Ex-male Sues District Over Restroom Ban (she/he is a teacher wants to use ladie's room)

I'm going to leave the political argument to you and Paul. This isn't that thread.

I have no problem with your homophobia - only what you do to others because of it.

I'm not afraid of gays. I just think our whole society would be better off if we recognized their condition as a correctable maladaptation (mental illness) rather than some kind of normal behavior.

My reference to indeterminate genitals was an attempt to get you to "imagine" yourself in a similar situation to transexuals. i.e You are required by society to live your life in a gender role different from what is in your head - and to imagine how terrible that would be.

I know how terrible that would be. It is always terrible when one's perception of reality doesn't match reality. (Biting my tongue to keep out of the political discussion you started here.) The solution is to make the perception of reality line up with reality, not try to change reality.

Your recommendation is to try to change reality. I've had the same argument with pastors with no success. Sometimes people just don't like reality so they don't want to have to live with it.

Just so you will know, my mother-in-law is delusional. She thinks people are stealing her jewelry from her house and replacing it with perfect replicas that even jewelers can't tell are fakes. My wife and I are now pariah because we have tried to get my father-in-law to have her treated. He doesn't want to admit his wife has a mental illness so he just puts up with it. He and she suffer needlessly because there is help for her if only they would get it.

People have all sorts of reasons for not wanting to recognize and treat mental illness. I have never found one that I could truly call "compassionate."

Shalom.

Argee: I am leaving town for a week or so and must spend my time today getting things packed. But your's is a good post. Let me think about it while I'm gone and I'll respond more completely when I return.

In the meantime, here's something for you to think about - if you wish.

There is a very interesting article in this month's Scientific American. The gist is that smart people are just as likely as not-so-smart people to hold irrational beliefs. The reason is that it allows them to continue to see (perceive) reality as they wish it to be, which is something all humans aspire to - and because they are smart they are better equipped to defend those irrational beliefs.

I'm not implying that this applies to you any more than to me. It's just an interesting observation.

But the reality of nature and our perception of it are at the core of our disagreement. Only humans can be aware of the concept of reality - but we can only deal intellectually with our perception of it.

So it seems to me this is not a simple question of reality vs. perception as you state. It is rather a question of who's perception of reality is closer to nature - and is therefore more likely to work as a basis for solutions to problems.

Or, in terms of this topic, does the reality of gender exist in the mind or in the genitals?

Peace

Or, in terms of this topic, does the reality of gender exist in the mind or in the genitals?

Actually, reality only exists in reality, which can only be completely and truly known by G-d since man has limits on his perception, his knowledge, and his reasoning ability.

In specific terms, the reality of gender is in the genitals. The reality of masculinity and feminity are less straightforward and often lead to gender identity confusion.

If you read this before you go, have a nice trip. If when you get back, I hope you had one.

Shalom.

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