Transphobia: An Analysis | Philosophy Tube

Ancient Greek Scepticism is back, and this time it’s personal.
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Julia Serano, Whipping Girl tinyurl.com/ybuqerey
David Hume, Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section XII
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[@PhilosophyTube]

It's a bit strange to come back and see this video again now, having transitioned! I suppose it makes a lot more sense in hindsight why I was so interested in these ideas! A lot of people have messaged me in the years since I made the video saying they got a lot out of it, and the philosophy is still quite interesting and useful so I'll be leaving it up. I suppose there's always more to learn, both about philosophy and oneself! XXx

[@Nazhussain07]

❤❤❤

[@tchukkelz2246]

You will always be amazing, and you will have always been amazing. Stay great, Abigail.

[@Destructificial]

♥♥♥♥ The lies already start at 0:50, how can we believe anything else you say? 😉 ♥♥♥♥

[@mishaf19]

Philosophy me mommy.

[@leojardim0]

that aged like milk and wine at the same time

[@VesperOfRoses]

This was Abigail's "I'm not trans I'm just a *really* passionate ally" moment

[@cookiecat7759]

LMAOOO

[@vogonp4287]

Everyone has one at some point.

[@LMMolnar]

Yeah... I had a few of those before I came out to myself!

[@GetmanTheGod]

I am currently in that phase

[@davidibrahim7416]

@@GetmanTheGod same, come back every once in a while and keep me updated on your trans journey and I'll do the same :)

[@MM-bx4iv]

"I should say up front that I am cisgender" ⓘ 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴

[@dojawiththecat]

🤦‍♂

[@dysmissme7343]

@@dojawiththecat Lol I’m enjoying all of these

[@dojawiththecat]

@@dysmissme7343 yeah every video is a masterpiece

[@SunIsLost]

Yep

[@stirpiano]

*This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA

[@basilspaghetti]

"I'm actually incapable of being an expert on it." Abigail, I applaud the lengths you have gone to become an expert on this topic.

[@waytoobiased]

taking estrogen to really learn what it’s like for trans people

[@fernstone7850]

This is the best comment ever 😂

[@damonhawkes2057]

this killed me lmao

[@ambrosia7924]

The absolute dedication

[@loodvicheck_3693]

she really understood the assignment

[@joyflameball]

"I should say up front that I am cisgender. That means my gender matches the one I was assigned at birth, so I'm not transgender," she said, unaware that in three years this would be hilarious.

[@dusathemaid]

"Still cis tho" memes are a thing for a reason, lol

[@Ye1diamondOfficial]

I found it hilarious

[@pgood7266]

She? That’s clearly a male

[@Ye1diamondOfficial]

@@pgood7266 you're clearly stupid

[@joyflameball]

@@pgood7266 Loser

[@APaleDot]

"I should say up front that I am cisgender" Narrator Voice: She was not.

[@janmelantu7490]

Big Press (X) to Doubt moment

[@mikeman7918]

Egg moment.

[@yuvalne]

Lmao

[@juliafcandida]

"I should say up front that I am cisgender." Narrator Voice: "lol. lmao."

[@enderwiggins8248]

Big Nat moment

[@zegendoflolda]

Finally a cis person who knows what they're talking about. Edit: lol

[@caseygibson7981]

I’m sorry but I can’t stop laughing

[@harpersmith1400]

I have no words 😂😂😂

[@ashton450]

LMAO

[@zegendoflolda]

@@ashton450 that aged like a fine wine

[@muse5633]

😂😂That edit

[@NorthernKitty]

I was with a trans friend as she visited family who did NOT accept her as a woman. This despite her extremely feminine appearance, mannerisms, gestures, voice, makeup and clothing. They kept using male pronouns when addressing her and completely avoided using her name at all. At this family gathering, there was a child about 7 years of age - my friend's niece - that kept scowling and fidgeting every time they addressed my friend. Finally, after about an hour, the niece finally shouted, "WHY do you keep calling her 'he'? Just look at her - she's a girl!" There was dead silence for about 30 seconds. Nobody answered the niece, they just stared blankly at one another as if waiting for someone to have a good answer. Of course, nobody had one. My friend eventually smiled at her niece and, changing the subject, asked, "would you like me to show you how to fold a butterfly out of paper?" and for the rest of the visit everyone referred to my friend as "her" and started using her name. I couldn't help but think I lived through a live performance of "The Emperor's New Clothes" with a twist where everyone was claiming the Emperor was naked despite the Emperor being fully clothed, and only acknowledging it when a child finally spoke up.

[@FACEandLMS]

> "This despite her extremely feminine appearance, mannerisms, gestures, voice, makeup and clothing" Why would any of this make the person more of a woman? Why did you feel the need to mention this? You can have all of those things and not be a woman.

[@NorthernKitty]

​@@FACEandLMS The family was operating within the confines of cultural binary ideals of what it means to be "man" or "woman". She met those ideals, fulfilling the role to public expectations, accepted as a "woman" based on those ideals everywhere else, and they still refused to accept her. Until a child pointed out she met all the rules. What you believe or what I believe about gender and gender roles isn't relevant to this story. Whether or not you or I subscribe to those rules doesn't matter. What they believed and their stubborn hypocrisy about it was the point of the story.

[@Cieln0va]

@@FACEandLMS It's less of a measure of womanhood and more of a show of dissonance. She looked, acted, sounded, etc, like a woman. Presumably if you met her on the street, you would assume she's a cis woman. She passes. There's no mistake as to her identity. The family continuing to misgender her throughout the night despite this is in conflict with this. The family was too stubborn to realize that.

[@elektra121]

@@FACEandLMS In all honesty, it is EXTREMELY unlikely someone would have a highly feminine appearance, highly feminine mannerisms and gestures, a high pitched voice at the same time, do female makeup and wear female coded clothing out of free will - and not be a woman. Just name me ONE example. Only one. And please not "this person has or has had a p*n*s - therefore I SAY they must be a man!!!". Because, I hope that is not new information for you, "being a man" doesn't boil down to genitals. And I say that as the biology teacher I am.

[@MaticTheProto]

Children are so pure before adults teach them hatred 🥺

[@indigodeluxe]

“I am not transgender.” Abigail was extremely transgender. Protest though the lady may, there simply is no stopping transness.

[@katipunanball4799]

"Sometimes -gay- trans takes time" - Mr. Kim

[@lv4519]

I read this in the voice of the arrested development narrator

[@johnnyhammersticks243]

The venn diagram of people that can identify as transwomen and people who can identify as cis men is just one circle

[@aashycoconut]

LMFAOOOO

[@DellikkilleD]

@@johnnyhammersticks243 thats pretty idiotic lmfao.

[@ShiroNoOokami]

"I am cisgender" Oh, you sweet summer child

[@thedukeofweasels6870]

egg IRL

[@mai-ya-hee]

This was her enthusiastic ally phase

[@thedukeofweasels6870]

@@mai-ya-hee I think most of us have had one befor coming out

[@iliasbaker3870]

@@thedukeofweasels6870 does that mean...that i am....😳😳....am i....am....?

[@thedukeofweasels6870]

@@iliasbaker3870 maybe but that's something you have to figure out for yourself. I'm not trying to suggest that everyone who happens to be interested in trans issues necessarily is trans. But if you find yourself compelled to explore the topic to an almost obsessive extent it may be a sign that your subconscious is trying to tell you something. I realized something was probably wrong when my life consisted of nothing but getting drunk and staying up till 3 AM watching transgender documentaries.

[@senpaijecho1933]

"oh yeah, i'm just a big ally" famous last words

[@sandsoftime1259]

Yep. She's really just a big Abby.

