I have a fear of moths. It is a totally irrational fear that induces in me screaming, pointing, shaking, and even freezing at the sight of a moth in flight. This reaction is especially strong if the moth is in an enclosed space with me. If the moth has landed and is at rest, I can muster enough control to get someone to help or to remove myself from the location.

This fear, as far as I am aware, is a phobia. I suffer from lepidopterophobia, which also includes a fear of butterflies, though butterflies do not affect me in the same way. My fear of moths is unrealistic and uncalled for, a reaction from my inner workings. My rational adult brain tells me, "Hey, it's just a moth, it won't hurt you," but my body reacts as if it is a rabid dog about to attack.

Labeling someone as transphobic is, in my opinion, far too kind. Transphobia is not a knee-jerk, primal response to the image or thought of a trans person. Instead, it is a calculated and insidious decision to hate someone, spread disinformation and lies, and generally make someone else's life harder than it already is. These people are not phobic; they are leeches on society, detrimenting the very relationships they establish. Someone I know once described people like this as "bottom feeders," which I think is a more accurate term for their kind.

Quote from: SoupSarah on July 25, 2024, 05:11:45 PMThese people are not phobic; they are leeches on society,

You have probably seen the meme starring Morgan Freeman, saying, "It is not a phobia.  You are not afraid.  You are just an [word not allowed]."

I agree that homophobia and transphobia are not really phobias.  But I don't think quibbling about semantics matters at this point.

I have this crazy notion that we do things because of something else. We are influenced by biological factors, environmental factors, and social factors. Sometimes we say things influenced by one of these factors, sometimes a mix of all.

'Transphobic' people generally have little understanding of what they are saying. They are generally strongly influenced by social and environmental cues, and have limited ability to think clearly. They fear trans people for various reasons. Binary sex is a fundamental understanding to many of them, and if that binary is threatened, then so might their other fundamental understandings, leaving them incredibly confused.

People with limited ability to analyse things tend to rely on other people to do this for them. They rely heavily on texts, be it religious texts, or social media, and we know how reliable they are... These people tend to group together, creating a society which can affect others thinking.

I also think that we are all different, we all sit in different position on the gender spectrum, and that sexuality is more fluid than we are taught. Most people deep down realise this, and if their social influence is different to their internal identity, they have conflict. Many will choose a social position and bury their own self, then any concept which triggers their self identity is deeply feared. People attack things they fear.

So I look at most transphobes and wonder what limited abilities they have, how much they realise about themselves and how much do they defer their own thinking to media, texts and societies. Remember, the majority of humans believe strongly in deity which cannot be proven, to explain things they don't understand. I pity transphobes and wish I could help them overcome their limitations, influences and insecurities. I don't blame them or hate them, and I do what I can to show them the truth. I believe education is the best way forward, but even among our community, this is not always welcomed. Humans are an imperfect species.

Hugs,

Allie

I don't think it's necessarily being too kind. I do think it has some degree of accuracy, though.

Quote from: SoupSarah on July 25, 2024, 05:11:45 PMTransphobia is not a knee-jerk, primal response to the image or thought of a trans person.

I would argue it is exactly that, to a large degree. Mostly because of this:

QuoteInstead, it is a calculated and insidious decision to hate someone, spread disinformation and lies, and generally make someone else's life harder than it already is.

Hatred very often springs from fear. People fear what they don't understand, and hate what they fear because they don't understand it. For some the solution is to educate and remove that fear by learning... for others the solution is to attempt to remove all traces of the thing they fear from their lives, through a deep seated aversion and hatred towards it.

The question becomes why do people fear trans folks? Or gay folks, or any folks that aren't the same as the person in question. I would venture that, in this case, it has nothing to do with the object of that fear and more about insecurity and feeling threatened by what it represents. Criticism always, always says more about the critic than the criticised.

There are a myriad of different ways people could feel insecure or threatened by what other people represent to them. Maybe consciously, maybe subconsciously. But this can be condensed into the idea that people fear because someone else forces them to look at themselves; their own flaws, their own insecurities, their own regrets and jealousies. To explore the dark places of themselves they don't want to face. And in doing so, maybe find things they don't want to find, see, face or admit to.

