Have you been recognized? [Archive] - Crossdressers.com - #1 Community & Forum for Crossdressers, Family and Friends

Kaz

11-05-2011, 06:55 PM

I have never knowingly been recognised - i.e. if I have I am not aware of it. However, I do look very different in boy mode... as many of us do in fact (check out the picture thread on male/female modes!).

Mind you, I tend to not post pictures with clues in (like my front room, or car, or house front). I guess if someone really wanted to hunt me down it would be possible, but you have to ask why... If they are on this site to begin with and admit that they found you here it begs questions of them?

Danni Kay

11-05-2011, 06:56 PM

Hmmm....well I was at DC's own high-heel drag race event a few weeks ago and am 100% sure a female co-worker of mine saw me and recognized me despite my being dressed to the nines as a girl (wig, dress, heels, full make up, jewelry, purse, hose). I was a bit flustered when I saw ran into her, and managed to melt into the crowd. She didn't say anything to me about it at work the next day or later on (we rarely interact much anyway). In hindsight, I wish I had just introduced myself there since I'm sure she knows now anyway.

Jenniferathome

11-05-2011, 07:06 PM

My wife says it would be impossible to recognize me. I believe her.

vikki2020

11-05-2011, 07:28 PM

I've got pics of me here, there, and everywhere, and, no one has recognized me,yet! And if they do, I'm not all that concerned about it. I do look WAY different, in my pics,though!

susan357

11-05-2011, 07:29 PM

Danni,

That's way too funny! I thought about going to the same event but could not make it. Were there many 'girls' there besides those racing?

Susan

Stephenie S

11-05-2011, 07:36 PM

I post no photos.

However, years ago I was recognized by another member on this forum just from reading my posts, no photos needed.

S

kristinacd55

11-05-2011, 07:40 PM

Nope, not a one.....and I don't really care at this point either.

connie23

11-05-2011, 07:41 PM

Thanks everyone for the replies. I posted one picture without my face and I was still nervous. Now, maybe, I will have the courage to post some real pictures. I want to see what people think if Connie but ...
So anyway Audreyanne, thanks for starting this thread,
Connie

sandra-leigh

11-05-2011, 07:43 PM

Sure. When you become part of the community, going to places in both modes, and especially if you wander on to Facebook or the like, you might well end up in a situation where someone knows of you and has seen you around, but hasn't happened to see you dressed up yet, and ends up learning to associate the femme name and the boy-mode face by seeing pictures of you dressed.

If the question is really "Are people going to be able to recognize the boy-mode you by seeing the girl-mode you either live or in pictures", then that depends a lot on the individual. There are a lot of people around here that pretty much dismiss the possibility (except for "people that barely make an effort"), but some of us are easy to recognize and some of us are not. I happen to fall in to the category of "rarely not recognized".

My gender therapist says that the only real "tell" on me is my facial hair, and that getting it permanently removed would make a big difference. That's her story, and she's sticking too it :) It isn't the right story for me, though: there have been far far too many times when I've been recognized from a distance in bad light when I was shaved and wearing good foundation -- cases where people would have been much too far away for my light facial hair to be noticeable.

I mention this about facial hair just in the context of saying that no-one has ever managed to come up with more than a half-hearted hypothesis about why it is that people recognize me so easily. (And it goes the other way too -- people that have only seen me dressed easily recognize me in "boy mode"). My looks are not striking, I don't have any distinguishing scars, I am not especially tall (6' compared to 5' 10 1/2" average), my nose isn't especially big or sharp, my chin isn't either, and so on. I'm the middle-of-the-road looker that people happen to recognize easily. Not much happens to disguise me.

A lot of people get the breaks, but some people don't.

It is common, in this kind of thread, for people to say, "But people are never going to expect to see you dressed up!". Well, in my case, there have been very few people indeed who have expressed surprise as seeing me dressed up, even if they have never seen me dressed up before. Never once has anyone said to me anything close to, "I never would have expected..."

I seem to be an outlier, and my experiences are not the common experience, but It Happens To Some People.

The countering benefit is that, me being recognized so easily, and people not being surprised, neither are people upset.