[@alexonline2340]

ah yes, i remember when i was "just a big ally" too 🤦‍♀️ i guess its kind of a universal trans experience at this point

[@kettlefleet829]

jeez y'all making me question if im trans or not

[@carolinekopack3872]

Abi, two years ago, talking about trans people: “I just think they’re neat!”

[@elyelyely]

@@kettlefleet829 same here... A month later and I'm still questioning myself ;-;

[@muffinbutton2873]

0:50 “I am cisgender” Reminds me of when I went to an LGBTQ+ club and said, “I’m cis female, but you can use whatever pronouns. I do not care.” It was right there, and I didn’t see it.

[@waytoobiased]

omg

[@electronics-girl]

Reminds me of when I said, "I'm not trans, but I've always felt uncomfortable about my gender." 🤦‍♀

[@Armaan_felix]

Reminds me when i looked into what transgender and gender identity mean and thought "I'm afab but i don't feel like a woman, I guess some cisgenders feel that too." Then lurked around trans community cause i thought they were lovely, accepting and amazing people and then one day was like "Oh"

[@alansmithee419]

I identify as a cis male, but I don't really care for gender as a concept at all. Am I agender? Maybe, IDK, I just don't really care enough to identify as it. I'm fine with he/him and, in the absence of actually experiencing gender dysphoria, I don't care to take any steps.

[@uh8300]

@@alansmithee419 kinda how i feel right now but I'm a cis 'woman' but I've heard trans people say you don't have to have experienced gender-dysphoria to be trans,

[@selectedshipper8282]

“I am not transgender” She had us in the first half, not gonna lie

[@SunIsLost]

Yea

[@hubertcumberdale6221]

TRIGGERED Internet Philosopher gets REKED by her FUTURE SELF with FACTS and LOGIC (not clickbait)!!!!

[@ryanlocke1117]

ABIGAIL THORN OWNS 2018 PHILOSOPHY TUBE

[@eow4317]

LAMAO

[@hubertcumberdale6221]

@OG Master Cuz 2 Who? Abigail? She's literally trans

[@hubertcumberdale6221]

@OG Master Cuz 2 You're misgendering her right now And in what way has she been transphobic?

[@purplespectre]

@OG Master Cuz 2 Giving textbook definitions isn't helpful if you can't explain how anything Abigail has ever said here fits those definitions. You claimed she's transphobic, so the burden of proof is on you. It's also interesting you continue to misgender her, even after this was pointed out to you... hmm, it would appear that the transphobic one was you all along.

[@emmawatts1984]

"I should say upfront that I am cisgender" I'm not sure about that one past Abi

[@jjprempeh2508]

"well that was a fucking lie"

[@Joe-xx9yg]

Oof

[@mattpluzhnikov519]

She'd been performing so thoroughly for so long, she managed something akin to convincing herSELF of her cisness. 😢😢😭 (As I wrote that, I remembered reading that the Wachowski sisters had initially wanted to include a trans character in The Matrix, and have their transness represented by having an actor of the appropriate gender portray their in-Matrix "Residual Self-Image;" a concept that fascinated me the SECOND I wrapped my head around it (which WASN'T the second Morpheus spoke the phrase, but thankfully the rest of that scene does a great job of explaining/hand-holding), and for which I gained a new appreciation when slightly later I became aware of trans people and had the notion of transness explained/cleared up for me.)

[@joewilson3575]

Legit question, if a trans person changes their name after transitioning, when you refer to them in the past tense, as their name then or now?

[@emmawatts1984]

@@joewilson3575 Use our new names not deadnames

[@oonamorrioghanblackthorne]

I too disbelieved who I was. In childhood I was incarcerated in a mental home for children and literally taught I was mentally ill for being absolutely sure I was a girl. Later I was taught I was evil, sick and perverted. It took me until I was 57 to accept that the lie was not mine. I’m living as my true self now. The hard part is erasing the behavior I used to protect myself from my own self loathing.

[@libbychang413]

ouch!! 😿...

[@MossMothMyBeloved]

Are you doing ok now?

[@WandaThePanda]

I wish you the best! You deserve to be happy

[@natrix9651]

Sending hugs

[@Deepseadread6]

reading this gave me so much hope, i know this is an old comment but i hope youre doing immensely well

[@t.dominey4150]

Abigail: "I am cisgender" Hbomberguy: *breaks down the wall with an axe* "just one small problem"

[@donnkuhler9046]

Love this xD

[@Iruth27]

00:48 "I am cisgender" 2021: *play Uno reverse card.

[@Google_Censored_Commenter]

It's kinda funny how many people unironically go "I don't believe you're cis!" and yet is surprised when people go "I don't believe you're trans".

[@zbdmo4914]

@@Google_Censored_Commenter what do you mean by that? I'm having trouble understanding your comment

[@Google_Censored_Commenter]

@@zbdmo4914 Read it a couple more times then.

[@Deconstructonator]

@@Google_Censored_Commenter The difference is that she has since come out as trans... Did you somehow miss that?

[@Google_Censored_Commenter]

@@Deconstructonator Did you somehow miss my point? Yes, you did.

[@ehrichan6726]

“I am NOT transgender” that didn’t age very well and you sure got us very well

[@Cherrycherrylady1479]

She couldnt find her crown is all

[@teriyakipuppy]

Well it's technically correct. NOW she is!❤️

[@facundobiaggio8439]

@@Ray-9888 no she isnt

[@ehrichan6726]

@@Ray-9888 excuse me no.

[@AdrienPyke]

@@Ray-9888 watch this video

[@elisecode2212]

to me it's interesting when people are only "skeptical" about certain things. when i say i'm aromantic or i'm child-free, their response is essentially that i might feel differently in the future. and of course, we can't be 100% certain about anything in the future. but besides the fact that these weren't spur-of-the-moment realizations/choices about my identity and lifestyle, and for most people, they don't change, i'm interested in the fact that i have NEVER heard someone's statement that they DO want a partner/kids met with the assumption that they'll change their mind. when i say my favourite designer is christian dior, no one says "you say that, but you just haven't discovered the delights of nina ricci's dresses. you should be open to the possibility of idolizing someone else." this may be a bizarre and nonsensical example if you're not a designer, but that actually helps illustrate my point. skepticism is not a sensible response to a core part of who someone is, and these people know that, because it's their response ONLY to such things. or rather, their verbal response of "maybe" or "for now" is a mask for their actual, inner response: "i don't like that" or "i don't understand that, so it must be fake/wrong".

[@lexismore]

The world would be immensely better if more people were skeptical about the choice to have children.

[@gaaralee1234]

Gosh looking at this video and just seeing the artist formerly known as ----- being 'an enthusiastic ally' definitely something I went through before I realized I was trans. Actually it was "I'm an ally I love trans people" "Wow trans girls are so hot and uniquely beautiful" "Wow does it seem like a liberating experience being trans!" "Wait." "Oh boy." I love Abigail so much and it's funny though she came out like a good year after I did, judging by the timeline her and I realized we were trans about the same time.

[@johnnyhammersticks243]

It's crazy how every cis man can start identifying as a transwoman and their entire life of privilege is redacted

[@sydssolanumsamsys]

oh "boy"

[@snowoftheleaves]

yup, same, massive ally. just absolutely in love with the community. can't believe it still took so long for me to figure things out.

[@johnny--guitar]

"I should say upfront that I am cisgender." [Stares directly into the camera]

[@terpsidance.]

She's an expert now

[@HalfLight333]

@johnny-guitar Big fan of the pfp. You’ve got great taste, friend.

