the life and times of the lesser spotted packet jockey

These people go off about transing kids. They say "well my kid thinks they're Optimus Prime". But no. That's not it at all. But you're actually closer than you think.

It's not about forcing a child to be trans, just like it's not about forcing a kid to be Optimus Prime. It's about letting them explore that as a part of their identity, and see what sticks. Chances are they don't think they're a giant robot for very long. But things that are plausible - they can take longer to process.

You know what most kids who are allowed and supported in exploration of their gender turn out to be? Cis. But wouldn't you rather that your kid got the chance to try to figure it out for themselves? What harm is really done by calling them by their chosen pronouns - until they change them, or they don't?

The answer is none. Cis kids will eventually decide that they're cis. Trans kids won't, and that's the point at which you know that you can start thinking about how to take them through the process - a process from which they can walk it back at any time.

Nobody is doing surgery on kids. Hell, most ADULTS have to wait years and years before they can get permission from multiple mental health authorities to control their own body. Puberty blockers, too, are very rare. But they are also entirely reversible when you stop taking them. Which the child, teen, adult can choose to do at any time.

Trans people are not a threat to you.