If they don't complete a transition, then we've arrived at this between-states thing we've been discussing, where it's easiest and most appropriate to call them what they want to be called.

As for the why of it... we're not there yet. The research is too new, but genetics and fetal hormones and brain structure are all involved. The debate about whether or not it reinforces stereotypes about femininity/masculinity is also a valid philosophical debate and a subject I can't really comment on.

Yeah pretty much I'm like I am online in real life if I'm comfortable with you/the environment I'm in. If we ever meet in real life then I imagine you'll get the full Batlord experience after a short period of me making sure I'm comfortable that you're the person you are online and that you're comfortable with the Batlord you experience here. At the very least at some point within a reasonable time period of interaction I would be the caustic douchebag that you see before you, bitch.

I'm being attacked by Elph, you know the guy who pretends he knows what he's talking about while you and Paedantic do all the leg work. Or Frownland says that people that don't follow this gender identity rule are harry ****s. But I guess they are going to talk **** regardless.

When did gender become defined by social behavior rather than your sex? Not denying it is, looked it up, but still. Because they are both synonyms. And isn't that just reinforcing stereotypes? That's what I don't get most. Like, we're conditioned to believe that a gender/sex is supposed to act a certain way, some people that feel as though they don't fit into that gender box but feel as though they fit into a different gender box start identifying as a different gender and even go as far as to mutilate their genitals just to fit a social construct that is forced on us. Of course that CAN'T be the only reason for people to transition, but they it constantly gets put on me seems that way. Shouldn't it be pushed that your sex shouldn't define your behavior rather than having people transition to fit our boxes?

I mean, like, if there is a harry man who wears dresses but never wants to transition, yet prefers to be called a female I don't feel comfortable with that.

Bro, I'M not attacking you. I'm just asking that you put aside your assumptions until you research the subject more. I don't feel the need to have any particular opinion which is why I don't, but if you do feel the need to publish an opinion then don't you think you should really immerse yourself before going off on a tangent? Otherwise doesn't it make sense to just say, "I don't know, so carry on"?

If I'm being honest, I don't think that description represents a vast majority of the already-tiny number of people who experience this phenomenon. If they're in your life long enough for it to impact you, you will probably find it is more complex than it first seems for them, and if you keep them in your life, you'll probably find a way to come to terms with it. I think that the issue you describe is probably not big enough to negate all the valid examples we've both discussed so far.

These are all worthy questions, but I think it's important to add that in many situations, it's not just the behaviour of their biological sex that trans people don't identify with, but their own bodies. The extent to which gender is tied to biology or social constructs is going to differ for every individual. Not being a trans person, I don't feel like I can weigh in on what it means to be transgender, but it's definitely an interesting topic of discussion.

I think a lot of the "negative" discussion about transgenderism is probably down to not knowing anybody you know is transgender. I've never known any out trans people, which is why I really don't have any opinion other than it's probably some kind of thing but I don't know what that thing is. If I knew any out trans people then it would probably be a more important issue to me, but they're kind of rare, at least in southeastern Virginia, so it's a pretty abstract issue to me.

I know you aren't attacking me. I guess I'm just over exaggerating but some of the responses have been.

This is a different case. This is an issue nobody really seems to know **** about. This is something I think we all deep down have an opinion about and I put forth my opinion. I felt as though I was just as educated as anybody else, to be honest. But nobody can assume they know everything about anything either. Plus, I'm completely open to people that can offer information that changes my perspective. How can I learn or gain a better perspective if I'm not starting a dialogue in the first place? It doesn't make any sense for me to just go with the program here. As opposed to keeping my mouth shut on a topic quantum physics when I don't know **** about quantum physics. Most of my tangent has been questions too. Like, I think this way, and you think that way so WHY do you think that way? It's how social and political conversations should go. With all our education there is always something that we probably didn't consider.

This is true of so many kinds of prejudice. We have ideas about groups of people that are invalid at the individual level--exposure to individuals helps us break down stereotypes and misunderstandings. Unfortunately, trans people are uncommon (although probably more common than we currently realize) and stigmatized, such that it's not safe for them to be open about it, meaning most people don't get to have those breakthrough experiences that lead to understanding and acceptance.