[@crumblefarmer]

Bold of you to assume my dad stopped being homophobic

[@user-eu9er6qz4v]

Good.

[@sorrel272]

@@user-eu9er6qz4v fun fact! Homophones are scientifically shown to have less cognitive abilities and are less educated. But since those are big boy words, let me put it simply in a language you'd understand: u dumb

[@ashleyford7932]

Jayden S. saying 41% doesn’t make you cool. In fact it shows you lack empathy a basic human function related to cognitive systems. In short your a dumbass and an asshole congrats

[@sorrel272]

@@ashleyford7932 I didnt answer cause idk what 41% is. Can you explain?

[@ashleyford7932]

Elfa YeYe 41% is the suicide statistic for trans people pre transition

[@teifan6674]

I love how everyone is back here just to, for lack of a better expression, wholesomely bully Abbigail's past cissona

[@Clumsy_the_24]

Thank you for the word “cissona.” I shall be hereby stealing it for my own use now.

[@teifan6674]

@@Clumsy_the_24 I hereby endow you with my blessing; go forth, my child, and spread the word of the Cissona

[@Clumsy_the_24]

@@teifan6674 thank you for your blessing, oh almighty power.

[@fally-64]

@@Clumsy_the_24 mom said its *my* turn to use the term as i still roleplay as my cissona irl

[@Slowdog09]

10:12 Abigail's conscious: I'll just use this egg as a fun prop, fits with the kitchen aesthetic. Abigail's subconscious: lol

[@vauchomarx6733]

You didn't mention Abigail Thorn, she's also a great trans content creator!;)

[@harpersmith1400]

👁️ C ⤴️

[@ahumanofthisrealm4230]

I'm melting from joy

[@2shy2guy52]

This is such an underrated comment

[@legalfictionnaturalfact3969]

with this many bot likes on a comment, "abigail" must have purchased a promo package! lol

[@ahumanofthisrealm4230]

@@legalfictionnaturalfact3969 why did you put her name in quotes

[@EloquentTroll]

"as for my trans audience, you can take the rest of class off and go to the pub" I'm sticking around, but I am drinking.

[@SpyderSeven]

Shit, I already finished my glass of pinot but I don't want to be a contrarian...

[@partydad1786]

sticking around until i hear him casually mention pansexuality. then i start drinking.

[@elinatural2058]

I'm a bit late, sorry, can I have a drink too ?

[@EloquentTroll]

@@elinatural2058 McCallen neat, enjoy

[@culturedantagonist9647]

Mm same

[@christopherpoff4117]

I know it's amusing to poke fun but like, as someone who was a closeted gay until he was in his 30s... Most people don't understand what that's like. It's not "lying" or "tricking people." It's being made to untangle a mess that was thrust upon you before you can even know who you really are.

[@lexismore]

YES. Let people live. We all get to shift and grow and discover ways of being in the world that feel more authentic to us as we learn more.

[@violetzhana]

I am writing a paper against LGBT oppression in the Christian community against my Conservative Christian Private school and I just wanted to say that, as a closeted person and a student, this video was super helpful and incredibly meaningful. Also the coleslaw section was painful to watch

[@heycat6167]

I envy your courage, I am also a closeted trans person in a Christian private school however I can’t even stand up for lgbt rights when teachers and pastors are being homophobic/transphobic

[@violetzhana]

@@heycat6167 That's unfortunately a natural thing for most people, especially when it seems like everyone agrees with them. However, I can tell you now, as a college student, that there is such a wide world out there of people in support. The chances that a random stranger would be in support of you rather than against you are massive and positivity in the world is far more common than anyone can believe.

[@SunIsLost]

@@violetzhana yea

[@SunIsLost]

So, how did it went?

[@isaackleijn3231]

"what makes you the gender you are?" to be honest, i'm not sure, but i do know that i was clinically depressed then, and am the happiest i've ever been now that i have transitioned. And for me, that pretty much all that matters

[@bugjams]

I think the funniest thing is when you ask that question to cis people. I asked a transphobe once why they identify as male. "Because I have a dick", they said. Okay. Then I asked them, if someone replaced their dick with a vagina, and gave them estrogen, would they be a woman? And they said, "Uh, no? Even if I don't have a dick I'm still a man.", which on one hand yes, can be seen as transphobic if you interpret them as saying a sex change doesn't change your gender. But on the other hand, he basically admitted that what's between someone's legs has no bearing on gender. Basically validating any pre-op trans person or trans people that choose not to have an operation.

[@Nemer49994]

@@bugjams Never ask why I identify as anything, I will bluescreen and need to be rebooted otherwise. I ain't even trans yet this question feels me with dread.

[@sinzones3909]

@Frankie ataraxia.

[@dupeaccount1647]

@@bugjams It also validates trans people have dysphoria. Because a cis man isn't going to want to cut their dick off and give themselves estrogen. Don't they realize a trans woman is not a dude if she wants to do either one of those things or both?

[@GerstoxParty]

eat hot chip and lie What if they say "because i have both X and Y chromosomes" instead of pointing to their genitals?

[@polishmapper5968]

I wrote an essay for school about how society needs to change to accommodate the existence of trans folks and used this as one of my sources- little did I know at the time that both the video's creator and myself were not, in fact, cisgender men

[@Gibon345]

Transphobes look at glass and be like "ah yes, the sand"

[@callmefox630]

I'm not transgender, but I believe that this philosophy can be applied to many other things. I have ADHD and my inability to focus means that I if I'm listening to someone, I lose my attention and ask again and again. (I had to rewind this video 3 times at places) And when people talk to me and think that I'm not interested in talking, or just deliberately trying to piss them off, I have no other proof to show them than, "I just can't focus" and that's the thing. you can't prove something to people with evidence if all the proof you have is, "I just am."

[@omp199]

But you can test people's ability to focus by testing them under controlled conditions. Give the test subjects rewards if they successfully focus on things, and then they have a strong incentive to do so. If a particular individual's score is lower than the mean by a statistically significant amount, you can state with some level of confidence that the individual has a lower ability to focus.

[@levhdv2117]

I have adhd and when I act like a total dumb nugget like today I put jeans on top of my Pajama pant a wore them the the whole day and if someone tells me to go get something I often forget on the spot then have to retrace my steps.

[@incognitoburrito6020]

@@omp199 I take it that what you're getting at here is that since a trans person can't take a quantifiable test to "prove" they're trans, it's not a "real" thing the same way ADHD is. But there's tons of conditions or mental presets that can't be quantified with anything beyond personal testimony, but that doesn't invalidate them either. Take chronic pain, or depression from my understanding.

[@omp199]

@@incognitoburrito6020 Feelings have neurological correlates. Labels don't. If a person feels pain, there's going to be some nerve activity that corresponds to that, and with sufficiently advanced technology, you will be able to detect that nerve activity. On the other hand, if a person is genetically, anatomically, and functionally male, there's no nerve activity that can invalidate that label of "male" and change it to a label of "female". "Male" and "female" are labels devised to denote the two sexes. They are not feelings, and they have no neurological correlates.

[@incognitoburrito6020]

@@omp199 Male and female aren't just labels, is the thing. There's all sorts of stuff about male brains versus female brains, but I think there _is_ a fundamental difference between most men and most women. You're right that no amount of brain activity will change your chromosomes, but chromosomes aren't _really_ how we define gender. In cases where they aren't XX or XY, they can barely describe sex. When we say "that person is a man/woman," we're looking at their dress, their behavior, their speech. Their karyotype isn't involved. It certainly wasn't when we came up with the distinction. I'm not trans, so I couldn't begin to tell you exactly what that's like. I also can't tell you _why_ it is I'm a woman. I just am. I do know that if I magically woke up tomorrow in a man's body, it wouldn't fit. I could check every anatomical box in existence and _something_ would still be off. Human emotion and identity is horrifyingly complex. Is it so hard to believe that some people were born with their brains wired that second way?

