So, there’s growing acceptance of using drugs to prevent puberty in prepubescents who are transgender, because it makes it easier to transition later. It seems likely one could piggyback on that and get a son up to 18 without going through puberty, at which point they should be able to legally approve of their castration.
and get a son up to 18 without going through puberty
If the son is not transgender, I would be willing to stick an “abuse” label onto that. This is taking a (presumably) normal human being and fucking him up in a pretty major way.
I don’t consider myself transgender, but I have been wishing this had been done to me pretty much since I was 12.
The main thing I learned from this article is that everything I thought I knew about castration holds up under Lesswrongian analysis, including the part where I completely missed the opportunity and would probably be more likely to die early were I castrated now. There would still be some advantages, but it seems too late to be worth it.
You did specify “presumably normal”, though. Presumably, I am far from normal.
I’m assuming that this is done with their understanding and consent, to the extent that is possible. (I don’t think it’s advisable, for a handful of reasons, but I think legal difficulties are a minor impediment at best.)
this is done with their understanding and consent, to the extent that is possible.
I don’t think the possible extent is sufficient.
I think legal difficulties are a minor impediment at best
The original case to which I replied involved a straightforward castration, not delaying puberty. The “legal difficulties” might be a minor impediment, but are likely to have major consequences.
(I don’t think it’s advisable, for a handful of reasons, [...])
I agree, even though I’m effectively punishing my past self in doing so.
I would like there to be a mechanism for making this possible, but it just seems too dangerous; even the idea of delaying puberty until the age of consent doesn’t work, because apparently this path can have permanent side-effects as well.
So, there’s growing acceptance of using drugs to prevent puberty in prepubescents who are transgender, because it makes it easier to transition later. It seems likely one could piggyback on that and get a son up to 18 without going through puberty, at which point they should be able to legally approve of their castration.
If the son is not transgender, I would be willing to stick an “abuse” label onto that. This is taking a (presumably) normal human being and fucking him up in a pretty major way.
Possibly TMI:
I don’t consider myself transgender, but I have been wishing this had been done to me pretty much since I was 12.
The main thing I learned from this article is that everything I thought I knew about castration holds up under Lesswrongian analysis, including the part where I completely missed the opportunity and would probably be more likely to die early were I castrated now. There would still be some advantages, but it seems too late to be worth it.
You did specify “presumably normal”, though. Presumably, I am far from normal.
I’m assuming that this is done with their understanding and consent, to the extent that is possible. (I don’t think it’s advisable, for a handful of reasons, but I think legal difficulties are a minor impediment at best.)
I don’t think the possible extent is sufficient.
The original case to which I replied involved a straightforward castration, not delaying puberty. The “legal difficulties” might be a minor impediment, but are likely to have major consequences.
I agree, even though I’m effectively punishing my past self in doing so.
I would like there to be a mechanism for making this possible, but it just seems too dangerous; even the idea of delaying puberty until the age of consent doesn’t work, because apparently this path can have permanent side-effects as well.