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Downeastnc said:
Well I dont think anyone says it normal, I think even those that suffer from this disorder understand they have been wired incorrectly.....thus the desire for them to physically appear as they mentally perceive themselves....they need to be helped and treated so they can have the best quality of life possible.. What they dont need is a bunch of idiots telling them they are deviants and being treated poorly over things that they cannot control....
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Here's the things, though. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, that anyone who is born physically one way can do to change that. You can have a sex change and take hormones until the cows come home, but if you were born a man, then you are always going to be a man. Your physical body will always, for your whole life, be out of sync with your psychology under this scenario. And most of the people I know (and I have a family member who is transgender) or read about remain in turmoil. Sure, the world's reaction plays a part in that, but much of it stems from inside. You can't ever really be the gender you think you are meant to be, and you will always struggle if you go down that road.

It seems to me that it would be better to help the brain deal with reality than to try and transform the body into something can never be, which almost always leads to hardship and/or a life of depression. We, as a community ought to help and not criticize or cast them aside.
 
Jessy89 said:
Well certainly I think gender is based on what’s between your legs. If your brain says something different maybe you need a psychologist.


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The problem you have is you think gender is only determined by what sex you are physically born with.....that is not the case at all....we do not have the ability at this point to fix this by altering the chemistry/structure of the brain....its easier to make the physical changes to help the person look like the gender that they are....it would be immoral anyways to change a persons mental gender as that is more who they truly are versus there physical assignment.

health.clevelandclinic.org

Understanding Gender Identity

There’s so much diversity in how we identify ourselves and the way we express love for one another. Understanding gender identity can only aid us in our journey to better know ourselves, and others.
health.clevelandclinic.org health.clevelandclinic.org

“The male and female brain have structural differences,” he says. Men and women tend to have different volumes in certain areas of the brain.

“When we look at the transgender brain, we see that the brain resembles the gender that the person identifies as,” Dr. Altinay says. For example, a person who is born with a penis but ends up identifying as a female often actually has some of the structural characteristics of a “female” brain.

And the brain similarities aren’t only structural.

“We’re also finding some functional similarities between the transgender brain and its identified gender,” Dr. Altinay says.
 
Rain Cold said:
Here's the things, though. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, that anyone who is born physically one way can do to change that. You can have a sex change and take hormones until the cows come home, but if you were born a man, then you are always going to be a man. Your physical body will always, for your whole life, be out of sync with your psychology under this scenario. And most of the people I know (and I have a family member who is transgender) or read about remain in turmoil. Sure, the world's reaction plays a part in that, but much of it stems from inside. You can't ever really be the gender you think you are meant to be, and you will always struggle if you go down that road.

It seems to me that it would be better to help the brain deal with reality than to try and transform the body into something can never be, which almost always leads to hardship and/or a life of depression. We, as a community ought to help and not criticize or cast them aside.
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I dont disagree that for some of the trans out there that therapy is the best road and the vast majority never seek reassignment surgery, however letting these people live their lives as the gender they identify with is a big part of that, they need to accept that it is ok to be the way they are and that they dont need to be `fixed` at least in a moral sense. Its really one of the crueler ways nature can screw us up......
 
Someone accused me of implying that all the bad came from the Democrats but not Republicans. Let me be very clear here so you can understand better what I think. Republicans are a failed party of mostly spineless white men who will not challenge the Democrats on their "supposedly" core issues. How anyone can think that the Republican Party is Conservative is beyond my comprehension level. They are merely the least damaging of the 2 parties, but not by a wide margin. Whoever said Trump is his worst enemy is dead on target, he actually reinforces the negative stereotypes people place on him with his twitter activity and his constant bashing of those who disagree with him publicly (and that is the key word).
What has happened to the Liberal ideas the previous generation gladly accepted as their cause and proceeded to reason with the other side instead of using harmful rhetoric to try and bully them? What has happened to Conservatives who turn a blind eye to the massive debt we are accumulating, which we are fast approaching the time when we will not have the ability to repay, EVER? Unfortunately both seem to have gone the way of the DODO bird into extinction
 
My issue with the transgender topic begins when people start advocating for children/teens to be given hormones, puberty blockers, have surgeries. When those children/teens become adults and still want to transition they're free to do so but people under eighteen shouldn't undergo medical transitions imo.
 