DanaR

11-05-2011, 07:44 PM

Most people won't be able to put it together. I used to go out with some of the Seattle girls after an Emerald City meeting. Most of the time we would go to the same tavern and got to know the owner fairly well. He knew me well enough that we would talk all of the time. One night I was in the area, in guy mode and stopped by the tavern and the owner was there. I ordered the normal beer that I drank as a girl, and he realized that he knew me, but I didn't let on and questioned some of his comments. He then backed away and realized he had made a mistake; which I didn't help him out of. I realized then that most people don't recognize us when we are out. The exception might be if you are dressed and out with your wife, friends would recognize her and then figure out who you are. YMMV

Anne2345

11-05-2011, 08:00 PM

If anyone recognizes me from the photos I have posted here, then I really, really need to revisit my makeup skills . . . . I think I would be more disappointed that they recognized me in spite of my makeup, rather than the mere fact that I was actually recognized . . . .

Launa

11-05-2011, 08:14 PM

This is a good question to ask because I am hesitant to post photos here but I want to. I'm not so worried about myself being outed, I'm more worried that my CDing would become my families problem. I do wonder though with the technology they have if some meathead can take your photo from here or facebook and with computer enhancements find a way to show the world what you look like as a man and post the dam thing on the net or FB so it becomes a big problem. I'm probably paranoid...

DanaR

11-05-2011, 08:50 PM

This is a good question to ask because I am hesitant to post photos here but I want to. I'm not so worried about myself being outed, I'm more worried that my CDing would become my families problem.
This was one of my fears as well. But I really don't think that most people would be able to recognize us, and if they did you could deny it.

I do wonder though with the technology they have if some meathead can take your photo from here or facebook and with computer enhancements find a way to show the world what you look like as a man and post the dam thing on the net or FB so it becomes a big problem. I'm probably paranoid...

I don't think that this could ever happen. With makeup you create highlights and shadows, to create illusions. If someone were to take a (female) photo of you, I suppose they could change it to make it look like your neighbor.:D

sometimes_miss

11-05-2011, 09:10 PM

Didn't even need pictures. Someone at work added all the information available and figured out it was me. I simply denied everything, as long as there was no picture, they had no proof. But it was enough to get me to change a few 'details' so that I wouldn't be 'spotted' again.
Got to be careful.

NathalieX66

11-05-2011, 09:31 PM

If anyone who knows me found my internet photos, then what are they doing there? .....catch my drift?

Kaz

11-05-2011, 09:41 PM

If anyone who knows me found my internet photos, then what are they doing there? .....catch my drift?

Well said Nathalie! If anyone is so keen to find out who I am and they do, I will say well done... welcome to the the club and I am glad you are here! Now if there are people trawling these pages trying to expose people and you have no legitimate right to be here (other than, of course, your legitimate right to be here)... what I mean is that you are not part of our community but someone wishing to dig up a story... go ahead...it will be an interesting thing to observe and respond to...

DanaR

11-05-2011, 11:25 PM

Kate Simmons

11-06-2011, 03:58 AM

Not locally perhaps but don't kid yourself. The FBI, CIA and NSA all know exactly who we all are.:)

victoriamwilliams1

11-06-2011, 04:06 AM

No, In fact a former boss saw me in girl mode and thought the photo was of an aunt! I have been posting photos of me for almost 10 years, plus if they are finding photos of yo in girl mode it opens doors to ask them questions.

Jeanna

11-06-2011, 05:14 AM

In 3 words Facial Recognition Software. It's everywhere. Have you ever uploaded your male pic to see who yo might look like or for a makeover? How about that Facebook anyone?

Satinpeta

11-06-2011, 05:29 AM

Well thanks to this thread I have now shown my profile photo..................hope its OK,

noeleena

11-06-2011, 06:24 AM

Hi,

I spos that applys more for you who dress , & may not be able to be seen .
So a bit different for me . i was not going to hide away & make up storys & when i do some thing i do it all out so reguardless of what might come my way.

i.v shown my profile story & pics around the world, so no where to hide.
& being well known it had to come out , most of our details are there for people to see & read, & thats out side of the trans community as well.

Im allso on many forums in different countys & thats so lovely because i can have chats with many lovely people of cause they get to know about who i am & why. try the net use my name,

I belive iv been given a fantastic opportunity in being able to show & let others know we can be accepted in to socity like any one can , yes i know theres more to it than just what iv said here yet its a start,

...noeleena...

RachelDenise

11-06-2011, 08:41 AM

That was a worry for me as well, so it took me awhile to post a picture. If anyone has recognized me, they haven't made it known to me. I love the fact that there is a face to go with my name.

Dannigirl

11-06-2011, 08:49 AM

Would much rather be recognized on this site then have somebody say they saw me on "Canada's 10 Most Wanted" site. :o)

Sophie86

11-06-2011, 08:50 AM

I have a couple of people friended on both of my facebook profiles, which means there are some mutual friends who will occasionally see my profile picture, as well as my femme name. They've never mentioned having recognized me, but I suspect that's just them minding their own business.

