J.K. Rowling, whose name and Harry Potter series, belongs on shelves alongside and among others, in my opinion, J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, C.S Lewis' Narnian series, Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time, Douglas Adams Hitchhiker series.
Sometimes I wonder if we want to destroy those who disagree with us, because social media is a 2D experience. My sister knows me so well I could say anything to her and she would get it, top to bottom, inside and out. Even if I said something shameful, she knows my true heart, who I really am, so the words traveling past my lips are a moment in time, a very small portion of my existence. She is able to understand what I mean and what I don’t mean, no matter what comment I make. Now we have social media, which may not be the best tool for truly getting to know someone. Maybe it serves some kind of purpose there, but to really know someone is to know them through ups and downs, changes for better and worse, and to have compassion all the while. Rowling shares her opinion, and insanity breaks out. I feel like my heart catches some understanding when she mentioned how she was misunderstood. Fans fell in love with her book (a made up story ironically) but they do not know her. And with all of that, why is there is absolute requirement to agree with every single thing that transgender people think , say, and do? In any other situation that would be odd. To question and to challenge and to disagree is not only normal, but healthy.
I’ve noticed that the howling, screeching, baying-for-blood rainbow mob is mostly white and upper-middle class. We know several families that have been poisoned by this, including one with twins (fraternal, age 25, one male gay, one born-male trans). The inquiry needs to start with what is missing for these children that they are turning to deviant behavior to get attention and approval. It is happening to families that used to turn out the best and the brightest, of course with every imaginable privilege. I have a few ideas… curious what the rest of you think may be the root causes?
This is an amazing podcast. I cannot recommend this more. The creator is fascinating. The podcast is balanced! It begins with a strong pitch from Rowling, but she gives reasonable trans people a clear platform as well. I wish I could elect Megan-Phelps Roper for office. But thank God we now have another “Lois Lane.” Reporters who actually do their job need to be championed as superheroes in this day and age.
I had friends growing up that we’re not allowed to read Harry Potter, I’m being a Christian myself I never understood it. I found this article a couple years ago and it really helped me. It discusses how magic in Harry Potter is similar to technology in our modern era. It is a way of manipulating the natural world, and It can be either abused or used for good. https://www.firstthings.com/article/2000/01/harry-potters-magic
First a question for the trans man in the interview who transitioned partly because he didn’t feel he fit in with or was accepted by non trans, biological girls (before transitioning) : now that you have transitioned are you accepted and fit in with non trans, biological boys? Just wondering…
In addition a tip to the trans women who threatened Rowling and her kids with rape: biological women don’t threaten each other or children with rape, so if you want to be a women start actually behaving like one.
I am genuinely curious about the emphasis on bodies in this conversation. If we accept concepts including that gender is non-binary, or can be changed based on how we feel, or that it's a spectrum, or the physical body causes distress and dysphoria, this opens up a lot of other conversations about our physical bodies beyond our alienation from the presentation of breasts and penises. If we could physically/ medically transition into opposite gendered bodies that functioned as the opposite gender, I could grasp that psychological necessity. But a trans-woman's new breasts cannot feed a baby, and she cannot get pregnant and bear a child. Or, if those parts provided functional sexual satisfaction, that would make sense. But a trans-man's penis will never function fully and he can never ejaculate. Worse still, cross-hormone treatment and gender reassignment surgeries have a relatively high probability of causing the inability to achieve orgasm at all or even cause pain. So I wonder what is the point of undergoing such medical transition? I need to better understand the overall gain one benefits from when considering these problems and risks. I certainly don't know the answer, but I wonder if this is really a question of seeking peace with our bodies in all their disappointment (whether directly gender-related or not), while shifting the focus to a more neutral understanding of human identity overall, instead of being so intent on just how our bodies present to the world. I wish I could articulate this better.
J.K. Rowling, whose name and Harry Potter series, belongs on shelves alongside and among others, in my opinion, J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, C.S Lewis' Narnian series, Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time, Douglas Adams Hitchhiker series.
Lovely job, Megan.
When is there going to be a follow up for this podcast? It seems like a lot has happened in the past year.