I have a question for parents out there like myself. Would you want a woman to come in the men’s bathroom behind your little boy? Or would you want a man to come in the ladies bathroom behind your little girl? All because they don’t think there the gender God assigned them to be. I wouldn’t want a Woman in the mans bathroom with any of my 3 sons because that’s just not ok. And it’s worse when a man goes in a ladies bathroom behind a little girl. That’s not ok in my opinion


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Jessy89 said:
I have a question for parents out there like myself. Would you want a woman to come in the men’s bathroom behind your little boy? Or would you want a man to come in the ladies bathroom behind your little girl? All because they don’t think there the gender God assigned them to be. I wouldn’t want a Woman in the mans bathroom with any of my 3 sons because that’s just not ok. And it’s worse when a man goes in a ladies bathroom behind a little girl. That’s not ok in my opinion


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The people overwhelmingly voted that was not ok in NC then a court struck it down. Sad.
 
Jessy89 said:
I have a question for parents out there like myself. Would you want a woman to come in the men’s bathroom behind your little boy? Or would you want a man to come in the ladies bathroom behind your little girl? All because they don’t think there the gender God assigned them to be. I wouldn’t want a Woman in the mans bathroom with any of my 3 sons because that’s just not ok. And it’s worse when a man goes in a ladies bathroom behind a little girl. That’s not ok in my opinion


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Personally it does not bother me at all....you dont even know these people are trans, I guarantee you at some point in your life, probably even several times a trans man has used a public men`s room the same time you were in there and you had no idea and nothing bad happened to you or your kids....
 
Blue_Ridge_Escarpment said:
I’m amazed at the ones on here calling Trump out for his “behavior” are the same ones with personal attacks and name calling to people here. You’re free to say what you want at the moderators discretion but not a very good look to be doing the same thing you grip that Trump does to make you sour.
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Agreed. I am seeing several posters, most on the "tolerant and loving" left, repeatedly resort to name calling and personal attacks when talking with others who do not think like they do. I don't have a lot of patience for that. We are all intelligent people here and there is no reason to get personal, call people names, or call someone's character into question. We all have strong opinions on certain topics, but if a poster can't debate without resorting to petty attacks they should practice some maturity and stop posting. Just my opinion.
 
Iceagewhereartthou said:
Agreed. I am seeing several posters, most on the "tolerant and loving" left, repeatedly resort to name calling and personal attacks when talking with others who do not think like they do. I don't have a lot of patience for that. We are all intelligent people here and there is no reason to get personal, call people names, or call someone's character into question. We all have strong opinions on certain topics, but if a poster can't debate without resorting to petty attacks they should practice some maturity and stop posting. Just my opinion.
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I see this a lot too, and it's really baffling to me. I mean, I understand the differences of opinion and the disagreements on policy and ideology and the disapproval of bombastic comments made by political figures. But I don't see how you stand on a pedestal of righteous indignation and act toward others in the manner you just condemned in your last post. The doctrine of intolerant tolerance is alive and well.
 
Downeastnc said:
Its not that simple, there is evidence that shows gender is as much determined by the brains chemistry as the equipment between your legs. So imagine how difficult it must be for someone dealing with those feelings....it is 100% possible that these people have been born wired mentally one way and physically another, but it seems some just want them to shut up and accept it or consider them deviants, instead of trying to help provide a way to fix it because it infringes on what they consider normal or natural....
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The fix is to treat the brain disease so that it aligns with the physical sex of the person. There are only two genders. Trying to make all other non diseased people play along with the crazy in the head is utterly stupid and borderline evil.
 
Downeastnc said:
Hell redlining was and is still in effect to some extent today and was widespread even in the 80-90's.....

for those having trouble understanding how different things are at a base level for whites vs blacks in this country I suggest watching this....

