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.

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

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.