If it were up to me, I would just legalize it all. You could take any drugs you were dumb enough to want to take, including heroin, crack, meth, whatever. All forms of sex work would be legal, including prostitution. And all gambling would be legal.
The only things about these I would allow laws for would be restricting access to minors, restricting public view (as long as it wasn’t done in an unduly burdensome fashion), and making it a crime to do stuff like drive a car or something else that endangers other people while under the influence.
As a woman, I can say that this is definitely true.
AND
men are much more brutal in their opinions towards other men who commit things like rape, domestic violence, nonsupport or abandonment of children, etc. than women are. YMMV, of course.
I’ve read that in criminal trials involving rape, male jurors are more *likely *to vote to convict a male defendant as guilty of rape than female jurors are.
You do get into some dangerous territory there, though. When it comes to things like dogfighting, I am a tad hesitant to call it victimless. Personally, I would ban all casinos and make people do their gambling over beers, or whatever. But betting on animals killing each other is a pathetic excuse for sport.
I went through a divorce after 20 years of marriage. I had more time working to build up my retirement and sharpen my skills than my ex had. After we both retired 25 years later I decided I should start paying her some money for this. Some people in my family think I am nuts but I think it is basically just fair.
By that same token, we shouldn’t assume that 12 year olds are old enough to know if they are cisgender. Yes, it really does work that way.
Who are you to tell me or any other transgender person what we knew and when we knew it? Did you know your gender at age 12? If the answer is “yes”, why couldn’t anyone else? If the answer is “no”, then maybe you had gender dysphoria or uncertainty which resolved itself later.
I work professionally in a clinical setting with transgender children and with children of all gender identities for several school districts, as well as with PhD-level and Masters-level child psychologists, physicians, and endocrinologists. They believe the kids know, and the kids believe they know.
I think most people (and I would include myself) wouldn’t feel it was the gambling that was the problem here. Having dogs attacking each other wouldn’t be okay if it was just done for the “entertainment” and no money was exchanging hands over the outcome.
A characteristic that is present in 99.7% of a population can be described as “normal” or at least “default”, and, therefore, does not need justification.
As I said, during puberty I didn’t know what I knew or didn’t know. None of my decisions during such a tumultuous period should be taken as confirmed, especially any that might permanently affect me. Ask me when I’m 16, then let me make decisions when I’m considered an adult.
I’m a cautious person. I think tattoos are stupid decisions, if you want to gauge where I’m coming from on this.
You’re asking for quite a dramatic cultural shift, though.
I’m not telling you what to think or who you should be, I’m saying wait until you’re legally an adult before transitioning. It’s a huge decision, and maybe childhood is too early for anything that permanent.
I recognise I don’t know shit about transgender issues, and never will. I’m certainly not against it, but I recognise my own ignorance. Unless I was going through it myself I can’t begin to imagine what it is like. That’s not the part that I’m concerned about. It’s when you go through with the transition that worries me.
This is IMHO, and a thread about unpopular opinions, so I expressed them. Please don’t condemn me for that.
Not to highjack, but another sometimes unpopular opinion I hold and frequently voice when angered enough: People that promote dog fighting should be dipped in steak sauce then locked in a pen with the animals they have abused.
I think a large number of people who self identify as Asperger/Autism spectrum are just lazy assholes who don’t want to get along with others.
I think DWI laws are too restrictive. Yes, driving while impaired is very dangerous, but .08 is way to low for most people. There should be a test to take to get a drive with a certain BAL license.
Transgender persons are found in cultures around the world, since antiquity. So perhaps consider the other alternative: that it is recognition of a fact for a small minority, and not asking for a shift.
What does “transition” mean to you? As I’ve spent thousands of words posting on this message board, bi child undergoes GRS (barring third-world or “doctor shopping” outlier incidents, such as the hijra cultures of India), and there is a long an detailed path of psychological treatment, social role adjustment, puberty blockers (NOT hormones), and then finally, after long work, hormones. GRS generally requires one be a legal adult in their country of residence.