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This is a good video and it highlights many real problems. But, I do not think it is rational or productive to automatically assume racism is behind all of this. It is fair to say racism is an ingredient in some of this, and certainly at the root of some of this, but there are many other complicated factors that contribute more immediately.

Since 1960, the black community has been decimated by the breakdown of their families and the havoc of fatherless households. Fatherless households (regardless of race) directly correlate to a tidal wave of financial strain or poverty (which is very complex), difficulty in school and achievement (which makes recovery from financial stress more difficult), an enormous increase in teenage pregnancy (which hampers chances of making changes and leads to multi-generational difficulties), a high membership in gangs, a much higher incidence of significant mental health stress (depression, anxiety, adjustment, relational and family dysfunction, etc), drug use, and other significant issues which greatly affect ones ability to improve their living situations. This is true across the board, regardless of race. It is further complicated by the fact that many social programs, originally well intended, were poorly managed and have fostered multi-generational dependence rather than serving as transitional programs to empower independence. Black community family breakdown since 1960 (while just one element of a multitude) is not about white racism. It's not even about systemic racism. It is systemic for sure, but not because whites are racist or the system is "racist." There are millions of whites and Hispanics in America in the very same boat which shouldn't be the case if it is about racism towards blacks.

In my opinion, blaming everything on white racism, white "privilege," or "systemic racism," hurts the black community (or any that clings to that line of thought). It says that "other people are to blame for our situation," that "they must change for us to have an opportunity to progress," which means, "we are at their mercy." Think how hopeless that line of thought can be. Why not send messages of empowerment? "This is America. You may be coming from a very difficult situation but it is possible to overcome it. Families must be healed. Father's must step up to be fathers. Finish high school. Explore interests and talents and develop job skills."

These are empowering messages. Many in the black community (and other) have done it and changed the trajectory for themselves and their families. Let's stop blaming and assuming, which lead to feeling victimized and helpless. Of course there are cultural issues that need to change and racism is real, but let's empower instead of victimize. Empowering and equipping are much more efficient, fair, and humanizing tools.
 
weatherfide said:
The fix is to treat the brain disease so that it aligns with the physical sex of the person. There are only two genders. Trying to make all other non diseased people play along with the crazy in the head is utterly stupid and borderline evil.
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There is no way to fix the mental side at this point, the brain is literally physically different its not just thoughts or feelings but structurally different....so you may have the body of a man but the brain of a women or vice versa, this is not a disease nor are people like that crazy.
 
Downeastnc said:
There is no way to fix the mental side at this point, the brain is literally physically different its not just thoughts or feelings but structurally different....so you may have the body of a man but the brain of a women or vice versa, this is not a disease nor are people like that crazy.
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Anything abnormal in the body is a disease whether the brain, the heart, liver. Just because someone struggles with something does not mean that it's right or should be some new standard that Humanity has to submit to. We are all diseased with something.
 
Snowflowxxl said:
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I don't know the whole back story here but this particular post is an example of the automatic "jump" or assumption to racism or privilege that has now become pervasive. Perhaps this group has never heard of this singer named 'Lady - A;" I never have. The irony is, they were trying (probably unnecessarily) avoid the semblance of racism or privilege and they were criticized for doing just that. If this had been an Asian or Hispanic group that did this would that also be called "privilege?" This mentality some hold that "they are always racist and privileged and I am always the victim" imperatively needs to be challenged if we are going to have an honest cultural discussion on this.
 
Gender is just a human’s term used to identify the two sides of the reproductive spectrum. Living organisms have one main objective in life, and that is to reproduce. There’s no denying that changing your sexuality to something that you weren’t born with goes against the laws of nature. With that said, I know for certain that some people are born with or develop serious chemical imbalances over time. Changing your sex does not address the underlying issue.
 