[@mythshark409]

"Before we dive into the remainder of this video. I should say up front that I am cisgender" -Abigail Thorn

[@Tavares0709]

-lol says her future self. -lmao

[@janycebrown4071]

As a Mom of Transgender Daughter, I am proud of you Abby ❣️

[@theredvelveteer4721]

[@joeshmoe4347]

I hope he gets well soon ❣️

[@fally-64]

i know I'm a year late but you sound so cool i kinda wish you were my mom hope you have a wonderful life!!

[@janycebrown4071]

@@fally-64 🤗❤ I hope that you have THE BEST life ❣❣❣I subbed to your channel 🙃

[@rosecullen4429]

This is so sweet! I love that nobody is taking the bait of the pathetic transphobe who commented. Sending everyone here love

[@ZijnShayatanica]

"I am actually incapable of being an expert on it..." FOR NOW. 💕 I'm rewatching a bunch of trans content I first saw a couple years ago, before I started questioning my gender in earnest [for the first time since adolescence], to enhance my level of understanding through a new lens. And it is so interesting how your path from hardcore ally to trans person is similar to my own & that of several other people!

[@Sheason]

1:19 "...and I am actually incapable of being an expert on it." At time of recording.

[@kidsoto7187]

@OG Master Cuz 2 what

[@siotsoni9854]

@@kidsoto7187 A troll. You can report them for spamming or whatever else you fancy, after which that specific comment is hidden from view for you.

[@kidsoto7187]

@@siotsoni9854 thank for the tip.

[@ahumanofthisrealm4230]

She should've cited her sources and asked herself about it smh/j

[@dirgenmeister4018]

sometimes its important to realize that you dont need a mountain of evidence to prove the basic reality of your existence

[@IO-gm5qw]

I'm interested in this topic and I hold the second viewpoint in the video, of "let people do whatever they want". I don't understand some things about being transgender and I wish to understand so if anyone wants to respond to my questions then please do: How do you 'feel' male? I know that I am male because I have XY chromosomes, but I don't feel male. I just feel like me, and that wouldn't change if I were female or non-binary. If gender is not biological and is instead mental, how do you define the male/masculine gender? Liking cars, sports and robots and guns? That's just stereotypes. A female can like that too. If gender is not biological, I'm not sure that I understand it. Although I understand that it's emotionally stressful to explain your gender, I'd like to understand in the pursuit of academic knowledge. Thanks for any responses.

[@anneidevdl]

@@peragens I agree, people should just do their own research instead of going 'Oh, you're trans! Explain it to me then, as it is your duty and as I, a cis person, am not obligated to find the information I suddenly want.'

[@anneidevdl]

@alice pereira Honestly you should never ask someone to explain something to you that you aren't actually interested in just to pretend to be nice and interested. Like the person above asking to have transgenderism explained to them. Even in just asking someone to explain they have already managed to be extremely offensive in the rest of that comment. Like how am I going to explain shit to that guy if he already has a very obvious opinion about it which he is not willing to change?

[@zoieholston4161]

​@@IO-gm5qw i'm a transman, ill try to answer your questions as best i can. gender is weird. I like dresses and makeup and frilly things but i'm still a man and i know transwomen who are very butch and hate skirts and dresses. clothing preferences and interest have little to do with someones gender identity. gender doesn’t really exist and it's pretty much what you make of it (if that makes any sense). so the male gender is whatever people who identify as male say it is, same with with masculinity. sorry if this was unhelpful gender is really messy and hard to explain because everyone experiences it differently. it'll probably be beneficial for you to read the trans authors in the description, they can explain this a lot better than a nervous 16 year old.

[@IO-gm5qw]

@@zoieholston4161 thank you for answering my question. I have done lots of research despite what others think. I have still not found an answer to this basic question. Firstly. Thank you for stepping up as a trans person and explaining your experience, I understand that it can be emotionally weighted. Secondly, if 'masculinity' is whatever someone wants it to be, then what actually is it? What is the point to defining gender? Of course biological sex exists and of course personality exists, but what, fundamentally, is gender? If I, as a cis male, enjoy stereotypically female things, does that make me feminine? I would think that this isn't actually gender and is instead just personality. Thanks for taking the time to explaining it to me, and feel free not to respond if this topic hits anything that causes hurt.

[@redrabbit6392]

To simplify, I felt like I was performing my gender most of my life. When I transitioned it took some time to recover from performing for most of my life. I no longer perform my gender. I'm finally able to be myself.

[@cameronhaynes8971]

I wonder if she saw this comment

[@MrJasonmay69]

I'm a 52 yo white guy, with two teenaged sons. I've always taken the default position of judging someone by the content of their character, and have taught my sons thus (thankyou Martin Luther King ). I realised while watching this, however, that I have at times, unwittingly, ignorantly, been Yer Dad (albeit fungus trimmed) with regards to Trans people and the problems they face. That said, I am always learning, and evolving, and I've learned a lot from this. My journey toward enlightenment continues, but I'm leaving Yer Dad behind. Thank you. 😁👍

[@rorysmith1133]

This really warmed my heart. Keep it up!

[@dooby5833]

I hope you know that this means a lot to me as a trans guy. It’s rare to see people admitting their past faults and actively put in effort to improve themselves. Thank you :)

[@amschu04]

"put Daddy out of your mind" I can't when you're looking at me like that

[@stellalee2946]

LMAOO

[@emmettrobbins7299]

M e

[@JupiterTears-re3ir]

Mood tbh

[@mel-qu7rn]

AHH SAME

[@Ryukuro]

I mean... Now that you say that...

[@Arthur-yf9yv]

It is no longer surprising that she has so much insight into the pain and frustration of constantly being denied the right to one's own identity.

[@jethomas5]

@@williamevans1708 Is it still surprising to you?

[@williamevans1708]

@@jethomas5 ???

[@waitnon121]

@@zeenuf00 "identity" as in being trans stop acting dumb

[@waitnon121]

@@zeenuf00 and yes being trans is valid. You're either transphobic or asking unnecessary questions for no reason

[@circesgrotto]

How do you do, fellow cisgenders?

[@MoonDragon00]

"i should say up front, I am cisgender" AT TIME OF RECORDING

[@guyfriendo2917]

Abigail a few years ago: "Before we dive into the remainder of this video, I should say up front that I am cisgender." Abigail: "My gender matches the one I was assigned at birth." Abigail: "I'm not transgender." Audience in 2021: Lol

[@johnnyhammersticks243]

What are people who don't have a gender?

[@CarlsCozyCorner]

@@johnnyhammersticks243 nonbinary, agender, gendernonconforming. There are many names for the the same kinda concept of not having a binary gender.

[@johnnyhammersticks243]

@@CarlsCozyCorner So I don't have to be cis or trans then? That's good

[@CarlsCozyCorner]

@@johnnyhammersticks243 If you want you could straight up not identify as either, yeah.

[@johnnyhammersticks243]

@@CarlsCozyCorner That's great to hear. Unfortunately it also contradicts with what the self described cis man in this video claims, so be careful if some trans activists think you're a transphobe for saying this

[@CycleGirl-77]

Yeah well, if cis people want to wear whatever clothes and be called by their birth names or whatever, that's fine with me, people ought to be able to do whatever they please.

