So, let's assume some bizarrely convenient form of timetravel in which one winds up in prepubescent form, remembering full well that puberty sucks and that some form of castration can prevent it from happening again.

The question, then, is what one should do in such a situation? It's generally not a good idea to castrate minors, and one would have a hell of a time proving the timetravel thing. Self-castration is obviously quite dangerous. What then would be a reasonable strategy?

(... Well, might as well be prepared in case relativity gets diarrhea, right?)

This is all I've got. I don't like it:

1. Ask.

- Fail. The only people who can be expected to respond positively are probably not the safest to entrust with as much.

2. Do it yourself

- Dangerous. Probably a last resort.

3. Threaten to do it yourself if a professional won't.

- Likely to fail on the grounds that physical form is probably too weak to carry out threat if adults try to interfere.

4. Convince doctors of psychological condition best treated by castration.

- Fail. Still treated as a minor.

5. Convince doctors of a physical condition best treated by castration

- Difficult to fake or induce such conditions safely. Outcome depends on ability to convince doctors of condition.

Hm. I can't think of anything to do other than to invite relativity to taco bell, now.

There was a time when people deemed "mentally defective" were routinely sterilized in the US. Travel back to that time and act stupid.

Sandi

If you arrived at the present from the future as an adolescent male, and if you could act sufficiently girlish, and if you were in certain liberal places in Europe or the US, you could convince doctors to give you anti androgens to postpone puberty till you were old enough to pursue it further.

Transward

I would travel back in time and kidnap my prepubescent self and take my child self to the future to a more enlightened time. I would have my child self surgically castrated and then I would return my child self to his time and I to my time and enjoy having been a eunuch for years.

Actually, at one time, 30 or 40 years ago, when doctors had more autonomy it might have been easier to find one to castrate you. I know there was one in my area that would do it for $150. That was around the mid 1970's. --FLO--

Knowing all that I know now, if I suddenly found myself in back in time, and inhabiting my 11 or 12 year old self. I would probably arrange an "accident" for myself. At that time I would often ride off by myself to try and jump my BMX bicycle off some ramps carved into the side of a ravine near my home. I actually broke my ribs for the first time doing that.

It wouldn't be too much of a stretch of the imagination to do some hefty damage to another part of myself. Now, being sure I did enough damage to do the job is a little more difficult to judge, that and I was never big on self inflicted pain. Given the right circumstances though, I think I could do it.

It is a pretty simple thing to do if you find a sturdy couple of flat rocks. I'd probably have to load myself up on painkillers first, but those were always plentiful in my home. My mother had a bad back.

I've had occasion to speak frankly with my parents about my hypogonadism, and they agreed with me. Testosterone replacement wouldn't have been right for me. I believe with sufficient damage to the testicles, and a reasonable argument from myself, I could have gotten away with it.

I am also aware that my mother always knew I was a little different. If I could have gotten her somewhere my dad wouldn't hear, I think there would also be a chance I could have convinced her it was for the best. I like to think she would have willingly helped me do it if I made the case clear to her.

Oh, well. No way to know for sure. Sadly time only goes in one direction that I can influence.

I have many times day-dreamed or fantasized about this exact scenario, where I go back in time knowing then all that I know now. What would I change? Do differently? One thing is absolutely certain, I would have run away from the sick abusive situation that was my childhood. I think if I had hit the road early in my life, and found the right people my life would be so much happier and more satisfying now.