Iceagewhereartthou said:
I don't know the whole back story here but this particular post is an example of the automatic "jump" or assumption to racism or privilege that has now become pervasive. Perhaps this group has never heard of this singer named 'Lady - A;" I never have. The irony is, they were trying (probably unnecessarily) avoid the semblance of racism or privilege and they were criticized for doing just that. If this had been an Asian or Hispanic group that did this would that also be called "privilege?" This mentality some hold that "they are always racist and privileged and I am always the victim" imperatively needs to be challenged if we are going to have an honest cultural discussion on this.
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Poetic justice. That’s what this is
 
Iceagewhereartthou said:
This is a good video and it highlights many real problems. But, I do not think it is rational or productive to automatically assume racism is behind all of this. It is fair to say racism is an ingredient in some of this, and certainly at the root of some of this, but there are many other complicated factors that contribute more immediately.

Since 1960, the black community has been decimated by the breakdown of their families and the havoc of fatherless households. Fatherless households (regardless of race) directly correlate to a tidal wave of financial strain or poverty (which is very complex), difficulty in school and achievement (which makes recovery from financial stress more difficult), an enormous increase in teenage pregnancy (which hampers chances of making changes and leads to multi-generational difficulties), a high membership in gangs, a much higher incidence of significant mental health stress (depression, anxiety, adjustment, relational and family dysfunction, etc), drug use, and other significant issues which greatly affect ones ability to improve their living situations. This is true across the board, regardless of race. It is further complicated by the fact that many social programs, originally well intended, were poorly managed and have fostered multi-generational dependence rather than serving as transitional programs to empower independence. Black community family breakdown since 1960 (while just one element of a multitude) is not about white racism. It's not even about systemic racism. It is systemic for sure, but not because whites are racist or the system is "racist." There are millions of whites and Hispanics in America in the very same boat which shouldn't be the case if it is about racism towards blacks.

In my opinion, blaming everything on white racism, white "privilege," or "systemic racism," hurts the black community (or any that clings to that line of thought). It says that "other people are to blame for our situation," that "they must change for us to have an opportunity to progress," which means, "we are at their mercy." Think how hopeless that line of thought can be. Why not send messages of empowerment? "This is America. You may be coming from a very difficult situation but it is possible to overcome it. Families must be healed. Father's must step up to be fathers. Finish high school. Explore interests and talents and develop job skills."

These are empowering messages. Many in the black community (and other) have done it and changed the trajectory for themselves and their families. Let's stop blaming and assuming, which lead to feeling victimized and helpless. Of course there are cultural issues that need to change and racism is real, but let's empower instead of victimize. Empowering and equipping are much more efficient, fair, and humanizing tools.
Click to expand...



Its easy to say stuff like this, however I agree with it to a extent, but until white America stops pretending that there is not a huge gap on many levels and blaming blacks for their economic and societal issues it wont change much.

good explanation of what blacks are facing....

www.brookings.edu

Examining the Black-white wealth gap

A close examination of wealth in the U.S. finds evidence of staggering racial disparities.
www.brookings.edu www.brookings.edu

At $171,000, the net worth of a typical white family is nearly ten times greater than that of a Black family ($17,150) in 2016. Gaps in wealth between Black and white households reveal the effects of accumulated inequality and discrimination, as well as differences in power and opportunity that can be traced back to this nation’s inception. The Black-white wealth gap reflects a society that has not and does not afford equality of opportunity to all its citizens.
 
Downeastnc said:
There is no way to fix the mental side at this point, the brain is literally physically different its not just thoughts or feelings but structurally different....so you may have the body of a man but the brain of a women or vice versa, this is not a disease nor are people like that crazy.
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Yeah although we don't really speak much anymore, I know someone that my grandma has told me that when she got married, she blushed pretty hard or something. They tried to make the marriage work, I'm pretty sure she might have even had a kid or two, but ultimately she had a major mental breakdown (that her marriage day was foreshadowing to) that led to her having a mental disorder that hurt her in social situations. When my grandma lived in the low income housing next to her, she really helped her come out of her shell some, and as it turned out, the reason the marriage failed and her severe mental breakdown from it was because she was gay.

