My perspective changed a lot after seeing how difficult it is for so many parents to set boundaries, and to face momentary discomfort for something that's far better in the long run. They want their child to be less anxious, but they don't set aside time for the earlier bedtime routine and the physical exercises we show them.

Thank you @wholeself-in I am interested in your perspective since I am a parent 😊

What I'm saying is I've seen our systems fail kids again and again, and I see this as no different. When school days got longer and recess got shorter and everyone got their own screens suddenly everyone had ADHD, and there's a pill for that. Then they put girls in boy scouts, made most male role models coed, started calling masculinity toxic and told girls we really only have value if we pursue careers instead of motherhood. Now more people are becoming trans and what do ya know - there's a pill for that too.

My deep and abiding mistrust here isn't about trans people, it's about altering development through medical intervention when so much can be done to support one another without invasive treatments.

Thank you, thank you @wholeself-in I have seen a lot of this too. I think I actually had a semi-hard time growing up in a society where male and female roles were not clearly defined.

I think there are some males that belong as males acting less masculine than they'd otherwise benefit from and visa-versa for females.

I can think of two analogies to help us understand one another. Cochlear implants are an invasive medical intervention that even I would argue should be done when a child is young so they might grow up being able to hear. I don't see making a child trans in that light, but I could try to see how your friends might see it that way. So here's the other: what if Christian families started giving a hormonal treatment to their children, which made them more likely to have a transcendental experience and to believe in God? Maybe it would be part of a confirmation ceremony, so only if the child "chooses" it, of course. Would you support that? Personally, I would not. Even if there seemed to be no adverse effects, and if I believed they'd have happier lives by this medical conversion to Christianity, I would consider this wrong. That's just not how any of this works.

Nice example @wholeself-in. I see your point but at the same time, I wouldn't want the Government making it illegal for parents to decide what's best for their children (I don't want the Government to have that much power) but at the same time, I also understand that many parents might end up doing the wrong thing.

All in all, excellent insight @wholeself-in I upvoted your comment with 100% voting strength