Online trans communities are short on definitions—if you think you might be trans, you probably are, whatever that means to you!—but trans thought experiments abound. Take one of the most popular thought experiments: what if there were a magic button you could push that would turn you into the opposite sex?
This piece has great insights and a great “thought experiment” itself. It is interesting to compare how fairy tales and myths have operated in our culture for thousands of years with the delusions of magical change offered by transgenderism. I was obsessed with fairy tales and mythology as a child. Back in the 60s, that meant reading the “Blue Fairy Book” and the “Red Fairy Book” from the school library and other books my parents bought me. It was still safe in those days for an 8-year-old girl to go wandering around in the woods, and I did that, imagining that this hollow log might be a portal to fairy land, or that I might see a real troll under a bridge! I was not surprised when I didn’t see any real fairies, but at that age, I still kept an open mind—maybe they ARE real! That is the process of childhood, sorting out reality from fantasy. At some point, the deeper meanings of the fairy tales became apparent to me. Life is a quest, and we have difficult and seemingly impossible problems to solve. Being kind, generous, selfless, and gentle with nature bring their own rewards, even if fairies don’t literally exist. Transgender ideology offers none of this precious human wisdom. It keeps children AND adults in a perpetual and damaging fantasy.
Transformation is a recurring trope in fairy tales--the Ugly Duckling becomes a swan, Cinderella becomes a Princess. The wretch under the stairs is revealed to be the boy who didn't die. Gender identity theory latches onto that healthy trope--that we will all grow up, and out of our awkward teenage years--into a side road of nonsensical impossibilities.
Yes! And it places the "treasure" externally (in affirmation from others, medical interventions, trying to pass) instead of internally (self-validation, resiliency, fortitude, etc.). We're essentially handing over our journey/treasure when we do that.
Interesting what you say about knowing you wouldn't see a magical being, but still keeping an open mind about it.
I was similar when I was a kid, and until I was around 14 or 15, still wondered if there was any "magic" in the world (in the literal sense). Most of that came from my being an atheist since very young, but still wanting there to be "more" to life than physical reality.
My sister died when I was around 14, and these existential questions loomed larger, and I found myself fighting a kind of youthful depression about the inevitability of death. I did lots of reading on the subject of death, world religions, spiritual traditions, etc. and in the end, around age 15 or so, decided that all of these myths and religions and traditions say more about our desire to transcend death, than that there exists any actual transcendence.
That realization was both freeing and saddening to me. But I could never go back to believing in the possibility of a god/gods or other magical beings.
How does the medical community not see that they are participating in these thought experiments, selling these kids a fantasy — that this vulnerable population can't imagine what the rest of their lives will look like in reality and that despite every possible treatment, they can never change their sex. There are decades ahead where the world won't be standing around cheering them on. Instead of just attending to everyday life, they're saddled with medical care and the eternal pressure of "passing." And for what? So that people around them use the pronoun they want? Ultimately they are still stuck with themselves and the inescapable reality that their goal is absolutely unattainable. I wonder how many gender clinicians are truly focused on ensuring that their patients are genuinely capable of understanding what that existence will be like before locking them onto a pathway that will cause irreparable harm.
I think newthoughtcrime pointed out that one of the defining features of gender dysphoria is an inability to imagine the future and how dangerous it is to circumscribe the future of someone desperate enough that they can't imagine what they're giving up.
I think many clinicians are NOT focused on that. The emphasis on affirmation stresses going along with what the client says, not exploring the possible consequences of medical interventions (even though WPATH 7 advises it). Good clinicians help clients to explore the short and long-term impact of their decisions so that the client can develop a sense of agency and good decision-making skills.
Good analysis! It’s all a “thought experiment” without cost or consequences... in every way except reality.
I used to sometimes toss a coin if unsure of my own feelings: if it came up something I didn’t want, it was immediately apparent! I outgrew it as I became a bit more sure of my choices.
"you may never be seen by others as you desire to be seen" -- This clarifies the emphasis on pronouns. Compelling others to go along with the fantasy helps to prop it up. This is also why refusal to go along with it is viewed as such a threat -- it collapses the fantasy. It helps to explain why invalidation is seen as "literal violence"; you're killing the fantasy by refusing to go along with it.
I like the way you compared the trans "quest" to fairy tales or myths like that of King Midas. Another myth that comes to mind is that of young Icarus who could fly with wings made of wax and feathers. His father warned him that the wax would melt if he flew too close to the sun; Icarus, though, like so many young people felt he knew better. He wanted the experience of flying near the sun, despite the danger, and he paid the price.
Wow, yeah--Icarus is another great metaphor for what is happening with young people and trans ideology. The arrogance and recklessness of youth who "think they know better" crosses cultures and time. And it ends in tragedy--in our time, enormous tragedy that will only spill into more and more families before it ends. It's also appropriate because of the connection to "trans-humanism" which is a deep part of this movement, a fantasy that we can transcend our bodies completely. Like Icarus, we cannot, and fall in flames to the ground when we try.
