Gibsonesque

[Natasha]

Gibsonesque

http://birdofparadox.wordpress.com/2009/09/17/gibsonesque/
9/17/09

Elsewhere on the web a somatically-male, self-styled artist and gender activist who identifies as a non-passing, non-transitioning, no-electrolysis transwoman makes a series of deliberately provocative statements; not the least of which is the eyebrow-raising assertion that SRS and HRT for transsexual women are merely forms of body modification of no greater significance than tattoos and piercings.

Leaving aside this embarrassing display of a combination of ignorance and insensitivity, for some reason the phrase "body modification" reminded me of an idea developed by William Gibson in his science fiction short story Johnny Mnemonic.

[Julie Marie]

I guess the kid with no arms would be undergoing body modification if he were to have artificial limbs put in place of his missing arms.

I guess a woman suffering from alopecia would be undergoing body modification if she were to have hair transplants.

I guess anyone who wants their body to be more normal is simply seeking body modification.

Why do these nuts get the press anyway?

Julie

[Tank Grrl]

These nuts get the press because we give it to them, but when these nuts toss a 'bomb' into our online community like this person did, it's hard to resist.