Materialism

[Abstract]

Why does it matter what your body looks like?
Why cow toe to the presumptions of others and seek an "appropriate" appearance, when instead I can define associations of behaviors to this appearance, and make us free to be what is we without any need of concern for what others see?

[mowdan6]

Unfortunately. we live in a society where first impressions....how we look, tend to define who we are.  It's not until people take the time to really know us, that then, they will define us by our character vs. our looks.  Just my two cents. 

[Joeyboo~ :3]

What mowdan said.
We have to go by those rules if we want to blend in.

it's not really a vanity thing.

[Abstract]

Gay people became accepted to the degree they are accepted today by means of standing up against the norm of social thought.
Likewise that can be done that others stand up against the norm of thought and make room to be accepted.
Persecution is the first thing that must be accepted with that way of life.
After time the type becomes accepted and the persecution reduces.

Persecution occurs more sometimes as a result of alteration in appearances for the transgendered.
It seems that in many cases that indicates drives that are other then acceptance. At least in a number.

It is unfair to men that they be expected to not hold behaviors such as emotions.
If more are free with male bodies to stand out as such.
Then given time it will become seen as normal for that behavior to exist in association to male bodies.
The same goes in associating particular behaviors with female bodies.

[eli77]

Why does it matter what your body looks like?

Because having a body that doesn't match what my brain says should be there HURTS. Having testosterone in my body makes me psychotic. And fixing these things makes it worth it for me to keep breathing.

Why cow toe to the presumptions of others and seek an "appropriate" appearance, when instead I can define associations of behaviors to this appearance, and make us free to be what is we without any need of concern for what others see?

Uh... I don't. I'm an andro gay girl. Actually I find this assumption that being trans is about social norms of behaviour and appearance kind of frustrating. That's true for SOME of us, but not ALL of us.

It is unfair to men that they be expected to not hold behaviors such as emotions.
If more are free with male bodies to stand out as such.
Then given time it will become seen as normal for that behavior to exist in association to male bodies.
The same goes in associating particular behaviors with female bodies.

I completely agree. But that has nothing to do with my birth defect.

[wrabbit]

I agree with a lot of people here, it's not just the outward appearance. I know at least for me I feel right when I put on that chest binder and see a flat chest, and I've been wearing mens clothes by choice even before I knew what transgender was because to me it felt awesome and it feels right inside!
And yes, people do base a lot of their opinions on you by looks, and I feel WAY awesome when someone calls me Edison instead of my given female name,  and when people refer to me as a male.
I'm sure you get it ;3

[Abstract]

Why does it matter what your body looks like?

Because having a body that doesn't match what my brain says should be there HURTS. Having testosterone in my body makes me psychotic. And fixing these things makes it worth it for me to keep breathing.

How does one know the brain is saying it as an aspect of genetic necessity rather then as a result of desire?

Why cow toe to the presumptions of others and seek an "appropriate" appearance, when instead I can define associations of behaviors to this appearance, and make us free to be what is we without any need of concern for what others see?

Uh... I don't. I'm an andro gay girl. Actually I find this assumption that being trans is about social norms of behaviour and appearance kind of frustrating. That's true for SOME of us, but not ALL of us.

It is not an assumption, it is a consideration. A question. ...just saying
How does one know whether they are thinking that it is physical as a rationalization or not?
Then why does it matter, is it wrong to simply be what one wants to be regardless of whether that was meant to be, a birthe defect or not?

[Abstract]

I agree with a lot of people here, it's not just the outward appearance. I know at least for me I feel right when I put on that chest binder and see a flat chest, and I've been wearing mens clothes by choice even before I knew what transgender was because to me it felt awesome and it feels right inside!
And yes, people do base a lot of their opinions on you by looks, and I feel WAY awesome when someone calls me Edison instead of my given female name,  and when people refer to me as a male.
I'm sure you get it ;3

I get many things but I must question our psychological justifications, be they as a  result of reverence for genetics or respect of desire.

[eli77]

How does one know the brain is saying it as an aspect of genetic necessity rather then as a result of desire?

I don't think it makes any difference whatsoever. However, I recently tried to change anti-androgens, they didn't work, and I immediately reverted to my pre-transition status as psychologically dysfunctional without anything else changing in my life. That is reasonably clear evidence, for me, that testosterone makes me crazy. That and I'm not transitioning because of desire, I'm transitioning to escape pain - similar but not the same.

It is not an assumption, it is a consideration. A question. ...just saying
How does one know whether they are thinking that it is physical as a rationalization or not?
Then why does it matter, is it wrong to simply be what one wants to be regardless of whether that was meant to be, a birthe defect or not?

Your question was based on the assumption that trans folk are trying to conform to an "appropriate" appearance. You weren't asking if people DO conform to an "appropriate" appearance. There was no escape clause in the sentence structure. Questions are often based on assumptions. For example, "When did you kill your wife?" assumes both that you had a wife, and that you killed her.

No, as I said above, I don't think it makes any difference one way or the other. For me the physical explanation makes more sense, given my lack of interest in social trappings of femininity, and the degree of discomfort with my body. It's all eventually going to be a moot point regardless. The medical evidence behind a physical cause is slowly, but steadily, increasing.

[Abstract]

Your question was based on the assumption that trans folk are trying to conform to an "appropriate" appearance.

I just mean to say that I do not think that such an assumption is a good one, for the most part.

You weren't asking if people DO conform to an "appropriate" appearance. There was no escape clause in the sentence structure. Questions are often based on assumptions. For example, "When did you kill your wife?" assumes both that you had a wife, and that you killed her.

Regardless it seems
"Why does it matter what your body looks like?
Why cow toe to the presumptions of others and seek an "appropriate" appearance, when instead I can define associations of behaviors to this appearance, and make us free to be what is we without any need of concern for what others see?"

neither of those questions assume anything in relation to transgendered people necessarily as they are not mentioned, you are assuming they do simply because this question is being posed on a transgendered website.

No, as I said above, I don't think it makes any difference one way or the other. For me the physical explanation makes more sense, given my lack of interest in social trappings of femininity, and the degree of discomfort with my body. It's all eventually going to be a moot point regardless. The medical evidence behind a physical cause is slowly, but steadily, increasing.

Can or should one overcome the irritation caused by testosterone only by a reduction in it medicinally and no more? (that is to say with out other physical alterations?)
Can or should one overcome the irritation if possible by self mental conditioning such as meditation and reduction of desires perhaps through Buddhist measures if plausible?