Ooo this is a fun thread. Since I'm one of those odd balls I feel obligated to make a post.
One of the reasons why I don't like labels or physiological diagnosis when it comes to gender is because there exists in the world a lot of variance. This is truth. I live that truth every day, not just because I came into this world transsexual, but I also came into it with not having the "right" body. Beyond just being transsexual, my body doesn't conform 100% to male or 100% to female. I've had screwy hormones from the get-go among other things.
So to me, someone coming along and not understanding how there can be variation, is simply someone who hasn't realized the whole world is actually full of variation. They're wrapped up in text-book definitions and clear-cut labels.
Until science can grow test tube dicks and attach them to you without rejection you're never going to have the "cis male" body you "should have been born with". Actually, even then, you're never going to have the cis male body. An archeologist unearthing your bones thousands of years from now would see female bones and even your remains will be labeled female. Welcome to reality. Yes, there's some "treatments" that exist that will get you close in an outward physical appearance (to be able to live as your chosen gender in society) and for those that are willing to put their bodies and their health on the line in an attempt to "correct" it, that is entirely their choice.
Obviously, I'm one of the people who feel very strongly about my health. This body is the only one I got in this life and no matter what, I'm going to try to live my life as naturally and healthy as possible. I've already been down the drugs and alcohol route because I had hated my body so much I just wanted to cover up reality. Well, that didn't work for me any more than taking extra hormones did (which is also, technically, taking drugs to cover up the reality). So my reality was I had to find other, alternative ways to deal with the situation. I get that there's people out there who would rather be dead than live with their body as-is. I've already been there too, but realized I wanted to live ... "perfect body" or not. I didn't want to die and I didn't want to risk the health I had to obtain something that in my mind, would always have been a band-aid to a much larger issue. I would never have that "perfect body" so for me, it's taken years to get to a place where I'm comfortable in my own skin and that I can live my life and be mostly happy.
Since, like I said, I didn't start out life like many others do - as a healthy, easily-gendered baby, I came to the conclusion that maybe I really am "normal" just the way I am. Maybe for me, being part of both genders (and looking that part) was the most natural thing I could do. I should just "be me" as they say, and that me has female aspects and male aspects. My brain is definitely one of the male aspects. I know for many of us the brain-body difference is what causes most of our problems. We see ourselves one way, but society doesn't, and our bodies not matching what our minds "see" is another whole layer of issues. "Transition" was developed to help society see transsexuals "correctly" and for transsexuals to be more comfortable in their bodies. It's a treatment plan for a set series of symptoms.
Well, for me, I realized I didn't
need transition. Yes, a lot of society is still going to deal with me as female even though I don't look 100% female and I certainly don't feel female. But my own personal perspective is that I am mostly male and that actually is the normal, natural me. Someone calling me "ma'am" at the grocery store doesn't actually change that.
I'm well into my 30s right now and to say that I had a rough time of it as a teenager and in my 20s would be a colossal understatement. I was unaware of anything like "transition" when I was younger. Being the hot-headed, easily depressed youth I was I can't say that I wouldn't have snapped at the chance to walk down that path. But I can say in hindsight that I'm really glad I didn't. That's my personal choice and no one but me has to understand it - even though I don't mind explaining why I made the decision and what impact it has on me and my life. I am a living example that there are many different choices that someone who has been dealt these kind of cards in life can have. And also that in my case, years passing gave me perspective and the mental tools to solve some of my problems that I never could get out of a syringe full of hormones. But that's just me. From what I see, that's not the "majority rule" around here.
People make their own choices for many different and personal reasons.
And just as a side note - I know two, male-born individuals who don't give two-sh*ts about their dicks. One says, and I quote, "The damn thing is an annoyance" and the other simply says, "Yeah, it's there, I piss out of it, that's about it." So don't lump every male into that boat that dicks are everything. Once again, there is much variation in the world and making assumptions and broad statements, even if it may be in the majority, still leaves that minority out there where the usual "rules" don't apply. Transsexuals themselves are a minority where the normal rules don't apply.
FTM is simply an additional term created to apply to males in female bodies and yes, the "T", as I understand it, stand for "to" implying there is a transitional path the individual is on from female TO male. This is why I don't personally call myself FTM. I can certainly relate to you all, which is why I come around here. I can call myself transsexual because by definition that does fit, but I don't even like that label either because of the psychological "disorder" implications. I don't feel I have a disorder. I just feel this is the normal, natural state for me. The only actual label so far that I don't mind is simply the descriptor, androgynous. That pretty much fits for me. So I'm an androgynous dude in a somewhat female body who's really into natural health.
ETA
I forgot to mention I've also known many male-born guys who developed "moobs" and are just fine with them.
