In that case, I suppose I’d ask about the existence of transgender people pre-SJ...?
Well let’s take a look at that shall we. Hey, it appears that they were almost non-existent and largely confined to the subcultures that were the predecessors of SJ.
I suppose that wasn’t a good example, then. Of course, my answer is that their greater non-existence was because it was socially unacceptable to be transgender.
So those are like two side of a coin, no? I say that it was socially unacceptable and less so now, so more realize it and come forth, while you say it was sometimes high-status then and more so now, so more say they are this made-up thing. Why do you prefer your explanation, which necessitates a lot of people lying?
Why do you prefer your explanation, which necessitates a lot of people lying?
Your explanation necessitates even more people lying. The difference is that it is more socially acceptable to assert that people lied in the past than to admit that someone currently around is lying, which is the only reason your claim even sounds vaguely reasonable.
I’m not sure I follow. Is the logic that my claim necessitates more lying because people lied about not being transgender in the past (or as I would put it, were unaware or in the closet)? The fact of it being more widely low-status in the past explains that in my explanation as well as yours. Furthermore, if that is what you mean, then do you not also think that the higher amount of openly gay people these days is similar?
So basically what your saying is that it is possible for a man to “really” be a woman even though not only all the physical/biological evidence points that way, but he isn’t even aware of it? This raises even more questions whether you definition of “really a woman” corresponds to anything in reality.
The fact of it being more widely low-status in the past explains that in my explanation as well as yours.
So you agree that the claim that my explanation “necessitates a lot of people lying” that you made in the grandparent is BS. That raises the question why did you make it?
Furthermore, if that is what you mean, then do you not also think that the higher amount of openly gay people these days is similar?
It’s similar, the difference being that “gay” properly refers to a person’s behavior rather than an intrinsic property. And yes, the current attempt to claim that “gayness” is an intrinsic property is similarly problematic.
So basically what your saying is that it is possible for a man to “really” be a woman even though not only all the physical/biological evidence points that way, but he isn’t even aware of it? This raises even more questions whether you definition of “really a woman” corresponds to anything in reality.
Hm, good question! I’d say: in the same way one might discover one prefers, say, some obscure flavor of ice cream one hadn’t tried before to one’s previous favorite of chocolate ice cream. Does that mean that the person’s favorite wasn’t really chocolate before? It was, but also they “actually” preferred something else… I think it comes down to how the individual’s narrative of their past or somesuch.
So you agree that the claim that my explanation “necessitates a lot of people lying” that you made in the grandparent is BS. That raises the question why did you make it?
I think we must’ve talked past each other; I’m having trouble connecting the dots. In any case, to try to elucidate my meaning: In the past, being transgender was more and more widely low-status. If transgenderism isn’t real, then it becoming less low-status on average means that more and more people would lie about being transgender. If it is real, then it becoming less low-status on average means that more and more people would be exposed to the concept and feel safer in coming out.
It’s similar, the difference being that “gay” properly refers to a person’s behavior rather than an intrinsic property. And yes, the current attempt to claim that “gayness” is an intrinsic property is similarly problematic.
I see. I might have a different (though not diametrically opposed) idea on this, but afaict that disagreement doesn’t have a bearing on the main idea of this discussion at the moment so for time and clarity’s sake I think I’ll not take this up, if you’re amenable.
Well let’s take a look at that shall we. Hey, it appears that they were almost non-existent and largely confined to the subcultures that were the predecessors of SJ.
What about hijras, fa’afafines and the like?
I suppose that wasn’t a good example, then. Of course, my answer is that their greater non-existence was because it was socially unacceptable to be transgender.
So those are like two side of a coin, no? I say that it was socially unacceptable and less so now, so more realize it and come forth, while you say it was sometimes high-status then and more so now, so more say they are this made-up thing. Why do you prefer your explanation, which necessitates a lot of people lying?
Your explanation necessitates even more people lying. The difference is that it is more socially acceptable to assert that people lied in the past than to admit that someone currently around is lying, which is the only reason your claim even sounds vaguely reasonable.
I’m not sure I follow. Is the logic that my claim necessitates more lying because people lied about not being transgender in the past (or as I would put it, were unaware or in the closet)? The fact of it being more widely low-status in the past explains that in my explanation as well as yours. Furthermore, if that is what you mean, then do you not also think that the higher amount of openly gay people these days is similar?
So basically what your saying is that it is possible for a man to “really” be a woman even though not only all the physical/biological evidence points that way, but he isn’t even aware of it? This raises even more questions whether you definition of “really a woman” corresponds to anything in reality.
So you agree that the claim that my explanation “necessitates a lot of people lying” that you made in the grandparent is BS. That raises the question why did you make it?
It’s similar, the difference being that “gay” properly refers to a person’s behavior rather than an intrinsic property. And yes, the current attempt to claim that “gayness” is an intrinsic property is similarly problematic.
Hm, good question! I’d say: in the same way one might discover one prefers, say, some obscure flavor of ice cream one hadn’t tried before to one’s previous favorite of chocolate ice cream. Does that mean that the person’s favorite wasn’t really chocolate before? It was, but also they “actually” preferred something else… I think it comes down to how the individual’s narrative of their past or somesuch.
I think we must’ve talked past each other; I’m having trouble connecting the dots. In any case, to try to elucidate my meaning: In the past, being transgender was more and more widely low-status. If transgenderism isn’t real, then it becoming less low-status on average means that more and more people would lie about being transgender. If it is real, then it becoming less low-status on average means that more and more people would be exposed to the concept and feel safer in coming out.
I see. I might have a different (though not diametrically opposed) idea on this, but afaict that disagreement doesn’t have a bearing on the main idea of this discussion at the moment so for time and clarity’s sake I think I’ll not take this up, if you’re amenable.