Thought Experiment: Body Swap

[Silver]

Hmm. Well to me, it's kind of vague. Like asking "would you like a 10 year friendship?" Sure, it sounds like a nice option to have. But the most important part of this would be choosing the person to do it with (if I can even choose) and then, do they have to agree? I think I would definitely want someone that I feel close to in order to consider this. You can't trust just anybody with your body, after all. XD And I would want someone who took care of their own as well and who knows good people. It wouldn't be a thing to take lightly or do on a whim.

[E-Brennan]

I used to play this game with myself, before I knew I was transgender. I'd see some random woman and ask myself whether I'd give up all I have to live in her body, not knowing her circumstance or anything.

I should have known something was up, because no matter how much I wanted to deny it, deep down inside, I knew I would.

That is me, exactly.

And no matter what woman I would pick - old, obese, ill, pretty, laden with kids, young, thin, cute, ugly, whatever - I would without hesitation swap places.

And that, for me, is verification that there's something ->-bleeped-<-ed up about my gender!

[Roxette]

I know.. likely my first post here... but ohh God yes!!! Sign me up please!!

[Shantel]

I have a friend who is convinced that if he replicated himself and then killed the original, then 'he' would still be alive. I can't understand this as although it would be an identical copy, with identical memories, the stream of consciousness would not be the same. One of him would still experience death and perish eternally.

I don't think you'd be one person in two places, rather two models of the same person. Just as all identical barbies in the world are not one Barbie in many places... if that makes sense at all.

Sentience, have you heard of John Hick's replica theory? You might find it interesting.
EDIT: I found a youtube video that explains it: youtube.com/watch?v=oQ11N5cI5nc#

This reminds me of "The invasion of the body snatchers!"

[Sarah S]

I would do it an not even think about it!

[Tristan]

You know what. After thinking about it I think I would totally do it. Would be fun to be a fella even if just for a day and see

[Jean24]

I would prefer the full experience so I think that I would. I am hoping that medical technology will become available so that we can reproduce.

[Tristan]

Idk if you bleed as much as I was after srs for the first two months you might just get your fill of the experience

[Alaia]

This is actually pretty difficult for me. There is a part of me that would be willing to do such a thing immediately and without hesitation. But there is also another voice in my mind that is asking all kinds of questions--mainly ones that revolve around how it would affect my loved ones. Would my family know of the change or would we be essentially stepping each other's lives, being the only ones to know? How would this person treat my family? They certainly would be a position where they could influence those I care about for better or worse.

I think I'd do it, but I'd have to be able to disclose it to my family and friends. They'd deserve to know about it. I would think that the other person's family would deserve the same. In fact, I'd be concerned if the other person wanted to keep the swap secret.

[Jean24]

Idk if you bleed as much as I was after srs for the first two months you might just get your fill of the experience

:0 That sounds rough.

[Northern Jane]

The very first TS person I ever met was FtM, back about 1964 when I was just 14 and he was about 18. We had "the perfect solution" to both our problems, a body swap, but couldn't figure out how to accomplish it! There was little hope for me and NONE for him back then so we would have done it then and there if it had been possible.

[Shantel]

I had this conversation with Cain before he had top surgery, we referred to it as a "Swap Meat."  And again many years earlier at a TG support group which was dominated by MtF types, two very female cis looking youngsters with all the attributes the MtF's desired for their own bodies showed up. All were aghast when they announced that they were FtM and were planning on all this surgery and body modification to become male congruent, we all wished the good witch Glenda would appear, wave her magic wand and poof we would all experience insta-swap! 

[Lilyyy]

i would love to swap my body with an FTM and i'm sure he would feel the same but I know its impossible otherwise old rich people would just be swapping bodies with young heart attack vivtims who die on life support etc.

[Lilyyy]

i'm saying that if body swap were possible we would alreay be doing it

[Nicolette]

i'm saying that if body swap were possible we would alreay be doing it

Exactly. That's why it's a thought experiment, i.e. hypothetical.

But it's true that people with physical disabilities (and money..) would be the first priority.

[A]

Eh, that's a difficult question... it would basically be abandoning my family, so I'd be sad and would feel selfish about that. But if that wasn't a factor (say, if we were in bad terms), then maybe. But people are important to me, and I feel like I would become all alone after the swap. I wouldn't be the new family's daughter. Just some stranger. And being even more alone than I presently am would be bad; very bad. But if, for example, I could go back to my family, or, in tbe absence of a loving family, if the new family would truly adopt me and love me, then most probably, I would do it. The most important factor is family bonds. You don't choose your family, but for better or fir worse, unless you have an awful one, those bonds can't be replaced just like that. And if you have an awful one, would you really inflict that to the new soul in your body?

(And to begin with, considering my numerous problems, a guy would need.to be pretty desperate for a penis to want MY body.)

[Jared]

I dreamed about it when I was younger. It's difficult to me cause mostly I like my personality and I'm kinda okay with myself except with my body. I sounded egoist I'm sure :'D But I still would give up all those stuff to just live like every cis person.

[LordKAT]

Yes,  I don't think it would be abandoning anyone as was mentioned earlier. Just as easy to tell family of a body swap as it is about TS and transitioning.

[stavraki]

I'm curious what people's opinions would be regarding this. Just a light-hearted fantasy question:

If, say for the sake of argument, an amazing new technology became available by which it were possible to transfer one's mind into a stranger's body, of preferable sex, would you do it? For example, an MTF and an FTM of similar age and health could agree to swap bodies so that each could live as they preferred, however the bodies would not be their own. They would no longer look like themselves; they'd see the another person's face in the mirror, have to live with the history of another person's body. But they would be fully cisgendered with all the right parts in all the right places, if you get what I mean. 

If I'm honest, although it might seem tempting, I'm not sure I could do it myself... I think I'd be even less comfortable in a stranger's skin than I am currently in my own. But then again, the functionality of parts is not of greatest concern to me. I just wondered what others had to say on the matter and whether anyone would consider doing this, if it were even remotely possible.
Just a silly thought.

Stargate Universe.  Idea's been played out in sci fi.

I'd certainly try lots of different body types, forms, shapes, and I think it'd be a fantastic way to see what the world would look like from different cultural perspective, both from within and outside that culture.

I'd say a great, great deal of the world's problems could be solved, quickly, if the technology was used wisely.  We did a kind of 'equivalent' here in Australia, on a documentary.  Australian women dressed in the cultural attire of obviously foreign cultures.  What they learned, quickly, was great empathy for social minority groups.

I also saw an MTF woman speak about life before and after changing her form.  She grew a great, rapid appreciation of feminism and empathy, because she found she was treated very differently.

cheers, stav

[Jayne]

I would do this in a heartbeat as medical science cannot allow me to give birth, although if medical science was advanced enough to perform this procedure then it would probably be advanced enough to allow me to transition & have children.

Due to my health problems however I doubt anyone would be crazy enough to want my body, my only hope for this would be to have a clone created, this would then allow me to have my genetic faults rectified. It would also mean that I could be transferred into my new body at a younger age to reclaim the "lost" years.