WTF? I've read some erudite, well argued and sane posts from Slamboy over time (although he could seem a little strange sometimes) but this is a bit of a surprise. Not everyone has respect for TSs or TS punting and there are frequent jibes.
But I think only someone who is themselves mentally ill, or perhaps fundamentalist-religious or even just plain nasty, would post something like that.
I'm going to step in where slamboy left off, though perhaps not in entirely the same vein
As much as sexuality might be a matter of degree, with plenty of scope for ambiguity, there comes a tipping point where x is observably not y - and she-males / trans women will cross it, though transvestites (are there m/any left?) may not, since theirs is a state they can relatively easily 'take-off'.
I personally don't object to somebody's wish to alter themselves, or to present themselves as they want. However, I draw the line at being required to collude with the conceit, by:
* changing my language to the point where it conflicts with what I observe
* ignoring what has proved to be a reliable classification for medical requirements (men don't menstruate or become pregnant)
* ignoring the Occam's Razor principle (there really are more likely explanations than someone being born into the 'wrong body')
* overprescribing resolutions - transy-types most likely simply have more unorthodox behaviour and tastes. There is mostly no need for medical intervention to address this, or society's acceptance
* the cost: presently trivial, but with encouragement, the demand for expensive intervention will increase - at the expense of other, in my view, legitimate conditions
* lack of efficacy. Medical interventions do not substantially seem to alter reported wellbeing. There are many complications, and a taboo, but increasingly frequent concern in 'the community' is to seek remedial action - reversing earlier interventions
* finally, from a punter's perspective, I do strongly object to outright deception. This is unlikely to be a threat from trannies or she-males - they tend to market themselves more overtly. However, many a militant transsexual would argue that their self-determination is all that matters, and my role is simply to assent to it, whether I have been informed or misinformed in advance, or not. I reject that... aggressively.