Not sure why they don't talk anymore (outside of my grandma got kicked out of that low income housing, but for a while she was still helping her even though she lives in a different place now), because I know for a fact that she really helped her out. This area/small town is really conservative in views but as far as I know, she does not get any ridicule for who she is. It might be because she mostly hides it though and doesn't talk much outside of people she trusts.

For a funsie, although I might have talked about it in here before, my grandma has not been on the voter registration rolls for several decades because it used to be that they would send you Jury Duty notices based just off voter registration. Not only that, but I don't think I've ever heard her say much at all on politics. If she has any kind of views at all, she keeps them very well hidden.
 
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Downeastnc said:
Well I dont think anyone says it normal, I think even those that suffer from this disorder understand they have been wired incorrectly.....thus the desire for them to physically appear as they mentally perceive themselves....they need to be helped and treated so they can have the best quality of life possible.. What they dont need is a bunch of idiots telling them they are deviants and being treated poorly over things that they cannot control....
Click to expand...

I think there are some significant problems with this line of thought though. Is altering one's body, demanding culture change laws, and demanding individuals support you the most reasonable and rational way to address this personal disconnect between "what my body is and how I feel?" The examples we could use are endless; starting with 'feeling" or "identifying" as a different gender or age. What if I "feel" like I am a really a bird instead of a human? Do I go to great body altering lengths to get wings and feathers attached to my body, insist laws be changed so I am recognized as a bird, and insist everyone who disagrees with me or thinks I am unhealthy is an ornithophobic and a bigot? What if I want to "marry" another bird? Do I expect laws be changed to allow it and shout I am being denied equal rights?

As I have said before, this is a very complex issue and has multiple developmental/relational/emotional/mental and traumatic points of origin. No matter how it is spun, psychological/emotional/mental elements should not be ignored. This is not just a physical issue yet we are being told a (drastic) physical transformation is the only acceptable course of action (and that those who don't support it are bad or cruel people). Drastically changing a person's body to deal with a very complex issue, especially without working on the mental/emotional aspects is not just irresponsible, it's dangerous and unethical.
 
Downeastnc said:
Its easy to say stuff like this, however I agree with it to a extent, but until white America stops pretending that there is not a huge gap on many levels and blaming blacks for their economic and societal issues it wont change much.
Click to expand...

I don't think I know any white people who don't acknowledge there are gaps between whites and blacks, in general; though those gaps aren't always present on individual levels, and there are millions of examples of those gaps being overcome. And while there are some, I don't know many who blame black people for those gaps. Most look at the factors, such as I outlined above, rather than the people themselves. Perhaps this is where I differ from many others. Instead of blaming everything on somebody else and depending upon them to change, I think it is way more effective to address the factors behind it and empower oneself to change their own situation as much as one can. Saying that only by white people changing can black people's situation be changed sounds incredibly dis-empowering and completely antithetical to the idea of fostering opportunity and solutions.
 

-DUI
-Fought and punches cops while resisting arrest
-Stole the cops taser and then proceeded to run away
-Shot in the back and killed.

Sad situation:(
 
Downeastnc said:
Its easy to say stuff like this, however I agree with it to a extent, but until white America stops pretending that there is not a huge gap on many levels and blaming blacks for their economic and societal issues it wont change much.

good explanation of what blacks are facing....

www.brookings.edu

Examining the Black-white wealth gap

A close examination of wealth in the U.S. finds evidence of staggering racial disparities.
www.brookings.edu www.brookings.edu

At $171,000, the net worth of a typical white family is nearly ten times greater than that of a Black family ($17,150) in 2016. Gaps in wealth between Black and white households reveal the effects of accumulated inequality and discrimination, as well as differences in power and opportunity that can be traced back to this nation’s inception. The Black-white wealth gap reflects a society that has not and does not afford equality of opportunity to all its citizens.
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Lmao. Damn. If 171,000 is the typical net worth for a white family then I’m black
 
Snowflowxxl said:

-DUI
-Fought and punches cops while resisting arrest
-Stole the cops taser and then proceeded to run away
-Shot in the back and killed.

