regardless of what he thinks. I'm not saying that rudely, or cruelly. I think that his condition — to feel to the core of his being that he is a woman, when every objective fact says that he is a man — must be truly horrible to experience, and that he deserves our sympathy and our kindness. To feel so alienated from one's own body is not something I can relate to, but it must be terribly unpleasant. As I've noted, I think it would probably be kind to treat him as a woman, and I would probably do so myself, since there's no reason for me to cause him any more distress than his condition already does. But the objective reality is misaligned with his perception.

KirinDave 10y ago
> The reality is that Mr. Manning possesses an X and a Y chromosome, that he has male genitalia, that he is at risk for prostate cancer, that he will never have ovarian cancer, that he was able to father children but was never able and will never be able to bear them: the reality is that he is a man, regardless of what he thinks. See, the problem with this completely absurd argument is that for any given item on this list, I can find someone you'd happily agree is "a biological woman" who meets or has met these criterion at some point in their lives, including that "male genitalia" bit. > I'm not saying that rudely, or cruelly. You can assert this, but it is both rude and cruel to those who receive it. Communication is a two way street but you're taking your half of the road out of the middle and asking why everyone is so mad. > But the objective reality is misaligned with his perception. Would that the western world viewed gender objectively. Sadly, we do not. If we did, the concept of a strict gender binary would be laughed out of the room.