[@eliross4740]

@Bob Bobbertson no

[@daffyphack]

@Bob Bobbertson Serious question: when you call them freaks and fetishists, are you actually attempting to change their minds, or rethink their choices, or do you just enjoy making them unhappy?

[@Diepvries11]

So if I want to call a trans woman a man, I should be able to.

[@iindiraa]

@@Diepvries11 You're not free from the social consequences.

[@Diepvries11]

@@iindiraa What consequences? Please enlighten me.

[@Starfox2020]

"I am not transgender." They had us in the first half, not gonna lie.

[@johnnyhammersticks243]

Are there any cis men who definitely could never be transwomen?

[@scrimples9419]

@@johnnyhammersticks243 yes of course there are, what kind of question is that?

[@froggy-tq6xk]

Thank you for leaving this (and other) old videos up. For new viewers, it helps for binging philosophy on youtube, and there's So Much value in the channel.

[@SELongB]

That “I am Cis” disclaimer aged poorly

[@SarahET]

r/egg_irl

[@marksanchez7323]

Amazing how only "cis" men have the ability to identify as transwomen.

[@DUWANGlai_kangyi]

@@marksanchez7323 What

[@adshille8987]

@@marksanchez7323 what are you even trying to say

[@marksanchez7323]

@@adshille8987 Exactly what I wrote. The only people who can identify as transwomen are male. Female people cannot call be transwomen.

[@lovasip]

Philosophy Tube: recontextualizing earlier videos since 2013.

[@chaoskiddo5996]

👉👈🥺 🇭🇺

[@emememememememememe]

"I should say up front that I am cisgender" Narrator: Abigail was extremely trans.

[@jayn5543]

this was the video that made me shift my perspective on trans people. funny how abby realized she was trans since making this, and i realized i was trans since watching it.

[@TrickyVic13]

"I should say upfront that I am cisgender" should we toss that on the "aged poorly" pile? in, you know, the best way

[@punkccorpse]

Very much so 😊

[@chinggiskhan6678]

More like aged like wine.

[@IrvingIV]

It aged like milk and became yoghurt

[@timothymclean]

I dunno if it aged like wine, but it definitely didn't age like milk. Whisky? Does whisky age?

[@magicrainbowkitties1023]

@@timothymclean Scotch. It aged like scotch

[@evelynglover3385]

here we see abigail going through the "enthusiastic ally" phase. in all seriousness though, its so amazing to see you come out!! this video actually really helped me figure out my gender identity and i still come back to it from time to time, its really reassuring and great! thanks for all your amazing and inspiring work u absolute (deserving) queen!!!!!!

[@skylark6167]

I think I was also going through that phase when this video came out, then I figured myself and came out as trans about 4 months after. I imagine this video helped at least in some small part.

[@laskyroo]

I didn't realize this was even a phase of things, but here I am now having just come out

[@teresathomley3703]

@@laskyroo Right on- congratulations.🙂❤

[@mostazezo]

lol i was that person

[@nataliarodriguez7049]

I was going thru this phase too

[@wizardapprenticeIV]

10:23 does that egg serve any significance?

[@perdu6603]

Everybody's talking about the "I should say upfront that I am cisgender" sentence, but I think 17:35 should get some credit as well: "That's gonna lead us to our... not conclusion, but our 'to be continued'."

[@mattploo5516]

"So I am not transgender" *this did not age well*

[@MotoCat91]

The statement didn't, but Abi most certainly did

[@Kaotiqua]

@@MotoCat91 In a weird way, that statement aged perfectly. I applaud her choice (and her bravery) in leaving this, and the rest of 7 years of videos, public. I'd be devastated to lose seven years of her brilliant mind.

[@Kaotiqua]

@@marksanchez7323 is judgey as fk, and yet, still manages to use the right pronouns. Bravo, you judgey fk. Bravo.

[@HalfLight333]

@Ploo on the contrary this aged in the funniest way possible

[@amyh3873]

@@HalfLight333 funny?

[@joeyshelley3179]

FYI: the auto-generated closed captioning fairly consistently replaces "transphobes" with "trans folks", so if you're Deaf or HoH and reading this video, it may be quite confusing. If I recall correctly, no instances of the phrase "trans folks" was uttered, so any place where one sees that, read as "transphobes" and the video should make more sense.

[@jamesclark7827]

This video needs to be updated with captions

[@bobbob5029]

This would be confusing for anyway you learning English too

[@CC-jg1cp]

give Olly the good captions!!!!

[@julia_ruby]

omg

[@BernardoPatino]

It's now captioned

[@Doctors_TARDIS]

11:03 My favorite trans youtuber, besides Philosophy Tube, doesn't publicly talk about the fact that they are trans. They used to have a youtube channel about transitioning but since deleted it and made a new unrelated channel that is absolutely excellent but I won't name who they are for obvious reasons. Some of the community on their channel knows they are trans, some don't. In a q&a someone asked them "what is the biggest misconception about you" and their answer was "If I choose not to discuss certain aspects of my life, certain attributes about myself, on social media, it is not out of disrespect. It is out of self respect. Because I do not owe anybody an explanation for why I am me"

[@sofiacruzcilveti6692]

The part about ataraxia being sold as a prescription drug made me laugh because one of the anxiety meds I used to take was actually named Atarax.

[@rowanlastname9878]

"would you really wanna eat an entire meal of coleslaw" *You don't know me*

[@pilarm.a.5976]

this comment was made by the coleslaw-loving gang

[@anthonykerr3509]

Coleslaw!!!!!

[@lescitrons]

I would chow down on a full meal of coleslaw

[@theblandcharlie822]

id choke on coldslaw with extra mayo with a side of mayo on a mayo sea with extra mayo

[@Jane-oz7pp]

This comment has big Bobby Hill energy

[@spencerkaminsky6943]

"Years ago, when I was an undergrad and I was 18, I was yer dad." -Olly

[@NathanKemp125]

We've all been yer dad; and honestly when I stopped being yer dad was not long before I started watching this channel.

[@hectorandem2944]

@uberkogle Severely underrated comment.

[@cockycookie1]

*Abby

[@donboo6692]

My son is 14 and transgender and i embrace his journey every day and cannot wait to see his transformation when he gets testosterone and all the other good stuff.. So proud and so excited for his amazing journey 🙏 ❤️

[@stirpiano]

you're awesome for letting your kid be happy (in a world where some people REALLY hate that)

[@donboo6692]

@@stirpiano im so proud of him thank you so much ♥

[@Callie_Cosmo]

i saw the social constructs video on this channel first, and then this one came up in my recommended, and i legit thought this was like a joint owned channel for a minute until i read the pinned comment absolutely incredible and inspiring transition, and thank you for the philosophy lesson

[@sunnirae1900]

My first revalation that trans people exist was in middle school. A male presenting friend of mine was asked by our yard duty if they wanted to be a girl or a boy when they were grown up. My friend broke down crying, hysterically yelling "I want to be a girl! I want to be a girl!" We all knew at that point she was a girl. It explained SO MUCH.

[@DeathnoteBB]

God my experience is funny cause as a kid I was exposed early to trans people via the internet. Like, those transition comparison photos. As a kid I didn’t get gender (turned out I’m agender, ayy) so it was all foreign to me. I knew trans people existed but I couldn’t fathom it until I got older. Then as a teen realized I don’t even _have_ a gender myself XD

[@Lylybeebee]

nie zesraj się robaczku Yeah, I guess you are

[@niezesrajsierobaczku7414]

@@Lylybeebee how dare you show intolerance and negate my gender identification. according to Western civilization standards (or rather their lack) for insulting a sexual minority, you should be imprisoned.

