Change is inevitable, but change does not imply an understanding of the particular vector of such change. I have concerns that recent assumed vector is nothing more than a short-term run of ephemeral data points on a larger oscillation.

Of greater importance is the simple fact that the motivations of the parental being trump any motivations towards the greater good. It is only lucky circumstance when they coincide.

****ing hippies

As I understand the situation, the children at the center of this discussion have not expressed any inherent "alternative" sexuality. They are not gay, lesbian, bi or trans. If that is true, then I think your point is utterly without merit.

If the child was one of those examples and the parents tried to force them into a societally approved mold, I suspect you would be outraged by their horrible ignorance. Well, if they are not then these parents are simply doing the same thing in reverse. Rather than let the child develop normally and socialize in a manner that is probably quite comfortable and will ease future interactions, they are forcing them into an ambiguous role that will very likely cause problems in the future. Disgusting.

If I have the facts incorrect then my comments do not apply of course.

Brian,

Agreed. It seems to be a necessary conceit though. Shrug.

The 'T' part of LGBT stands for Transgender. It's a GENDER thing, NOT sexuality.

You're right, if the parents found out that the kid was LGB and tried to force the child to be straight, I'd be outraged, but you're wrong to say that they're doing it in the reverse. The parents are NOT forcing their kid to be transgender: they're letting the kid decide for him/herself. If the kid wants to be his/her birth gender, and they let him/her, then that's great. This would then falsify your claim.

My point is that they ARE letting the child develop "naturally." You're the one who thinks that children must be separated into clear "male" and "female" gender roles from early childhood. That's entirely social. So you're advocating the indoctrination, of a social construct, from a young age...and calling THAT "natural"?!

I still disagree. Of course, natural is not a useful word in many ways since little about our current human state is natural. They are going to lengths to conceal the child's gender. That is certainly not "natural". Basically they are experimenting with their child since they have no idea what the outcome will be. I have no respect for anyone who conducts amateur experiments on their children.

Like gender's a biological thing anymore. It has never been in the theater.

Jesus ****ing Christ. Look at Sandler's latest go as his own twin sister. Obviously the idea is becoming mainstream slowly.

You know, whatever, right? People are entitled to their own conceits and narrow views. Doesn't bother me or the community any.

No pot of gold for 'em then. |More fool em...|

Way to beg the question: why is quickly and sharply distinguishing gender right from birth "natural"?

Every parent is experimenting on their children. At least these parents have thought about what they're doing and how they want to raise their children.

How is parents thinking about it a good thing? A lot of parents are really really dumb.

And the 'natural' thing is a red herring. We evolved as social animals with a need to belong to a social structure of some sort.

Without making any comment on what that social structure should be, I would say that intentionally preventing your child from being able to function effectively in the social structure you are are raising him/her/it in is doing unnecessary harm to the child (you could argue that the incremental good it does to society outweighs that harm, if you like, but I think that would be a political argument).

Define natural? If you look at primitive cultures, there would never be an attempt to conceal a child's gender. Or do you define this pair of idiots in Toronto as "natural". That seems like a stretch.

You know, I don't care. Raise your kids anyway you want. There are going to be people messed up by the parents in any event. A couple more will never be noticed.

only if you're a sociopath

Doubt that, dumbass. I happen to know the family.

durka,

Would you expand on the bigger experiment the Scandi daycare program is running in where the kids can play with either dolls or tools?

Got a link?

http://togetherfamily.ca/daycare-new...utral-daycare/

I don`t know. I get the uneasiness, I do, because there was a time when I might have felt the same way, but that`s a good decade or so behind me.

Nothing personal, RLK, but get informed and adjust to the 21st century.

I dunno if this daycare has research and publications behind it that are available within and without academia, but if the right people ask, I am fairly sure they would be willing to share their conclusions.

But it is far more fulfilling to speculate your own, isn`t it?

Good luck.