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Culture War Roundup for the week of December 19, 2022

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For the folks here who talk heatedly about trans issues - I want to pose a thought experiment. Let's say it's the year 2300, and people can quickly, cheaply and painlessly switch their sex from male to female, and vice versa. There are no long term side effects, and it's as simple as going to buy a pill from the corner store.

On top of that, fertility issues have been handled, babies are grown/raised by artificial wombs and many different types of family structures are available with parents being able to choose what works best for their preference. Gender and sex can play a role if needed, but only for those who wish to have traditional families. It is not socially stigmatized to raise a family with two women, or two men, etc.

If this all were the case, would you have issues with people transitioning genders/sex still? If not, at what point along the line do you think it becomes okay to freely switch?

For the folks here who talk heatedly about trans issues - I want to pose a thought experiment. Let's say it's the year 2300, and people can quickly, cheaply and painlessly switch their sex from male to female, and vice versa. There are no long term side effects, and it's as simple as going to buy a pill from the corner store.

On top of that, fertility issues have been handled, babies are grown/raised by artificial wombs and many different types of family structures are available with parents being able to choose what works best for their preference. Gender and sex can play a role if needed, but only for those who wish to have traditional families. It is not socially stigmatized to raise a family with two women, or two men, etc.

If this all were the case, would you have issues with people transitioning genders/sex still? If not, at what point along the line do you think it becomes okay to freely switch?

I probably wouldn't have problems with it. The one dimension where this might still be - may Allah forgive me for using this word - problematic is the following: I do believe that current trans discourse gives mentally troubled individuals a socially approved way to externalise their issues. "It's not me! The reason I am unhappy is because I was born in the wrong body and society oppresses me. The only way I should change is by having surgery done."

On the other hand, if someone like that pops a pill and that wasn't it, perhaps that would alleviate the issue.

Now, would I date a transitioner in 2300? I am not sure. I don't have a rational reason for saying no, given that you all hypothesized them away, but romance and sex is not rational.

That’s a good way to put it, externalization of mental health issues. I feel the same way… but boy do you get in trouble trying to argue that line with anyone remotely trans sympathetic lol.