I feel that you are unpacking some of the statements in the quote incorrectly.
A “male person” here refers to the set of authors that Eliezer_Yudkowsky has read. The vast majority of these authors are cisgendered and do not suffer from any form of gender identity disorder, nor do they otherwise bend gender norms.
Statements made about said “male persons” do not reflect you because you are outside the set of (presumably cisgendered and non-GID suffering) male authors that Eliezer_Yudkowsky has read.
One of the side effects of bending gender norms is that generalizations about gender don’t usually apply to you. In any case, it seemed Eliezer_Yudkowsky was not making a claim, but telling his personal experience (which again, has no bearing on you since you presumably haven’t met him)
Regarding your other question, there is no reason that you need to necessarily put yourself in the masculine or feminine category. What makes a “whole and real person” has absolutely nothing to do with gender.
Lesswrong might be poorly equipped to address these types of questions. Have you explored any of the LGBT/transgender subreddits on reddit?
Lesswrong might be poorly equipped to address these types of questions. Have you explored any of the LGBT/transgender subreddits on reddit?
I’ve obtained much information from other sources but there is a lot of poor epistemic hygiene to sift through so I was wondering what I could find on LW.
I’ve never experienced anything else so obviously liable to cause motivated cognition. I have no accurate way of predicting how I will feel years in the future, because my identification is so strong it would influence me to believe anything in its favor.
In general, it seems to me that none of my thoughts are evidence because the hardware is so biased and I can conceive of no way of correcting for this.
1) Unless you are considering surgical or hormonal modification, there is no reason you can’t change your mind later—though it does get confusing to others, that’s far less important than your comfort.
Our society is not very accepting of people who don’t fit into gender roles. Hormonal modification is necessary to “pass”. Also, hormonal modification is much more effective the earlier you start.
If it is society’s acceptance you are after, it would be easiest to present as the gender that you display physically.
Society’s preferences will clash with your own in this regard. You have to decide the extent to which you care about that. Societal advancement is slower than technological advancement, and it is likely that the technology to pass completely will be available before society gets to a point where they do not judge people who don’t fit gender roles.
Have you tried presenting as the “other” gender socially for a few months? How did it suit you?
Also, have you considered that you might reverse the transition, if you change your mind? (Assuming you have the money)
I feel that you are unpacking some of the statements in the quote incorrectly.
A “male person” here refers to the set of authors that Eliezer_Yudkowsky has read. The vast majority of these authors are cisgendered and do not suffer from any form of gender identity disorder, nor do they otherwise bend gender norms.
Statements made about said “male persons” do not reflect you because you are outside the set of (presumably cisgendered and non-GID suffering) male authors that Eliezer_Yudkowsky has read.
One of the side effects of bending gender norms is that generalizations about gender don’t usually apply to you. In any case, it seemed Eliezer_Yudkowsky was not making a claim, but telling his personal experience (which again, has no bearing on you since you presumably haven’t met him)
Regarding your other question, there is no reason that you need to necessarily put yourself in the masculine or feminine category. What makes a “whole and real person” has absolutely nothing to do with gender.
Lesswrong might be poorly equipped to address these types of questions. Have you explored any of the LGBT/transgender subreddits on reddit?
I think this graphic is pretty helpful in conceptualizing gender and sexuality constructs, if it helps. http://itspronouncedmetrosexual.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Genderbread-2.1.jpg
I’ve obtained much information from other sources but there is a lot of poor epistemic hygiene to sift through so I was wondering what I could find on LW.
I know what you mean. Maybe if you give more specific details about which aspects of GID you are struggling with, we can give more helpful advice?
I’ve never experienced anything else so obviously liable to cause motivated cognition. I have no accurate way of predicting how I will feel years in the future, because my identification is so strong it would influence me to believe anything in its favor.
In general, it seems to me that none of my thoughts are evidence because the hardware is so biased and I can conceive of no way of correcting for this.
I’m afraid I’m not following. What is the judgement you are attempting to accurately make which your identification is interfering with?
Whether I would actually prefer being the “other” gender socially long term. Especially say, 10 years from now.
1) Unless you are considering surgical or hormonal modification, there is no reason you can’t change your mind later—though it does get confusing to others, that’s far less important than your comfort.
2) It’s okay to be in a socially in-between state. There are other identifications, such as http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genderqueer
This is really more a matter of preference than a problem that can be solved through logic.
Our society is not very accepting of people who don’t fit into gender roles. Hormonal modification is necessary to “pass”. Also, hormonal modification is much more effective the earlier you start.
If it is society’s acceptance you are after, it would be easiest to present as the gender that you display physically.
Society’s preferences will clash with your own in this regard. You have to decide the extent to which you care about that. Societal advancement is slower than technological advancement, and it is likely that the technology to pass completely will be available before society gets to a point where they do not judge people who don’t fit gender roles.
Have you tried presenting as the “other” gender socially for a few months? How did it suit you?
Also, have you considered that you might reverse the transition, if you change your mind? (Assuming you have the money)
That’s just another issue to throw into the pot, and then decide whether it matters and how much, and what options exist for dealing with it.