[@GreyeHazel]

@@niezesrajsierobaczku7414 I love how you think you're making a valid point when in reality you're misinterpreting the western world's more liberal view on gender entirely.

[@John-bv5ui]

@@niezesrajsierobaczku7414 Forgot Greeks and Romans were straight white fascists... Oh wait

[@WantSomeWhiskey818]

Transphobes are like people who say that depression isnt real because "its easy to not be sad" without taking into the complex psychology of what the condition actually is.

[@coolbanana165]

@@marksanchez7323 Women in general already are a subset of their own class... the class of being human. Are you upset that humans are divided into male and female, because it makes all people a subset of a class they are part of?

[@sentfromheaven00]

@@marksanchez7323 terf

[@gggggg6817]

@@marksanchez7323 mhhmm using big words and complicated sentences thinking that would make you look more knowledgeable. give us reasons, give us statistics, don't rephrase what everyone already knows to twist it for your own purposes. come on now.

[@marksanchez7323]

@@coolbanana165 You're confusing me with trans people. I'm fine with female people being able to define themselves free of males (including transwomen)

[@jotagroovy7479]

@Tailn O Wag my family in a nutshell

[@hughdanielson5436]

I see this video and I become aware that there are subjects where I am too ignorant to really debate my views. I would really like to know more about it.

[@sunflowersystem3650]

This is probably the fourth time I've watched this video and every single time the disclaimer at the beginning just gets me. I'm so happy you came out, although maybe you should edit in a little bit about how actually you ARE an expert on this particular topic ;D /hj

[@Sneaker3719]

Who else here just vibing over her video history after she came out?

[@erikarolinenorheim1640]

The feels. Go Abi!

[@ApequH]

Yeah! And I like the contrast between Metaphysical Skepticism (4:35) and "The man who isn't there". Because transphobes say that transgenders don't "really" exist while in truth the man they think they see isn't really there.

[@camillegrinnaux879]

Every dayyyyyyyy

[@funnycat9962]

Literally the first of her videos I saw was the death penalty video, so I’m seeing all these for the first time knowing she would later transition.

[@Sneaker3719]

@@funnycat9962 No sweat! Welcome to the show!

[@felicityc]

When I told my parents I was gay (and was still coming to terms with everything else) everyone was incredibly supportive. But there was... one... comment my stepdad made during the group hug. "Just as long as you're not gonna be like that Caitlyn Jenner guy, er.. girl..." yeah so I mostly keep to myself.

[@masync183]

Honestly, if they ended on "girl"... Well at least they're sort of trying

[@pokedon92]

I'm sure he just meant that he hopes you don't kill someone in a car crash.

[@Ross_mo]

I mean, he didn't dead name her. so that.. like... a good? thing?? just look after yourself, and find friends who you can be open with. One day you'll have control of your own life.

[@sasentaiko]

Ugh parents. Good luck.

[@Megacooltommydee]

To be fair, she's quite an awful person for a whole host of other reasons.

[@IsabellaAAH]

Oh that intro did not age well

[@sasentaiko]

When I saw this video in 2020, I was crestfallen each time Abigail claimed to be cis. I hadn’t even realized that I had formed a strong belief that she was trans. I actually spent some time interrogating that belief and trying to learn from my “mistake”, but I just couldn’t shake it in my heart. It’s not that I cared about having her on “our team”… she was just as good an advocate for trans folks regardless! I dunno, it was just jarring. And what’s even worse is the epistemological shaky ground of believing that I can (sometimes) know if someone is trans without the performative aid of the person saying so.

[@scouttyra]

I call it my queerdar, although it can apply to other parts of LGBTQ+ too, and most of the time for me it's more of a "that person is not entirely cis-het", but sometimes it is more specific.

[@scouttyra]

It's likely that we react to small details that are noticed and put together subconciously plus a measure of recognition

[@fractalcat3696]

"There's a big list of trans creators in the description" Does your channel name count as part of that list now?

[@gewurztramina]

Not quite. Because the topic of Philosophy Tube is philosophy, not trans issues.

[@noellelavenza494]

@@gewurztramina "list of trans creators, writers, and philosophers" would definitely include Philosophy Tube. The channel is run by a trans woman who is a creator, writer, and philosopher.

[@SunIsLost]

@@noellelavenza494 yea

[@ahhh4117]

Asking me, a transman, to explain a great part of me. Is asking me to explain one the most heavily debated things of all time. The Self. Which is already a lot to expect of one person.

[@franklinAll8735]

Ok, boomer.

[@DuBCraft21]

I haven't really thought about this in this way before. I'm going to steal this for the next time this comes up (as a trans woman)

[@thomasbrown9422]

I do expect it if you. I expect no less of anyone else, Trans or Cis. “It is wrong for anyone, anywhere, for any reason to believe anything on insufficient evidence.” William Clifford.

[@jvniprbrry]

@@thomasbrown9422 ????? Literally ok so if you dont understand everything about yourself you arent valid so no rights for you ?????

[@reyavispa1472]

@@thomasbrown9422 ah yes, the 2 genders: Strait and Cis

[@raymondf7314]

Her scooping endless amounts of coleslaw in the background made me laugh so hard

[@null8384]

I don't like this video's analogies, portraying fungus as an inherently bad thing. One day when the mycelium overtakes this Earth, that kind of sentiment isn't gonna be socially acceptable anymore.

[@MaticTheProto]

lmao

[@alexsere3061]

16:00 This reminds me a "debate" I had with a friend. Abridged version: Friend: transitioning is wrong, they should cure them rather than enhance the disease. Me: well, the overwhelming majority of the western medical concensus is that transition is the treatment Friend: how do you know doctors are right? Me: are you kidding me? What alternative treatment do you propose then? F: idk, I'm not a doctor M: okay bye idiot

[@randomalienfrommars0567]

@Stale Bagelz why say something so controversial yet so brave

[@minnion2871]

@Stale Bagelz Well seems like a lot of the controversy boils down to not having a clear consensus on what defines a gender, how many genders there are and what defines a man and a woman as a man and a woman.... (Many like to base it in biological functions unique to cis gendered people, and dislike that people want to alter the meanings of existing labels because they buy into the performative theory... then it turns into a confusing mess with all of these new labels for "non-binary" genders(Especially since most non binary genders seem purely performative, and frequently redundant... and the performances often don't fall outside of what would be accepted a normal for whatever gender said non-binary gender most often gets "misgendered" as.) Throw in "trans" people who identify as such for reasons other than because they have gender dysphoria... (Some may be trying to distance themselves from some past trauma by trying to become a completely different person, some may have a pathological and unhealthy obsession with attention, or a victim complex where they adopt the trans label for attention or to be seen as a victim) I think the first step to dealing with the whole trans thing is through study and mental screening of those who identify as trans to figure out why they've adopted the label, and then treat them as needed from there.... (Such as consoling or support groups for those who don't have dysphoria but suffer other issues that cause them to masquerade as someone with dysphoria...) Point is, to deal with trans rights first we need to come to a consensus on what gender is, what it is to truly be trans, and how to prevent pretenders from using it as a political shield for personal gain...

[@TheStygian]

Sure.

[@LucIndustries]

circular reasoning works because circular reasoning works because circular reasoning works....

[@sebastiangalger8800]

There are ways to treat gender dysphoria besides transition. Transitioning is a cure yes, but maybe your friend thought the physical dangers (which there are you can’t deny that) made that method less preferable to a more psychiatrically charged method of treating the condition. He might not have known exactly how you treat gender dysphoria aside from transitioning, that doesn’t make his point invalid. Not everyone who disagrees with you and or doesn’t know how to fully communicate their argument is an idiot. That or you made this up.

