People Always Asking About Birth Name?

[JohnAlex]

Any state you can change your name under 18 --- however most if not all require parental approval

I figured that.  I guess I assumed that LordKAT wasn't talking about with parent approval.

[BloodLeopard]

How do you propose you get a name when you can't feed yourself, talk, walk or do anything else for yourself? Do you want to go through life being called anything and everything that someone (besides parents) else chooses? Changing your name legally is one of the less hassling parts of transition, it is just much more sudden in others eyes.

I would of rather been called by a number. >_>

[tekla]

I would of rather been called by a number.

From now on you will be number Seventeen (#17) - I am number one.

[Elijah3291]

I think everyone should choose their own names, it seems like a coming of age process to me, and it just seems natural to choose your own name.  Why should 2 people, who have known you for only a few hours, be able to pick out the name that will be used for you for the rest of your life?

[tekla]

It used to be like that, often babies were not named until a later point in life because they died at such a high rate in the first year so there was no sense getting all attached to them.

[Elijah3291]

seems like a good process to me.  Baby will be known as baby #1, if they last till they are 10 then they will get a name. lol

[Sean]

I would of rather been called by a number.

From now on you will be number Seventeen (#17) - I am number one.

And I am Captain Picard.

Go fetch me a sandwich. And some tea. earl grey. hot. 

[tekla]

I'm number one, you're only a captain, that's like the second lowest class of officer there kid.

[JasonG86]

I have learned over time that once I explain I am trans one of the first questions to escape the person's mouth is "so what is your birth name," it's something about the mystery that pushes people to wonder for some reason. But most of the time I simply say that I would rather not discuss that topic, and if it doesn't move on to something else, I end the conversation all together.

she needs to learn to respect you for who you are, and if you don't want to talk about your birth name she should understand. if not she is not being a supportive friend anyway.

[onep1ece7]

I still look female and go by my birth name so I have not had this type of situation come up yet.  But I think the reasons behind why people want to know vary.  I think some are just curious and we all know human beings are the most curious creatures on earth and want to know everything.  Which is why shows like entertainment tonight do so well and why people like to stop to look at a car accident on the side of the road.  So people are curious by nature and the ones that ask for a birth name do not realize that it can be a painful memory or bother the person they are asking.  So mixed in with curiosity is a touch of ignorance.  We all are enveloped in the trans world meaning we know the hardships we know the terminology, the issues etc, but other people that are not trans do not know it is like and therefore do not realize what we go through to become the men we were meant to be.  I can understand it hurts but to a degree we have to find a way to educate others and not get mad or upset.  The more people know the less ignorant they will be.  Of course some people are like brick walls and don't get it but at least we can say we tried.