This piece has great insights and a great “thought experiment” itself. It is interesting to compare how fairy tales and myths have operated in our culture for thousands of years with the delusions of magical change offered by transgenderism. I was obsessed with fairy tales and mythology as a child. Back in the 60s, that meant reading the “Blue Fairy Book” and the “Red Fairy Book” from the school library and other books my parents bought me. It was still safe in those days for an 8-year-old girl to go wandering around in the woods, and I did that, imagining that this hollow log might be a portal to fairy land, or that I might see a real troll under a bridge! I was not surprised when I didn’t see any real fairies, but at that age, I still kept an open mind—maybe they ARE real! That is the process of childhood, sorting out reality from fantasy. At some point, the deeper meanings of the fairy tales became apparent to me. Life is a quest, and we have difficult and seemingly impossible problems to solve. Being kind, generous, selfless, and gentle with nature bring their own rewards, even if fairies don’t literally exist. Transgender ideology offers none of this precious human wisdom. It keeps children AND adults in a perpetual and damaging fantasy.
Transformation is a recurring trope in fairy tales--the Ugly Duckling becomes a swan, Cinderella becomes a Princess. The wretch under the stairs is revealed to be the boy who didn't die. Gender identity theory latches onto that healthy trope--that we will all grow up, and out of our awkward teenage years--into a side road of nonsensical impossibilities.
Yes! And it places the "treasure" externally (in affirmation from others, medical interventions, trying to pass) instead of internally (self-validation, resiliency, fortitude, etc.). We're essentially handing over our journey/treasure when we do that.
Yes, so well put and great examples mapping to teenagers.
Interesting what you say about knowing you wouldn't see a magical being, but still keeping an open mind about it.
I was similar when I was a kid, and until I was around 14 or 15, still wondered if there was any "magic" in the world (in the literal sense). Most of that came from my being an atheist since very young, but still wanting there to be "more" to life than physical reality.
My sister died when I was around 14, and these existential questions loomed larger, and I found myself fighting a kind of youthful depression about the inevitability of death. I did lots of reading on the subject of death, world religions, spiritual traditions, etc. and in the end, around age 15 or so, decided that all of these myths and religions and traditions say more about our desire to transcend death, than that there exists any actual transcendence.
That realization was both freeing and saddening to me. But I could never go back to believing in the possibility of a god/gods or other magical beings.
How does the medical community not see that they are participating in these thought experiments, selling these kids a fantasy — that this vulnerable population can't imagine what the rest of their lives will look like in reality and that despite every possible treatment, they can never change their sex. There are decades ahead where the world won't be standing around cheering them on. Instead of just attending to everyday life, they're saddled with medical care and the eternal pressure of "passing." And for what? So that people around them use the pronoun they want? Ultimately they are still stuck with themselves and the inescapable reality that their goal is absolutely unattainable. I wonder how many gender clinicians are truly focused on ensuring that their patients are genuinely capable of understanding what that existence will be like before locking them onto a pathway that will cause irreparable harm.
I think newthoughtcrime pointed out that one of the defining features of gender dysphoria is an inability to imagine the future and how dangerous it is to circumscribe the future of someone desperate enough that they can't imagine what they're giving up.
I think many clinicians are NOT focused on that. The emphasis on affirmation stresses going along with what the client says, not exploring the possible consequences of medical interventions (even though WPATH 7 advises it). Good clinicians help clients to explore the short and long-term impact of their decisions so that the client can develop a sense of agency and good decision-making skills.
This is the first time I’ve seen being trans compared to the story of King Midas and other such fairy tales. It’s brilliant.
Good analysis! It’s all a “thought experiment” without cost or consequences... in every way except reality.
I used to sometimes toss a coin if unsure of my own feelings: if it came up something I didn’t want, it was immediately apparent! I outgrew it as I became a bit more sure of my choices.
"you may never be seen by others as you desire to be seen" -- This clarifies the emphasis on pronouns. Compelling others to go along with the fantasy helps to prop it up. This is also why refusal to go along with it is viewed as such a threat -- it collapses the fantasy. It helps to explain why invalidation is seen as "literal violence"; you're killing the fantasy by refusing to go along with it.
I like the way you compared the trans "quest" to fairy tales or myths like that of King Midas. Another myth that comes to mind is that of young Icarus who could fly with wings made of wax and feathers. His father warned him that the wax would melt if he flew too close to the sun; Icarus, though, like so many young people felt he knew better. He wanted the experience of flying near the sun, despite the danger, and he paid the price.
Wow, yeah--Icarus is another great metaphor for what is happening with young people and trans ideology. The arrogance and recklessness of youth who "think they know better" crosses cultures and time. And it ends in tragedy--in our time, enormous tragedy that will only spill into more and more families before it ends. It's also appropriate because of the connection to "trans-humanism" which is a deep part of this movement, a fantasy that we can transcend our bodies completely. Like Icarus, we cannot, and fall in flames to the ground when we try.