Sad situation:(
Click to expand...


I’m gonna get criticized for this but here goes. The cops wasn’t in the wrong here the guy resisted arrest punched the cops. I have no issues with this. Sorry but you don’t resist punch police steal his taser. Stupid


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Snowflowxxl said:

-DUI
-Fought and punches cops while resisting arrest
-Stole the cops taser and then proceeded to run away
-Shot in the back and killed.

Sad situation:(
Click to expand...

Like I’ve said before, if you fight the police/resist arrest you invite things like this to happen to you. Right or wrong. You force the cop to make a decision which is usually explained after the fact as “It was his life or mine.” Take your loss and live to fight another day. Why Chance it? These cops ARE NOT scared to shoot your ass.
 
Jessy89 said:
I’m gonna get criticized for this but here goes. The cops wasn’t in the wrong here the guy resisted arrest punched the cops. I have no issues with this. Sorry but you don’t resist punch police steal his taser. Stupid


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I mean it looks like he shot him in the back..it’s ----ed up..but imo self inflicted when you start tussling with police officers.
 
Jessy89 said:
I’m gonna get criticized for this but here goes. The cops wasn’t in the wrong here the guy resisted arrest punched the cops. I have no issues with this. Sorry but you don’t resist punch police steal his taser. Stupid


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Yes and he also failed a sobriety test so I see nothing indicting what hte Police did here. Do I wish they could have tased him instead of shooting him? Of course I do, because I believe every life is precious to God and to me
 
Iceagewhereartthou said:
I don't think I know any white people who don't acknowledge there are gaps between whites and blacks, in general; though those gaps aren't always present on individual levels, and there are millions of examples of those gaps being overcome. And while there are some, I don't know many who blame black people for those gaps. Most look at the factors, such as I outlined above, rather than the people themselves. Perhaps this is where I differ from many others. Instead of blaming everything on somebody else and depending upon them to change, I think it is way more effective to address the factors behind it and empower oneself to change their own situation as much as one can. Saying that only by white people changing can black people's situation be changed sounds incredibly dis-empowering and completely antithetical to the idea of fostering opportunity and solutions.
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Its systemic and its not that individual white people actively promote it, but the average white person also has no idea how stacked the system is....black people by the design of the system are not able to change the systemic racism it will take everyone to do so. We need to see less of white people telling blacks to buck up and work harder etc, whites are quick to point out black success stories but they ignore the millions of blacks that are as qualified that were held up or blocked by the system. This feeds back into the low self esteem and personal worth issues many blacks suffer from and just creates a vicious feedback loop, sure some breakthe cycle but until their are wholesale changes in the system the majority of blacks will not have the same wealth or access to success that white people have....

I disagree a lot of white people really do think blacks are lazy and dont work as hard or that they bring it on themselves etc....
 
MichaelJ said:
Yes and he also failed a sobriety test so I see nothing indicting what hte Police did here. Do I wish they could have tased him instead of shooting him? Of course I do, because I believe every life is precious to God and to me
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If they shot him in the back then its a bad shooting.....if the guy was actively trying to taser them or attack them then sure but shooting a guy who is running away is going to play badly for the officers.....
 
Snowflowxxl said:
-DUI
-Fought and punches cops while resisting arrest
-Stole the cops taser and then proceeded to run away
-Shot in the back and killed.

Sad situation:(
Click to expand...

Highlighted why this will be issue, the officers were 100% in the right to do everything they did right up to the point one of them shot the guy in the back....reminds me of the Walter Scott shooting in SC back in 2015....
 
Guys I agree about not fighting/resisting but, the question is, "was killing him justified?" He was certainly unruly, but he was running away and apparently unarmed. Could the cops have chased until he tired, then tried again (maybe with back up) to get him subdued and cuffed? It's easy to armchair quarterback and hard to know in the moment but this is not a good situation especially in the wake of Floyd and all the outflow. I can't help but think this could easily lead to a whole new level of protests and or rioting, depending on how this is interpreted. :(
 
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