And rather than doing that, it's easier for them to try and remove that fear rather than do what most of the people they fear have done, which is to face it head on. Which is yet another reason to feel, insecure.

So... yeah I do kinda think these "phobic" terms are accurate for people. However, that being said...

QuoteSomeone I know once described people like this as "bottom feeders," which I think is a more accurate term for their kind.

They aren't necessarily mutually exclusive.

I also feel that many of them are just following the herd mentality, for whatever reason. Many will do and say things to fit in with the group.

I know this because that is what I felt I had to do. To prevent being bullied, I had to become a bully. In the hetero-society of the military, if you were not anti-gay you were questioned as to why not? Are you "one of them"? As Sephirah alluded to, I had to behave in a way that deflected suspicion from me. I learned that lesson the hard way by being attacked.

As Allie Jayne pointed out, they are not thinking for themselves, they are just following the herd. And by following the herd, the herd becomes bigger and louder.

"Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups." -George Carlin

Quote from: Lori Dee on July 26, 2024, 02:04:32 PMI also feel that many of them are just following the herd mentality, for whatever reason. Many will do and say things to fit in with the group.

Safety in numbers. That's why animals exhibit herding behaviour. Evolutionarily speaking. Those on the outside will get eaten first. That's why so much of the internet is comprised of echo chambers for people to find others with their own view of the world. It's very much herd mentality. I think we have somewhat of a natural pre-disposition to that as a species. Likely down to all the wild, fangy animals who wanted to eat us in our distant history, lol.

In one sense it is a phobia, I think but not a phobia about trans people per se.  It is an irrational fear of anyone "different" being able to share the same space.   

Phrases that crop up a lot in Britain are "women have the right to be safe" and "women need to be protected".  In those slogans, "women" refers, of course, to cisgender women.  Our recently expelled Conservative government joined the bandwagon by planning to prevent trans women from sharing hospital wards with cis women.  "It is just common sense" said the then PM Rishi Sunak. 

Things were actually going really well for British trans people until a single incident gave trans-haters a chance to direct their irrational fear onto "real" monsters.  A rape in a Scottish prison was perpetrated by an AMAB prisoner who self-identified as female.  The backlash, has been terrible, fuelled by the rhetoric of author J K Rowling.

I don't think that the Labour party in general will be more reasonable but there are indications that new PM Starmer may be more sympathetic.
   

Quote from: MaryT on August 03, 2024, 10:11:51 AMPhrases that crop up a lot in Britain are "women have the right to be safe" and "women need to be protected".  In those slogans, "women" refers, of course, to cisgender women.  Our recently expelled Conservative government joined the bandwagon by planning to prevent trans women from sharing hospital wards with cis women.  "It is just common sense" said the then PM Rishi Sunak.

The guy who thought it was a good idea to make a snarky, transphobic jibe in parliament while the mother of a murdered trans teenage girl was there watching, because she'd been invited to see what it was all about. Yeah... there's a reason they got wiped out at the recent election.

Everyone has the right to feel safe and protected. 

QuoteThings were actually going really well for British trans people until a single incident gave trans-haters a chance to direct their irrational fear onto "real" monsters.  A rape in a Scottish prison was perpetrated by an AMAB prisoner who self-identified as female.  The backlash, has been terrible, fuelled by the rhetoric of author J K Rowling.

Not gonna comment on her because... she kind of loves the attention. Other than to just roll my eyes. Stick to writing. You're better at doing that. Marginally.

But that's kind of how it always is. It takes one thing to set off confirmation bias. Ignoring the 99% of other things. That's how we work as humans. Focus on the things that reinforce what people already think, or what you want them to think. Ignore everything else. Ignore the incidents of indecent assault that goes on in prisons by cis women literally all the time because... that's kind of the thing with prisons. It happens because people can be screwed up... that's why they're there!

No, the trans thing is a way to stoke transphobia, so let's blow it out of all proportion because we want a certain narrative! And it works, sadly.

You're likely right and the new government might not be quite so mental as the last lot. Because they aren't trying to appeal to the far right neo-nazi contingent in the country. And actually care about marginalised people. We can only hope.