[@nickhelder212]

I was a Yer Dad, all the way up until... I realized I'm trans. It's really common

[@Azereiah]

Almost the same deal here. It took until I was 24 for me to be exposed to enough people to realize that people were just people, and that being myself was okay by extension. I figured out I was trans the next year. That pseudo-kindness from a position of comfort takes a long time to wear away to something real.

[@gamj7509]

Same ; -; but I'm happier than ever now.

[@lokiokvltys4667]

Same here Something about fighting yourself just makes you a semi-contained asshole

[@concretenema]

@Bob Bobbertson what are you trying to say?

[@concretenema]

@Bob Bobbertson Do you even have the slightest idea of what the Frankfurt school was about? Your comment doesn't make sense and yes, I reported your for spreading hate and misinformation. How is being trans a threat to yourself or even to other people? There's studies a click away from you that show transitioning decreases the risk of suicide for the majority of trans people.

[@emememememememememe]

Imagine if after hearing "down in the description there's a big list of trans creators and writers and philosophers" you go into the description and it's just a link to the Philosophy Tube channel.

[@chromacat248]

> I am cisgender alright who's gonna tell her

[@unknownglitch7027]

*him

[@chromacat248]

@@unknownglitch7027 which one of us has been whooooshed

[@Doctor_Straing_Strange]

@@unknownglitch7027 not anymore, bitch

[@nikemaraje5]

@@unknownglitch7027 stupid game

[@mizu2052]

@@unknownglitch7027 her*

[@dangreen3868]

on the subject of why trans people might not want to debate their gender with you- it can be very mentally taxing. explaining to you why I'm non-binary requires diving into my dysphoria, my mental health, and bittersweet childhood memories, all of which are painful subjects that if treated poorly can leave me in a very dangerous place mentally. and spending years of your life arguing with people about something core to who you are leaves you with a lot of self hatred, and you can find yourself not trusting your own feelings. I'm now working on undoing years of self hatred and trying to solve my horrid intrusive thoughts, all while still trying to get through high school. if you're wondering why trans people have such high rates of suicide and depression, this is a huge reason why. so if you're genuinely interested in better understanding trans people, which I think many of these people are, keep in mind that this is a dangerous and painful topic for us and find someone willing to talk, and be sensitive to how you discuss the topic.

[@akashpisharody]

Great point.

[@elizathegamer413]

Hey, great point! As someone who struggles with my own gender identity (I can't pretend however that my experience is the same), I am very proud of you for continuing to go on with your life. Ultimately, I can say that you are who you are, and that's not something anyone can or should try to control. Best of luck to ya!

[@novaroseoooooo]

Eyyyy good to see another enby out there! Just thinking of having to explain myself like that gives me major anxiety, and it's why I haven't done as much to express my gender the way I want as I would have liked to by now. And the truth is that I don't know why I'm non-binary; I just am. I don't have access to the kind of extensive research that is still being done and needs to be done in the future to help me explain what's going on in my brain, nor do I have adequate access to language that can correctly convey my explanation. I'm sort of just left with the response that as soon as I learned that non-binary gender identities were possible, everything clicked for me. I guess I could go into my history of never fitting in growing up, how I hated the division between boys and girls and it never made sense to me, and how the more I can perform gender neutrality the happier I feel, but that's about as much as I can explain. I hope your journey is headed in a positive direction and that you have plenty of supportive people in your life, because this shit isn't easy, especially if you're still in HS.

[@xenonsan3110]

Idk what I am, if anything I'm agender (it doesn't really matter to me). Not really anyone knows it and I don't care how people refer to me so it's all good. But I was like that when I came out as lesbian. I had the pastor of my church (that later kicked me out) try to get me to meet with him and his wife to discuss stuff. I'm much more comfortable with myself now but, at the time, I didn't really have any allies besides my college friends and girlfriend. My parents were struggling with it so I wasn't getting any support from them (I now do though!). Suffice to say I just flat out refused to meet with them for the same reasons you listed. Wasn't going to change their mind and all it would do is make me struggle with myself more, which I knew is what they wanted to do!

[@flyhighskyguy9972]

I don’t think your sexuality/sexual identification should be a core part to you. I shouldn’t want to be your friend because I’m gay, and I don’t want to be like, no, not funny dan, non-binary Dan. I want to say cool dan or gamer dan. Non binary is a part of you but ultimately not your personality but your sexuality, which are very much separate. Make your personality outgoing and kind, rather than non binary and obnoxious.

[@stack_overflow]

Despite being unable to see the pain of others, we still invented pain killers in good faith. Refuting the existence of trans people would be akin to saying all those who take pain killers are just drug-seekers, unless they could prove they were in pain.

[@Gooberpatrol66]

That's completely irrelevant, as this video is arguing against a position of giving the medicine anyways, i.e. "let trans people do whatever they want". It would only be a valid comparison if, after giving the medicine, we were to sit down and have a discussion about whether pain "metaphysically" exists, or if it is merely manufactured by our minds, and subjectively disagreeable.

[@louisj2256]

That has the seed of something clever in it, but the comparison you draw isn't perfect. Most cis people (I think) don't ever actually experience or question gender - hence the popular thought that sex &gender are one and the same. Only someone with a discrepancy between their sex &their gender identity actually knows what it feels like to be in the wrong body, for the rest of us the two simply meld together

[@thomasbrown9422]

That’s a terrible comparison. First, everyone feels pain, so that’s something that was never in doubt, but only a very small number of people are trans, so most people don’t have access to the experience of being trans. Second off, the sensation of gender disforia or feeling like a certain gender isn’t what is being called into question. It’s a matter of if trans people are a certain kind of person. I agree with you, they are the kind of person they say they are, but my agreeing with you doesn't excuse bad arguments.

[@RivkahSong]

Yeah that's a thing that's ALSO currently happening. The government is making doctors limit what medications pain patients can take, for how long, and what strength on the idea that one set dose can serve to eliminate the pain of all sufferers regardless of body size, injuries, illnesses, medical history, or how long they've taken the medication. They insist that unless you have cancer that your chronic pain isn't a real problem and won't be dealt with according to your specific medical history and your doctor's experience with you and that illness/issue but just with a one size fits all solution. Even though ACTUAL doctors have been telling them for a decade that's not how bodies, pain, or medicine works. They tell us that since we don't have cancer we must just be pill seekers despite all research showing chronic pain sufferers are actually the LEAST likely to abuse prescription pain meds.

[@4204799]

i really like this argument

[@starcrafter13terran]

I didn't have a lot of contact with trans people at all for most of my life. I lived in california, so you would think it would have been different (bay area btw), but it really wasn't. Later in life, I got to see firsthand some transphobia and hate being thrown on trans people. I saw people do some horribly inhumane things to trans people. Men, women, rich, poor, it just didn't matter the background. It was actually so bad it shocked me. But what shocked me more was when someone was kind and inclusive to them. It was so rare, that I could hardly believe what I was seeing. Remember, in order to transition, they must be diagnosed with a mental disorder. Some must forever hide how they feel and live out a life that they dread. Some even lose their lives in pursuit of their dreams. I feel really bad, because for years I didn't know what was happening until I was well into adulthood.

[@purincore320]

It's incredibly sad how bigoted some people can be, but I have to say that you don't need to be diagnosed with gender dysphoria to transition. Take it from a trans man. Being transgender is simply identifying more with a different gender than the one you're expected to identify with based on your birth sex, it isn't a problem that needs to be 'cured' by transitioning. It's just another normal identity.

