Aleser

I don't see it that way. First, humans as a whole, we crave acceptance. If (in another world) I wanted to be deaf, I'm pretty sure I'd want to be accepted into the Deaf community. And frankly, the only thing I find shocking and creepy about what's been discussed in this thread, is how people on this forum treat others. How on -earth- can we argue that being deaf is okay, that it is at least a neutral if not a positive, and at the same time call people who want to be -just like us- freaks? It speaks volumes about how not-okay we are with deafness, or for that matter any disability mentioned.

Second, maybe they're just defending themselves? I, too, would (and do) defend the groups I identify with. If someone on a strange forum made fun of or insulted deaf or deafblind people, I'd probably be tempted to join and pick an argument with them. The same applies if they expressed disgust over my religion, nationality, ect. I want to be treated with respect and I want to be regarded as a human being, just like everyone else does.

Why should some complete stranger be less deserving of that simply based on the fact that they have a disability -different- than mine? Who am I- heck, who are we, to treat people with BIID like interesting circus animals?

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"She thinks... she can make people do what she wants or needs, what is right, by the sheer force of her own talent, not by forcing them... she can teach them and persuade them... that they'll catch it from her. This is still faith in their rationality, in the omnipotence of reason. The mistake? Reason is not automatic. Those who deny it cannot be conquered by it. Do not count on them."

Deafness

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shel90

U have a good point but I think the difference between being deaf and having BIID is that people with this condition sometimes do themselves bodily harm while deaf people dont. That is kinda hard to disgest and accept. Just being honest here.

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Shel~

"A child educated only at school is an uneducated child." -George Santayana

doh

Let's be honest: lots of people hurt themselves: suicide, alcoholism, smoking, self-harm, eating disorder (although I'm not 100% certain that after the first few conscious acts it is under their control)... not limited to people with BIID I think. Except that BIID usually need to harm their (often) otherwise healthy body to be what they think is normal for themselves.

I can't understand why people drink so much or smoke but I understand suicide and self-injury. Maybe it's just perspective. What I get out of self-harm (cutting ) outweighs not doing it - it's cost/benefit and the benefit outweigh the cost. Maybe the same for BIID.

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Monkey, killing monkey, killing monkey.
Over pieces of the ground.
Silly monkeys give them thumbs,
They make a club.
And beat their brother down.
How they survive so misguided is a mystery.
Repugnant is a (not dismal) creature who would
Squander the ability to lift an eye to heaven, conscious of his fleeting time here

jillio

No one said that they are less deserving. You are entitled to view it in any way you wish. I am giving my professional assessment. They are not less deserving, they are in need of treatment for a serious psychological disorder. To encourage them to continue in their illness does not benefit them.

defgrl

For years, I had known how to sign and had Deaf friends, etc. However, I had always labelled myself as "Hearing." I have had "Deaf feelings" for many years, but I thought that I was "nutso" or that something was wrong with me in some way because I had these feelings and experiences. When I learned Sign at age 20, I felt like a whole new world opened up for me. Sure, I wanted to be Deaf. I wanted to belong! But I did not find out about my own hearing problem(?s) until 1996. Even then, I still continued to label myself as "Hearing." I have started asking Deaf people what I am. Most say I have to decide for myself. I have more trouble with mainstream society's definition of deafness (small "d") than with Deaf people definition of Deafness (big "D"). For now, I am calling myself "Hard-of-Hearing" However, I am not trying to hide who I am from the Deaf Community. I am also see a psychologist. However, he is HOH himself and he can sign. Very well, in fact. There are some people who insist that I am "Hearing." But they will conceed that I am "hearing impaired." I think some of the confusion is from all the different labels and the different views. I have Asperger's and I may have LD's as well. I am a visual-spatial learner. I think Sign IS easier to communicate in.

moonflower

well i know someone who a hearing wannabe and lying.

Shrugs i guess anyone who is anything wannabes need some help

jillio

Very true, moonflower!

AlleyCat

Every single day, because I'm surrounded by my hearing friends, hearing boyfriend, hearing family, I learn something new each day of what I don't hear. Here's one ridiculously stupid example: Just the other day someone looked at me because I opened a jar. They could hear it "pop" (the air seal) open. I have never heard that in my life, never will. I long for the things I can't hear and the thought of a hearing person wanting to be deaf just so they can "fit in" sickens/saddens me.

kokonut

Desire for amputation of a limb: paraphilia, psychosis, or a new type of identity disorder - BIID-Info.org

There is always something new to learn about our own brain and how wirings can get crossed or simple chemical imbalance in the brain to cause a variety of mental illnesses not yet realized or understood clearly. If Gender Identity Disorder exists so does the possibility that BIID exist as well. The brain can indeed be a strange little universe of its own with all the quirks and normalcy.

Daredevel7

I wonder if BIID people ever hang out with people with disabilities that they want. Especially those who are paralyzed.

Frankly, I don't care what people want to do to themselves, but if you're gonna take advantage of tax payers' money to pay for what you want... That's where I draw the line.

netrox

"Gender Identity Disorder" is extremely inaccurate as a term, in my opinion. It should be called Sex Identity Disorder. Gender is a social construct of how a person should abide with the "normal" roles of gender. How a person dresses or behaves does not influence his/her sex whatsoever. Since gender is entirely subjective, you cannot make it a "disorder."

SID (Sex Identity Disorder) is when you're born biologically a sex of what you perceive to be the opposite. Because you can NEVER dispute the biological fact - either you are born with a male or a female genitiala. If you have a penis and still say you're a girl, then you have SID. The same is true for women who think they got penises. There are RARE cases of intersexed babies but they do NOT have mental illness at all.

Homosexuality is NOT a mental illness and has been long removed from the DSM so you cannot compare homosexuality to BIID or SID.