Sometimes I wonder if we want to destroy those who disagree with us, because social media is a 2D experience. My sister knows me so well I could say anything to her and she would get it, top to bottom, inside and out. Even if I said something shameful, she knows my true heart, who I really am, so the words traveling past my lips are a moment in time, a very small portion of my existence. She is able to understand what I mean and what I don’t mean, no matter what comment I make. Now we have social media, which may not be the best tool for truly getting to know someone. Maybe it serves some kind of purpose there, but to really know someone is to know them through ups and downs, changes for better and worse, and to have compassion all the while. Rowling shares her opinion, and insanity breaks out. I feel like my heart catches some understanding when she mentioned how she was misunderstood. Fans fell in love with her book (a made up story ironically) but they do not know her. And with all of that, why is there is absolute requirement to agree with every single thing that transgender people think , say, and do? In any other situation that would be odd. To question and to challenge and to disagree is not only normal, but healthy.
JK can’t get a break. She gets hit from both sides. The silver lining is that they can burn only books that they already paid for.
I’ve noticed that the howling, screeching, baying-for-blood rainbow mob is mostly white and upper-middle class. We know several families that have been poisoned by this, including one with twins (fraternal, age 25, one male gay, one born-male trans). The inquiry needs to start with what is missing for these children that they are turning to deviant behavior to get attention and approval. It is happening to families that used to turn out the best and the brightest, of course with every imaginable privilege. I have a few ideas… curious what the rest of you think may be the root causes?
This is an amazing podcast. I cannot recommend this more. The creator is fascinating. The podcast is balanced! It begins with a strong pitch from Rowling, but she gives reasonable trans people a clear platform as well. I wish I could elect Megan-Phelps Roper for office. But thank God we now have another “Lois Lane.” Reporters who actually do their job need to be championed as superheroes in this day and age.
Finally finished this series on the road at Christmas. Outstanding. Thank you.
I had friends growing up that we’re not allowed to read Harry Potter, I’m being a Christian myself I never understood it. I found this article a couple years ago and it really helped me. It discusses how magic in Harry Potter is similar to technology in our modern era. It is a way of manipulating the natural world, and It can be either abused or used for good. https://www.firstthings.com/article/2000/01/harry-potters-magic
So glad to hear that you got out of the Westboro cult. I don't like Rowling's books but I greatly admire her courage.
Still planning on another episode?
This is an excellent podcast! Thank you!
First a question for the trans man in the interview who transitioned partly because he didn’t feel he fit in with or was accepted by non trans, biological girls (before transitioning) : now that you have transitioned are you accepted and fit in with non trans, biological boys? Just wondering…
In addition a tip to the trans women who threatened Rowling and her kids with rape: biological women don’t threaten each other or children with rape, so if you want to be a women start actually behaving like one.
We need MORE LIGHT in these discussions, LESS HEAT.
This issue is actually simple XX = female. XY= male. While homosexuality is present in mammalian species, "trans" is not.
I am genuinely curious about the emphasis on bodies in this conversation. If we accept concepts including that gender is non-binary, or can be changed based on how we feel, or that it's a spectrum, or the physical body causes distress and dysphoria, this opens up a lot of other conversations about our physical bodies beyond our alienation from the presentation of breasts and penises. If we could physically/ medically transition into opposite gendered bodies that functioned as the opposite gender, I could grasp that psychological necessity. But a trans-woman's new breasts cannot feed a baby, and she cannot get pregnant and bear a child. Or, if those parts provided functional sexual satisfaction, that would make sense. But a trans-man's penis will never function fully and he can never ejaculate. Worse still, cross-hormone treatment and gender reassignment surgeries have a relatively high probability of causing the inability to achieve orgasm at all or even cause pain. So I wonder what is the point of undergoing such medical transition? I need to better understand the overall gain one benefits from when considering these problems and risks. I certainly don't know the answer, but I wonder if this is really a question of seeking peace with our bodies in all their disappointment (whether directly gender-related or not), while shifting the focus to a more neutral understanding of human identity overall, instead of being so intent on just how our bodies present to the world. I wish I could articulate this better.