Tina B.

11-06-2011, 09:14 AM

I haven't posted a picture lately, but use to have one up a lot, never heard anyone mention it, but then I don't know if I know any cross dressers so I'm not sure the people that know me would ever find me here. My oldest son got a quick glimpse of a photo of me dressed one day while looking for something on my computer, but at a glance ( I changed folders quickly) he asked if it was someone from a club the wife and I belong to, thats dad never entered his head. I don't lose where pictures are anymore, they are on a external drive that is only turned on when I want in there, so no one stumbles on to anything again.
Tina B.

gabimartini

11-06-2011, 10:48 AM

Not that I know of. The prospect of it happening is somewhat scary. Like Kaz says, my pics too tend not to have any clues.

wendy360

11-06-2011, 12:00 PM

Not locally perhaps but don't kid yourself. The FBI, CIA and NSA all know exactly who we all are.:)

Now I know why it took less than a week to get my TSA security clearance for my Haz Mat license and another guy at work it took over a month.
The cross dresser data base, must be the one started by J Edgar, John to his friends.

Crissy Kay

11-06-2011, 12:11 PM

I do have some of my pics on Flickr, and a couple other places. I was worried for a while, but not anymore. Like Vikki said, I look very different in male mode.

Audreyanne

11-06-2011, 12:25 PM

Thank you all for the thoughtful comments.

miga

11-06-2011, 12:37 PM

Not locally perhaps but don't kid yourself. The FBI, CIA and NSA all know exactly who we all are.:)

Right.

I've come to the conclusion that there's little they can do with the information, however.

(more of concern to me is the possibility of being profiled as a domestic-terrorist based on my browsing history)

Pamela Kay

11-06-2011, 12:48 PM

You look great, nice legs and dress!

I just put my profile picture on a day or two ago as well. I went with the body shot only since I haven't got all the accessories and makeup skills yet. I thought about it for a few weeks before I did it too.

Well thanks to this thread I have now shown my profile photo..................hope its OK,

Julogden

11-06-2011, 01:14 PM

Not to my knowledge. Keep in mind that anyone viewing this site is probably a CD or the SO of a CD. The chances of your family, friends or acquaintances stumbling on this site and then seeing a photo of you and recognizing you is incredibly low.

The first time I had a photo of me available for the world to see was back in the pre-Internet days, had a few photos of me published in Virginia Prince's old Transvestia magazine and in Cathy Slavik's Empathy Press magazines back in the late 1970's, and have been posting photos of me in various places on the Internet since about 1997, and so far, no family members or friends have found my photos, as far as I can tell.

Most of us look way different when crossdressed, and that makes it even less likely that we'll be recognized even if someone who knows us sees a photo of us.

Carol

Debglam

11-06-2011, 01:38 PM

Cheryl T

11-06-2011, 01:48 PM

If they have they haven't told me.
I seriously doubt that anyone would recognize me and I don't really care at this stage.
Besides, what would my "straight laced" friends be doing searching the web for CD pics anyway. How would they ever admit that???

Pamela Kay

11-06-2011, 01:52 PM

Audrey,

I met a couple of my girlfriends in drab. Until they told me who the were I wouldn't have guessed! Seriously, and these are people I know! One in particular is on the tall side, and for some reason, she looked much taller in drab then when dressed. (So much for reliable witnesses!) In fact, I really had to look at their faces to picture them as the girls I know. Really weird but I think the mind just doesn't make the translation.

Anyway, that and the fact that I just don't care. . .
Deb

I think it is partly because we know someone as a male or a female and the brain rules out looking for them as a different gender. I have never looked at a woman to see if she is one of my male family or friends because I have never seen or thought of them that way, so my mind has already ruled out looking for them in a different gender appearance.

catriona36

11-06-2011, 06:22 PM

If anyone who knows me found my internet photos, then what are they doing there? .....catch my drift?

not so much if they notice you from this site.
i have two pics here, that could have come from here, but found on a funny pic site. one of is one of us in a wedding dress and the other is of a split guy/girl pic. now they could have come from here or from someone they sent the pics to.
maybe we could create a "found" section here. if you find a pic of ""one of us" out on the www you couldpost it here. that way if the person in the pic didnt want it posted this would help them stop itbeing posted again. just an idea.

MsJanessa

11-06-2011, 08:53 PM

A question for those of you that have posted photos of yourself dressed either here or elsewhere on the internet - - has anyone that you know in boy mode ever recognized you?

