Rain

Jocelyn 10th Jul 2011, 10:00 PM edit delete

My best friend asked me this question over six years ago when I told him I wanted to transition. It took me off guard (probably as much as my revelation did to him), but as indecisive as I can be, I had my answer (more or less, Rain’s answer) very quickly.

I knew I wanted to use that question in this comic; it was and still is one of the most intelligent things I think I’ve ever been asked.

You might recall that just a few pages ago, I said, “if most transgendered people could just stop being transgendered, they would.” I maintain this stance. However, to “stop being transgendered” to the average transperson, would very likely mean that MtFs would just be women, and FtMs would just be men. To go on being the sex they were genetically forced into won’t do us any good.

For instance, I read this fascinating article a few years back (I wish I could remember the link). It was about a study, where they tried to hypnotize transpeople to make them not trans; in other words, to make them accept what they’re given. I don’t put much stock into hypnotism as is, but the perhaps seemed somewhat efficient on paper. The idea was to create a faster, safer, cheaper alternative to getting a sex change. Those who were successfully hypnotized, showed that an alarming majority of them either started to show signs of being transgendered again in a short time, or they fell into a terrible depression that they couldn’t describe; as though they were still deeply troubled by something, but couldn’t place why.

Okay, I promised myself I’d try not to get too preachy with this comic, so I hope these past few commentaries haven’t been too much.

©2004-2011
Rain, all characters and all other aspects of the story are copyright material belonging to me.

AliJ5533 12th Jul 2011, 6:21 AM edit delete reply

Now if only they would invent a miracle thing that would instantly transform someone physically to the other gender.
I imagine that would simplify things a lot lol

Rainboq 12th Jul 2011, 9:41 AM edit delete reply

*is working on trying to make El Goonish Shive's transformation gun a reality*

LauraEss 5th Oct 2011, 10:42 AM edit delete reply

I think in many ways it would make it worse. Imagine if this was something only rich people could do. Or perhaps a time when this was the norm and anyone who stayed in one gender was considered abnormal?

I came across something called a "Quality Triangle" a while ago, which says that in any project there are three factors - how ceap something is, how good something is, and how fast something is. Usually you can only get 2 out of 3, so if it's quick you want then it either wont be good or cheap.

Deb 11th Jul 2016, 12:25 AM edit delete reply

Transition is something only rich people can do right now though. Hormones are within reach more often than not, but everything above and beyond that isn't. It's not bad to have advances in medical technology, it's bad to have a society that doesn't take care of all its citizens.

LauraEss 11th Jul 2016, 3:52 AM edit delete reply

That might be the case in the USA, but not everywhere else. I'm on disability and 2 months of Progynova only costs about $6.0.

paranoidsistah 21st Oct 2011, 1:26 PM edit delete reply

Just started reading and am really liking the story. Other than Wandering Son, I don't think I've come across a comic that deals with Transgender issues in such a real, respectful and beautiful way. Thank you for posting this :)

searrangel 14th Oct 2013, 11:35 PM edit delete reply

here's a pill to change who i am
i have take it one everyday
soon i don't know who i am
My pills is Who I AM
-Anonymous

a friend of mine wrote this for his ADD/ADHD drug but it seems fitting here too.

Becky 17th Aug 2019, 5:03 PM edit delete reply

I asked myself this question a number of years ago and came up with the same answer but for a somewhat different reason. I'm in my 60s and haven't (and don't expect to) transitioned. Becky is such an important part of who I am that I can't imagine living without her. To take "her" away would be killing one of the most important parts of my being.

I don't mean this to sound like a multi-personality disorder but those words are the best I can find to explain why I would make this decision.

Littlebeast 5th Mar 2020, 3:47 PM edit delete reply

This page always suck with me, and I think it's a great analogy. But I think what really would help it land is the reversal.

Tell the cis person, imagine YOU somehow woke up in a body of the opposite sex. You could go through a lot of effort and pain to try and get your body back. Or you can take a pill to make yourself believe this is how you've always been and accept it. What would you do?

no 5th Nov 2020, 3:54 PM edit delete reply

Me reading your comment: Oh that´s easy, I would just take the pill. So much easier

Me a few seconds later, remembering I´m trans: Wait...

aaaaaaaah 4th Jul 2020, 10:38 PM edit delete reply

i feel that the very exsistince of such a frug is humaine it underlines peoples free will and makes them mindless drones i feel that if somone made this they would force people to take this and when i think of this possibity its one of the most terrifying things i can imgine loosing your identy your will because an object went down your throught i hope no one makes it

SpeedyQuidKid 22nd Sep 2020, 5:47 PM edit delete reply

Ooh, very much relate to this one and to your commentary, OP. As I said in a previous comment just a few minutes ago lol, even with minimal body dysphoria I'd still prefer to be either a cis or a trans woman, over being a man.

If there were two buttons in front of me, where one made my mind match my body (in my case, make my mind and body both male), and another button that made my body match my mind (again in my case, make my mind and body both female), I'd choose that second one so fast.

I'm still very new to the idea / only recently started questioning, but this page and commentary are very affirming against the doubts I've had whether I'm "actually" trans.

Comic 101 - The Wonder Drug

Author Notes:

Comments: