And what if it can't be cured?? Then what? :)

I know this is a bit off topic, but I`m going to reply anyway.

I would say it depends on the person and the level of retardation.
It`s very hard to see "kindness" in the actions of someone with a sub 20 IQ/DQ. This is infant level, and things that can be interpreted as kindness are often mere coincidences. There is very little comprehension of cause and effect - something that is key in expressing kindness.
30 to 50 and we`re talking early elementary school level as an adult. Incapable of life alone, and often incapable of distinguishing between right and wrong without frequent guidance.
I would say that between 0 and 50, there is little value for society as a whole... But there is as much emotional value to the family as there is with, say, an infant or kindergarten aged child. They don`t necessarily have to give back to be valued by the family.
50+ and things change. The low end of the 50 to 70 range are able to hold simple repetitive jobs with high supervision, and the high end can do so with minimal supervision. 70+ and we`re into "almost normal" range, up until around the 100 average.

You`ll often hear that the developmentally retarded are sweet, kind, and gentle... But that`s only half the story. Most 1st graders are kind and gentle too, until something makes them mad and they throw a fit. But it`s much easier to deal with the fit if they`re not bigger than you.

Yeah, or they put your cat in the microwave...

You wern't supposed to see these posts, anyway...

Don`t worry, no offense taken at them.
I think that due to circumstances largely beyond my control, I end up being in situations where I am in contact with the developmentally delayed and their families a whole lot more than the average person out there.
And in the extreme cases, the value of life is in question even within the family. I mean, it sucks for me with a kid in the 75+ range... It has to be absolutely awful for those who know their kid will pretty much never be capable of much of anything... Or even be aware of their surroundings.
You end up thinking about how much the future may suck.

Just don't think about their future. Think about the present. That's what I say. :)

tenchu tenchu tenchu....
 

you are the one who is mentally challenged, if you think this is why we are the way we are. i myself am transgendered, and happy with myself. this young GIRL should be too it is how she was inside so why not reflect that outside? i considered to get the change at 16 i even made a thread here about it.the only reason it hasnt been done yet is because i cannot yet afford it. it is very expensive. what's done is done for HER, but the age of 16 so long as it is not a phase( they wanted it for a long time or acted acorrdingly, etc) then it is ok to get the change if you have the means. however if they just randomly bring it up with no previous hinting or mention like out of the blue, then maybe to wait until they are 18 at least.

Yes. Those with mental disabilities are as good as anyone else.

I know people with Aspergers who've gotten university degrees and good jobs, those with Downsyndrome who have gone into various performing arts, and those with Dyslexia who now own their own businesses or have good careers. These people have difficulties, but they contribute. They contribute more than some layabouts who take benefits from the government, or the 'normal' kid who will go on to drop out of school.

People who are blind, deaf, lagging in their IQ, autistic . . . whatever . . . they all have different abilities, and can achieve great things in life. Even those who - for whatever reason - can't give back to society, who might not be able to move or are fully concious of their surroundings, these people still can give something and most importantly they are still human and still feel.

Anyways, I do know a few transgendered people personally . . .

I think it isn't a mental disorder any more than homosexuality is, and that if someone truly wishes to be another gender - with full knowledge of what that entails - then that's fair enough. I do think though that sixteen is a bit too young to decide. At that age you're still going through changes in your body and hormones, working out your identity as a person, learning about sexuality too . . . is it really an age where you know without a shadow of a doubt what gender you are? Is it really an age capable of giving informed consent to operations and what not? I think changing one's sex is fine, but it shouldn't be done until the individual is officially an adult and knows what they're getting themselves in for.

Edit:

Gender identity and sexuality are two distinct and seperate issues.

To those who reopened this thread - did you notice how long ago Tenchu replied? I understand if you did not want to leave his bigoted, simple-mindedness unanswered, but it just seemed strange to see responses instead of new commentary on a thread that had been dormant for almost 2 years.

For the record, gender dysphoria is not dementia. It is a psychiatric/biological mismatch, but not a loss or malfunction of one's mental faculties. It is also only resolvable by medical intervention which corrects the biological state, not the psychological ....if it is true gender dysphoria and not soemthing else disguised as such.

However making up your own terms/language (dementure) might lead to questions of one's mental capacity.

As to the topic, shrug, guess I personally don't give a flip if he want's to be a she or whatever. It isn't me they have to answer to when the refit order comes in anyhow.

There is no such thing as transgender, it is just a word made up by morons to justify stupidity. You are what you are born and no matter how medically advanced society is, it will never defeat nature, its so arrogant to even think we can.