[@farfetchdthegamer3810]

This video is the embodiment of “still cis tho”

[@PaxPirate]

I had a really rough conversation with my dad this Sunday, where he spoke up on my trans identify for the first time ever. And stated that "I could never be any other gender than what I was born as". It hurt so incredibly much. We had spoken for ages and I had done my best to explain my view of gender, but somehow he kept going back to that idea of gender being biological and set. I could not win. It felt like losing my dad. I just got recommended this video and it affirmed so many of my experiences. Thank you.

[@Ross_mo]

my parents struggled with understanding too. honestly, I moved out, and I focused on healing myself. It also gave them time to process a bit. I was actually able to have a productive conversation with my dad recently (after 3 years), where I explained the idea of gender as a social construct in a way he could understand. the conversation was only successful because after that period of time, he was open to learning, and I had come to a place where I had the words to talk on his level about it.

[@michellejean11]

He needs the therapy but you may have to get it to deal with the hurt. Hope he comes around and accepts you for you.

[@solo-mons]

Maybe say that yes, gender is biological, but in the brain. You can’t see gender. You can only feel it. Sex is physical. Gender is neurological. Structural. And it can’t be changed any more than your chromosomes can be. Trans people just so happen to have the wrong sex for their brains.

[@solo-mons]

Also fellow trans person here. I get that shit is hard. Another alternative may be… giving up the conversation. Don’t invest too much into having someone change their mind if they’re not changing it after arguments upon arguments. It’s not worth it. Only causes pain long term.

[@hamza_ali_]

Gender is not a social construct please stop denying truths however gender roles are a social construct

[@elena-ye4qt]

so we're all here after the coming out video right?

[@cockycookie1]

You know it

[@yourchaoticadhdfriend3523]

Yup

[@vladimir8891]

Yep

[@maxmetodiev641]

Yeah

[@starpasta]

Yup, pretty much

[@pin00ch]

Just discovered the channel. Abi, you really are amazing. Inspirational actually and Im a misereable old git that dont get ...inspired. Totally totally TOTALLY subbed.

[@hauthot287]

0:49 wrong

[@benjoabate2091]

I love the phrase "ask three scholars and you'll get four answers"

[@lydiasteinebendiksen4269]

It's axtually true though, many scholars will be like "well there are actually many schools of thought on that, some people believe x, which has a bunch of problems according to some, but what I bellieve is y though in truth It's hard to know for sure".

[@mattjohnston2]

I've always heard it with "economists", but it works the same!

[@bellerian9896]

"I am cisgender" bold assumption Abby, bold assumption

[@ZeromayeakaTman]

Sincerely thank you Abigail for keeping this video up, each time I watch I gain another perspective and tidbit of information to think about.

[@TheClarity101]

When the first minute ages like milk in the best way

[@shiftychaos]

Very specifically wording being transgender as "identifying as a different gender than the one you were assigned at birth" rather than "identifying as the opposite gender than the one you were assigned at birth" was a nice touch. Warmed my soft little nonbinary heart.

[@jsveterans6949]

:) pleasant to read and I learned something! Yay! I was not aware this verbiage was important. Thank you.

[@becca7596]

JS Veterans it’s not, non binary doesn’t mean trans it’s a political identity different from being trans like punk, emo, hippy or scene.

[@jsveterans6949]

@@becca7596 Ahh, I was referring to the concept of saying "different than gender assigned at birth" vs "opposite gender than assigned at birth". I was not away that this phrasing was important to peeps, but in hind-sight, I see why it is (as I educate myself on the topic).

[@becca7596]

JS Veterans yeah I’m saying it’s not important to trans people just folks who want to pretend to be trans for oppression points

[@jsveterans6949]

@@becca7596 Um... K? I'm just trying to navigate a potential situation and not come off as an ass.... I've had hardships in life, but society makes every minute in public difficult for trans-gendered individuals and I don't want to exaggerate their pain... So, please keep it genuine because I can't tell atm.

[@gfox-ck5xx]

'I am cisgender' Well that aged horribly.

[@aarons8711]

+++

[@betalars]

I think it aged quite wonderful. I mean think of all the wholesome trans jokes we've missed out on if it weren't for that statement :3 We need more wholesome trans jokes!

[@frostflaggermus]

nah, it aged hilariously

[@gfox-ck5xx]

@@frostflaggermus depends how you look at it.

[@aydenr5467]

@@gfox-ck5xx Ataraxia

[@clarissanavarro2762]

I am up to 11:08,... and I thought a good answer to "Hows do you Know?" " How do you know?" would be " How do you know your gender?" Then It reminded me of the Joke Abi Thorn told on Trans-atlantic call in show the other day... " What is the difference between a trans person, and a cis person?" Answer: " One of them Knows what gender they are, the other is a cis person." now I got it. LOL...

[@BG-wz1iu]

Wow you seem so chill and awesome to hang out with even though you’re talking about heave stuff. My first video of you is when you came out as Abigail so seeing you like this is weird but I respect the journey you had. I think it helped me realise that a similar journey is ahead of me.

[@linkisanactualbear1414]

once you were Yer Dad, and now you're Daddy

[@sethorama4702]

But who is baby?

[@MrElionor]

@@sethorama4702 We all are

[@sethorama4702]

@@MrElionor thx comrade

[@MrElionor]

@@sethorama4702 ✌

[@theravenmonarch9441]

@@DonPipirulando The only "cure" for gender dysphoria is transitioning, that may or may not includes hormones and medical procedures. The conversion therapies and such are just evil and should just be stopped, they do the opposite in fact.

[@asherlewis5974]

when I came out to my best friend, at first when he started with "whatever someone wants to do it fine" I thought he would continue with "it's your choice" but what he did say, which surprised me, was "like, if someone wants to be who they are that's great, and I don't want you to be afraid to do that." And has since shown that he sees me as valid. He doesn't fully understand, but he respectfully asks me questions and sees me as who I am. He's a good friend of mine, the first person I really opened up to at my school, which makes me really happy.

[@YeahForSure99]

So you aren't 'valid' until someone starts kissing your ass? I have to ask you about your sexuality and all its intricacies and constantly show support for you to feel valid? Give me a break.

[@r_kayne]

I'm really happy you have such a supportive friend, and I hope that he has continued his support over these three months. Wherever you are out there, I hope you're doing well

[@r_kayne]

@@YeahForSure99 I think you've confused "kissing [one's] ass" with "trying to understand the experiences of someone else." But that could just be me. Not quite sure why you had to be so hostile. Seems like maybe you could use a little bit of support.

[@Puerco-Potter]

What your friend said was the solution I was looking for... Thanks, I couldn't grasp a better alternative to "let people do what they want", and had been troubled with it for months. But "let people be what they are" is perfect. I needed a way to show I care and validate the feelings of the person without judging them but couldn't get it into words.

[@-SuperCraigIsGay-]

@@YeahForSure99 Have you never had a friend in your entire life? Last I checked, minus your overly exaggerated and edgy take on being nice to your friend means "kissing ass," that's exactly the key to being a good friend - supporting your friends. If you don't support your friends, then you're likely to not be a very good friend.

[@Theroha]

The truly honest asking of the "how do you know" question really can be a good question for cis people to ask if the person they are asking is themselves. As a cis man who spends a lot of time around the trans community, I asked the question to myself. The answer I gave myself was: "How would you feel if everyone started calling you ma'am and she? Feels uncomfortable, doesn't it?" Imagining living everyday with that discomfort for years would suck, and my trans friends experience so much worse.

[@Aveoncore]

"as a cis person"