CDing in public in the modern era

[Kaelin]

I'm curious how people here who are not fully "out" feel about risking public CDing in the modern world. It's something I've not done for a while and at least part of my reasoning is that _everyone_ has a camera on them these days, be it their phone or otherwise. Combined with social media it seems like this would be an increased risk in various ways.

Technically if someone posts a picture of "that crossdressing freak on the bus" or whatever on their facebook/hate site/etc you'll probably never know about it, but the possibility exist. Should this really matter though? If you're out in public well... then you're already public at least to some extent. I'm not sure why the idea bothers me, I suspect because I have no control over it. Even when I'm dressed male I'm not keen on my pictures floating around out there. Typically my policy is not to let the fear of what others may do rule my life, but I'm finding that policy harder to implement in practice as I get older.


Do the rest of you let the cameras everywhere affect if/how often/what time/where you CD in public?

[janice murray]

As we're (well where I am) surrounded by surveillance cameras, and nearly everyone has a phone/camera you're going to be photographed whether you like it or not.

[Kaelin]

Aye security cameras are another issue, and there have been some legal issues with security tapes leaking things they ought not be on sites like youtube and getting in serious trouble.

Either way you're right, if you go in public odds are you're going to have your picture taken. What happens to that picture/video from there is another matter.

[Traci Elizabeth]

I would be much less concerned about a camera (as you & Janice stated, they are everywhere) than I would be running into your neighbors, unknowing friends, or family if you are totally in the closet.

But I guess that is one way of coming out into the light!

Forget the cameras and get out there and be you and have fun.

[Kathi Lake]

I'm curious how people here who are not fully "out" feel about risking public CDing in the modern world.

Wait a minute? Did you say risk? You mean, there's risk involved with dressing as a woman and going out and about?! Wow, I'd better change my ways.

Or not!

We always have to do the whole risk/reward thing every time we do this. For me, the rewards far outweigh the risks of being seen. Either that or I'm just not bright enough to know that there are risks.



Kathi

[juno]

Yes, what if somebody catches you wearing shoes that don't match. The horror.

Seriously, unless you are running for politics, the chances are higher that you will lose out more by not going out.

[DeeDeeB]

When I post online, speak on the phone, or go out side (and I sometimes wonder about conversation within my home), I understand that whatever I say, am dressed in, or whatever may become public knowledge. I need to accept this about life. So, when I go in public as Dee, I understand that everyone I know may find out. So far, it's just been a co-worker who I can now discuss fashion with, but I decided a number of years ago that I am old enough to live my life as I want, not as I think others expect from me. I'm still working on that, but progress has been continual, if somewhat slow.

Dee

PS: Also, as to the modern era, we are now protected in many if not most states from hate crimes, whereas not too long ago we could be arrested for CDing most anywhere.

[Sara Jessica]

Wait a minute? Did you say risk? You mean, there's risk involved with dressing as a woman and going out and about?! Wow, I'd better change my ways.

Or not!

Or not! is totally right on Kathi. A big fat whatever. To quote a dear friend of mine, I'm doubting the world will explode if something stupid like this were to happen. The bottom line is it's best to be prepared for the "what-if", the possibility, yet not a probability. If you can feel like you can cope with the potential fall-out, then going out is for you. Otherwise, it might drive you crazy.

I would be much less concerned about a camera (as you & Janice stated, they are everywhere) than I would be running into your neighbors, unknowing friends, or family if you are totally in the closet.

This is where radius theory comes in. The larger the radius from your home or place of work, the less likely it will be that you will run into someone you know. But it's not a perfect theory. You've heard the "small world" song, I'm sure.

[jessica renee]

I guess I just never thought about it like that. Oh well, I can't worry about everything.

[Kaelin]

Excellent points all. I guess my bigger concern was/is with targeted hate crimes, but as Dee points out the law offers us more protection now - of course this won't stop certain types of things, but perhaps the overly fearful/sheltered life isn't really worth living.

I guess we all end up making the decision of whether our desires/needs trump the risk each and every time we do something (be it CDing or anything else in life).

[Lucy_Bella]

I think the risk is more of how you dress rather being out . What I mean is go out dressed like Rupaul you will attract attention if that's your goal. From what I have learnt here , ( I have never tried ) is to dress to blend in and go almost un noticed.

[Loni]

cameras are every were, but if someone were to take your photo and post it up on line. you can sue them. (dressed or even in drab).
cameras can take a photo, just as long as it is not a photo of a "person" and includes a whole sean it is legal.
as per legal judge decrees you have no right to expect privacy in public. unless you are a cop.
so get out there and have on your best face and side toward the cameras.

[Tasha McIntyre]

Do the rest of you let the cameras everywhere affect if/how often/what time/where you CD in public?

No, not at all. The shopping centres I visit have cameras everywhere, and I see them as an aid to my safety and a deterrent to any neanderthals that may want to compromise my safety.

