we are what we are

traits of the original poor little meow meow, suga from bts:

musician

characterized as catlike

included an audio sample of infamous cult leader jim jones (of the jonestown massacre, from which we get the phrase "don't drink the kool-aid") in a song

john darnielle is:

1. a musician

2. characterized as catlike by himself & by fans

(john darnielle's twitter, @goingtothebes)

3. included an audio sample of infamous cult leader jim jones (of the jonestown massacre, from which we get the phrase "don't drink the kool-aid") in the song going to kansas as released on the hound chronicles in 1992.

(an alternate version of going to kansas which does not include the sample was released on nothing for juice in 1996. that's the version most people will be familiar with—it is streamable and the hound chronicles is not. going to kansas is not the only alternate recording that was included on nothing for juice and both re-releases have different instrumental backing if i remember correctly).

so by definition. unless there's a third person who hits all of these criteria, john darnielle is one of only two poor little meow meows in the world.

And not one person thought to bring it up.

When I was talking about how horrifying puberty felt. When I was cutting myself. When I was in inpatient care. When I attempted suicide. When I talked for YEARS in therapy about how dissociated and trapped I felt in my body. When I felt like I never truly fixed something that was deeply wrong about me that started at puberty.

Not one person said it was a possibility. No one thought "hey, maybe this kid should go to someone trained to identify dysphoria". No one mentioned that trans people weren't some weird other group of people. It didn't have to be pressure. It didn't have to be "forcing" me. Just mentioning that trans people exist and it could be me. That it was possible and it was easy. No pushing, just laying the option out there.

HRT is treated like this last ditch option. This horrific, mutilating thing that I GUESS we can give to you if you have NO OTHER options. Because did you know it's permanent? Did you know you'll be on it for the rest of your life? Did you know the health risks? Did you know it'll make you infertile? Did you know that it's deviant? Did you know that it's an alternative lifestyle for other people?

No one said it was okay to WANT it to be permanent. Or noted that most people are reliant on the medical system in one way or the other anyways (and it's not even necessary for HRT). Or that the health risks are the normal parts of having that hormone, even in cis people of your gender. Or said it was okay to not want kids, or mention that you can just freeze gametes. Or acknowledged that the "deviant" people are just people, living their lives, that have been violently pushed out of "normal" society.

I grew up in an area that Republicans mock for being a kind of "woke central". And even then it's just. Not treated as an easy option. It was never on the table if you don't specifically already know you're going through gender stuff, and no one will help you get to that point. At which point, it's still treated like the last ditch option. Did you know you can be a feminine man? Did you know you can slap a "she/her" in your twitter bio and be done with it? Did you know that you're oh-so-valid without it? Did you know that you shouldn't take HRT? Maybe don't take HRT? Don't take HRT? Don't take HRT? Don't ta-

When you've been in it a while, HRT is the easiest, most casual thing in the world. Just pop a shot on a Saturday as part of your "everything shower" routine and you're done.

I hate it

I dislike it

I'm neutral

I like it

I love it

Unemployed/in school/not applicable