- Joined
- Jul 15, 2008
- Messages
- 34,048
- Reaction score
- 64,124
- Points
- 148
The problem isn't the language. The problem isn't the laws.
No, those are very much a problem because there are so many real-world legal and ancillary rights that are dependent on how we define "male" and "female". Just saying "respect everyone" doesn't address issues like athletic competitions, changing rooms, etc..
It's all a grand distraction: just respect everyone you know, and toggle the respect that you have for them based on their actions. Simple. I guess I don't see the big deal.
Even if you could ignore the legal and related issues, what you suggest in terms of "respect everyone you know" is just a slogan. It's the same as saying "we should just end all wars by everyone refusing to fight." It sounds great, and nobody would argue that's how things should be in an ideal world, but there is absolutely no way to make everyone actually do that.
The way I look at it as this -- everyone has the "right" to think of themselves however they choose. If you want to think you're a woman even though you were born a male, have at it. And in a casual social situation where such a person introduces themselves to me personally as a female, there is no reason to make an issue out of it and hurt feelings.
However, a person's right to imagine themselves how they choose is not the same thing as requiring the rest of society, including the law, to recognize that as reality. The comparison to imagining yourself as a "furry", or Batman, is actually valid. You are entitled to consider yourself Batman, but you're not entitled to have me treat you as if you really are.
Last edited: