Curious after reading board.

[twaddler (imported)]

I just thought I should mention: xxytalk.com. Great board, packed with lots of info on XXYness.

[mrt (imported)]

You ask a good question. There was a long thread some time ago that talked about what a Eunuch was. For some it just means no testicles. But if you have that issue and take hormones? Are you a Eunuch? I think no. As with those that have testicles that don't work but take hormones. Are they a Eunuch? Again I think not.

Most agree that a Eunuch is a person who has lost both of his testicles (Or they don't function) at an early age and thus grows up without going through puberty and has no defining features of being male. Others tend to add in men who were castrated later in life but refuse to take Testosterone (or Estrogen) to "define" themselves.

And while I would be relieved to loose my painful, broken, shrunken testicles and get (At least) a healthy set of Silicone Testicles I would not wish to be defined as a eunuch. As Jerry and George said "Not that there is anything wrong with that!"

[kristoff]

You ask a good question. There was a long thread some time ago that talked about what a Eunuch was. For some it just means no testicles. But if you have that issue and take hormones? Are you a Eunuch? I think no. As with those that have testicles that don't work but take hormones. Are they a Eunuch? Again I think not.

Most agree that a Eunuch is a person who has lost both of his testicles (Or they don't function) at an early age and thus grows up without going through puberty and has no defining features of being male. Others tend to add in men who were castrated later in life but refuse to take Testosterone (or Estrogen) to "define" themselves.

And while I would be relieved to loose my painful, broken, shrunken testicles and get (At least) a healthy set of Silicone Testicles I would not wish to be defined as a eunuch. As Jerry and George said "Not that there is anything wrong with that!"

Actually, age has nothing to do with defining a eunuch. The only qualification for that title is the absence of testicles. Non-funtioning but present testicles could probably qualify, but does not meet historical standards. But then things evolve, don't they?

[dingbat (imported)]

As for the question about the three chromasomes, for us humans the Y chromasome will always make you male however the extra X chromasome (60% cases from the maternal side) will make you the type of person that needs to come up with some excuse when the boys are forming teams and of course they are happy that you're leaving. Also under the microscope it can be determined that you're cells have barr bodies (just like a girl!) and are therefore eligible for the women's olympics (in the past) if it weren't for the two marbles in a bag between the legs and some other formation above. In the cases where the extra X is paternal they come out with long limbs as in the extra Y cases.)

And don't forget people who have so-called 'mosaic genetics', some cells containing XX chromosomes and others containing XY.

[mrt (imported)]

Actually, age has nothing to do with defining a eunuch. The only qualification for that title is the absence of testicles. Non-funtioning but present testicles could probably qualify, but does not meet historical standards. But then things evolve, don't they?

I bow to your wisdom. I looked it up and your right. It says "Castrated human male."

Nothing whatsoever about age or use of testosterone. I guess I would have to admit a desire to not be "identified" in the future that way but.... What can you say? eunuch lite?

So for those of our friends who use drugs to perform a chemical castration they can claim that title (if they wish) and of course they have the unique ability to be un-castrated thus no longer a eunuch assuming they can stand the effects of going of the anti-androgens.

[Uncle Flo (imported)]

The endocrinologist I see includes those of us with non functioning testes but, he doesn't much like the term "eunuch". I do. --FLO--

[BossTamsin (imported)]

I personally don't have any problems with the term eunuch, and do consider myself one despite taking HRT. It's almost as much a personal decision as it is a biological condition.

Many men who have had prostate cancer are now technically eunuchs, although I doubt that more than a few would ever acknowledge or see themselves as such.

[Paolo]

Testicularly-challenged, maybe?

[Douglas Adams (imported)]

In your original post you stated "....perverted fantasies of being castrated" and "

maybe perverted is the wrong word, but can't think of another

". Here are some alternatives for you: abberant, deviant, eccentric, abnormal, atypical. By the way, the clinical term for sexual perversion is "paraphilia".

In my youth I took offense when people referred to people with castration fantasies as "perverted". Eventually, I got over it. I accept the fact that society considers me a "pervert" because of my paraphilia. I freely admit to being "eccentric", "deviant", "perverted", and "abnormal. I am not particularly proud of my paraphilia and I am not ashamed of it. I am glad that I will never be labeled "normal" by society at large. Unfortunately, the label of "pervert" has the unfortunate consequence of being associated in general with a group of people that includes child molesters and serial killers.

Sticks and stones....?

[mrt (imported)]

Hummm.... Well words mean things. I really r e a l l y have to wrap my head around that one. If being hormonally challanged makes you a eunuch I've probably never been anything but one except for a short period between puberty and having my pair fried by the mumps.

IEunuch (Who never gets enough respect) you say you take HRT? I'm way curious on how you feel on it, what you take and what kind of levels your at. Without intending any offense to those who seek a testosterone free life my life just sucked with even low levels. I don't want "Body Builder" levels but normal range for males is like heaven for me.

I think the idea that Eunuch = Non Male? Is the gist of why this doesn't float my boat. But of course I'm a dolt and probably not thinking this out clearly. :-\

I think as I read my post that its probably insulting to some... If I can end by saying I really don't intend that I'm thinking (rethinking) out loud.