Hi Mumsnet. I wrote something, as "comic relief," after seeing a comparison between time and gender. And I thought, huh, they're probably not that different after all. It got a little long, but wanted to share it with you.
Trans-time is time?
What the “trans-time debate” seemed like it could be back then…
Sally: Good afternoon Greg!
Greg: Hi Sally! Listen, I have something I need to tell you. It’s actually my evening. For medical reasons, my day-time will officially be your night-time from now on… I am trans-time. My doctor has diagnosed me with time-dysphoria. For a long while, I have felt deeply uncomfortable with living in this time zone. The only way for me to live a happy life is if I adopt the time zone of a country across the globe.
Sally: Wait… what?
Greg: Yes, being trans-time with time-dysphoria means that I must change my current diurnal rhythm to match my internal identity. I experience time differently. The best way to alleviate my symptoms is by transitioning from day to night. I realize it’s hard to understand, but if you wouldn’t mind using neutral terms like “hello,” or considering saying “good evening” to me when it’s your daytime, I would greatly appreciate it.
Sally: Umm… Just to be clear, what time do you think it is right now?
Greg: Well, intellectually I know that it’s actually 12 noon! The sun is exceptionally hot and bright today! But internally… I feel it is midnight. It’s a mismatch that affects me greatly. For some reason my diurnal rhythm is much more closely suited to a time zone across the globe. I feel incredibly tired right now yet will be wide-awake in 12 hours. Despite trying everything I cannot seem to fix this. So I am going to switch my lifestyle to follow this clock inside myself. I’m looking to gain new friends over the internet in countries across the world, look at trans-time specific needs, and still try and blend in with society the best I can. I know I’ll need to make adjustments like vitamin D supplements, probably look into sunlight alternatives. I am even considering donating to charity the some of the pay rise I’ll get for only working the traditional “antisocial hours”… because… well, I’ll see myself as working normal hours.
Sally: I don’t really understand, but if this is something you’ve worked out with your doctor, and is the only thing that will make you happy, then you do you. I’ll try my best to be polite, to use neutral greetings. I’ll try not to deliberately hurt you, but I don’t think I will be able to fully understand the concept of your night being my day, or go along with it completely... Because I just… I can’t say that noon the same as midnight. Sorry about that. Besides, I’ll really miss having you around at lunch.
Greg: That’s okay, Sally… I get it. I appreciate you listening to me with an open mind. I’m happy we could find at least some middle ground. Hopefully we can keep talking and understand each other’s perspectives better.
Sally: Thanks Greg. Can we still go for a cup of tea every once in a while? Perhaps in my mornings… which I guess are your… evenings?
Greg: Of course. Tea is completely independent of time zones.