Tash

[janice murray]

No, not at all. The shopping centres I visit have cameras everywhere, and I see them as an aid to my safety and a deterrent to any neanderthals that may want to compromise my safety.

Tash

Yes, the intrusiveness of them annoys me, but the fact they have been helpful in tracking down perpetrators of horrendous crimes puts me in a dilemma.

[docrobbysherry]

Yes, you're correct, Kaelin! Cameras were everywhere at the SCC! And, all the girls there were leaning to get IN as many as possible!
And, you're rite again! Now they're ALL OVER THE INTERNET! EEEK!

[julie w]

risk ,there is risk with everything we do from driving to buying a stock , I think as lucy said if you are dressed like a everyday women whats the point in taking
you picture people are looking for sensationalism to photograph ,

[Tina B.]

Or do what the sisters of perpetual indulgence do, holler "PHOTO OP", and pose real pretty.
you are right cameras are everywhere now days, and not all of them are good to have out there. most kids with a cell phone have one, and they are the ones that will spot us right off. But with all the sites out there, chances are you and everyone you know, will never know. I live in a small town and worry a lot more about who I would run into face to face. When I lived in the city it was easy to get lost in the crowd, and some days I miss that.
Tina B.

[Tommie Rae]

I wish more people would use their cameras. I very seldom get asked to pose for a photo and I would love it if some of my casual acquaintances would take a picture and send it to me. I am not in the public eye as either male or female so I really do not care about cameras.

[Marcia Blue]

[SIZE="3"]I have had my picture taken when out and about. I even posed for a few. The odds of anyone recognizing me, dressed is slim. Most snap-shots that end up on the Internet have a very low viewer count. I do shy away from news photographers.[/SIZE]

[Melissa Rose]

Once you step out in public, in any form or manner of dress, you are exposing your self to risk and giving up some aspects of privacy. I'm out in public on a regular basis and the risks involved are ones I willing to take since I believe those risks are quite small. It is likely someone has snapped a picture of me without my knowledge. I really don't care. I've been asked to pose for pictures usually by younger women in a club or bar, and they have always done it in a nice and polite manner. I don't mind. I have a Flickr page so obviously I don't have a fear of my pictures being on the internet.

There are security cameras everywhere including outdoor public areas such as parks and streets. It is a just a part of living into today's world. I go in Sephora on a regular basis even if it is just to say hi to my favorite sales person. She gives me a lot of free samples, and puts them into my purse or shopping bag. She holds hold them up so the security cameras can see I'm not walking out the store with shoplifted items. I never paid attention to the cameras, which are well disguised, until she did this for the first time.

I had a photo album on this site and also have one in the chat room I frequent. Both sites are behind a log in. Someone asked if I was afraid someone I knew in my boy life would see them. My response was I would ask them what they were doing on a cd/tg web site and what they were doing looking at the pictures. Also, I look rather different so I doubt they would recognize me without prior knowledge of my dual life.

The bottom line is I don't worry about it so it does not become a fear that stops me from fully enjoying my time out as a woman.

[AKAMichelle]

I say "SMILE you are on candid camera". You can't stop them from taking the pictures but you can control your appearance. If you look presentable and aren't attracting unnecessary attention then why not.

Don't let fear of the someone else's actions stop you from being you.

[Nikki A.]

How about the government cameras in your house?
Actually once you go public anything may happen, but the chances of someone that you know, seeing your picture and & recognising you are slim. Unless you make the front page of the local paper LOL.

[Kate Simmons]

I kind of agree with Nikki. If they are that interested, I say let them go for it and knock themselves out. Nikki knows what I mean anyway.

[tamarav]

[SIZE=4]If you are going to go out, you have to realize you have already blown your annomimity. You are now "at risk" for pictures and any other sort of contact that is there. But, that is why most of us go out anyway! [/SIZE]
[SIZE=4][/SIZE]
[SIZE=4]If I know a camera is around I simply pose for it, or walk up to the person with their mouth open and talk with them. Being out and about exposes you to the same stuff we face daily anyway, you just look different than you usually do.[/SIZE]

[divamissz]

It doesn't matter what you are wearing, the moment you leave the privacy of your own home your privacy pretty much is gone. Cities are covered with CCTV. Go into a mall, you're on CCTV, watched by security, observed by salespeople in the shops. Drive down the street, there's cameras on stoplights and monitoring roadways, and if you have a toll tag...

And of course, we now live in a world where people use Foursquare and Twitter to tell everyone where they are, Facebook to report our status, Flickr to post photos taken everywhere, YouTube to post random photos. And you can be part of those internet breadcrumbs-even when you don't want to be.

I chose to not be afraid of the world. If someone sees me, that's part of what happens when you go out. I refuse to be terrified that someone might see me. I can't control what happens, just how I react to it.

And I chose to think I'm a rock star, baby! Take my picture, be my paparazzi! Let's make Lindsay and Paris want to scream at their PR flacks because I got more face time than they did!

Yes, I'm kidding, but wouldn't it be fun...