The possibility of being recognized quite frankly is one factor that keeps me from posting photos. Any comments?
No I've been posting for years, both here and in flickr and some other sites and have never been recognized

Risque_Christine

11-06-2011, 11:18 PM

I am a firm believer in the fact that (except for the CIA or NSA) you can easily hide in plain sight. Flickr must have millions of accounts and hundreds of millions of photos. Unless you are one of those people seeking millions of views, the chances that anybody ever recognizes you is near zero. The only exceptions are (a) you run for Congress or President (I would love to be the first crossdresser president, but I don't think America is there yet) or (b) you are in a divorce proceeding, in which case all of your internet history is up for display in the courtroom.
Best, Christine

gender_blender

11-07-2011, 11:58 AM

Hundreds of times, but then again, I live openly and don't wear wigs!

t-girlxsophie

11-07-2011, 03:52 PM

Never been found out on the Net.was my Wallpaper on my mobile phone that gave me away lol ( colleague saw it by accident) all turned out ok though

Sophie

kristinacd55

11-07-2011, 04:05 PM

Wasn't recognized last night when I went shopping with some best buds! Of course, I was about 100 miles from home lol

Chickhe

11-07-2011, 04:46 PM

I never say never, but most people don't even notice others when they look the same unless they are within about 10 feet looking right at each other. Change everything about your appearance and your're going to look maybe like a relative or sister and if you don't react to the person looking at you, you would probably not be discovered.

SherriePall

11-07-2011, 06:18 PM

Posting pics here shouldn't be a problem. First off most of us don't look like our drab selves. Secondly, should someone actually put two and two together and figure out who we are, then what were they doing here in the first place!

BRANDYJ

11-07-2011, 06:38 PM

This is a little reversed from being recognized while dressed fem. I used to go to monthly parties for those into D/s and other BDSM related activities. All were very welcome. Over about 3=4 years I got to know many of the regulars. I had always gone dressed fem. But one night I showed up in drab. Not one person knew who I was even after confronting them. They had only seen me in female mode and to some it was a shock to see me as a male. If you are any good with makeup and wear a complimenting wig, I don't know how anyone would recognise most of us. That is until you oppen your mouth to speak. So I have no fear of anyone recognizing me from pictures posted on the net. And as others have said, if they saw me on this site, I'd have questions of my own as to what they were doing here to begin with.

Patrice_CD

11-07-2011, 06:53 PM

Nope and I'm pretty confident that I am not recognizable. I've run into friends and co workers while out dressed and they had absolutely no clue it was me. I even saw one of my friends the following day and asked him about his evening. He said he ran into a woman who was very interesting and he studied her for quite some time before realizing she was actually a male. I can't hide my hands. But to this day he doesn't know it was me. From those that do know me in both modes I'm told I look anywhere from 15 to 20 years younger than what I am.

Sally24

11-07-2011, 06:59 PM

I had one sister in-law recognize me from my Sally MySpace page. Most people would not recognize me.

Sarah Doepner

11-07-2011, 07:30 PM

No one has ever told me they found a photo of Sarah and figured out it was really Dave. If they've been to this site it would be easiest if they go to one of the boy/girl photo threads we have running. Then they'd know for sure. In fact I wish they would and let me know they've been talking about my crossdressing for years so I could get out a little more often around home.

Josie M

11-07-2011, 08:01 PM

I did an internet search for "JosieCD" and, if you turn off "safe search", I get this...

http://www.crossdressers.com/forums/showthread.php?111749-J.-Edgar-Hoover

Why this would require safe search being turned off I have no idea...

(first make sure it's "JosieCD" so you don't get "Josie and the Pussycats" CDs ;) )

I used to get my flikr photos....

TexasCD810

11-07-2011, 08:07 PM

Never and I hope it stays that way. I got a little carried away with my profile picture so who knows.

Acastina

11-07-2011, 08:47 PM

Wasn't recognized last night when I went shopping with some best buds! Of course, I was about 100 miles from home lol

I see you and your friends know the first rule of passing in everyday situations: don't wear a cocktail dress and stilettos to the mall. The flossier and blingier you are, the more likely you are to stick out and prompt unwanted curiosity. Very nice everyday casual looks, all three of you!

alinne_lima

11-07-2011, 09:25 PM

Hi Audreyanne,
I confess that I also have this fear, I started posting pictures of me recently and still not have the courage to show my face, but I'm a little more confidence knowing that many CDs have never been recognized.

Cari

11-07-2011, 09:26 PM

Yes I have been recognized; but it was by another CD so no big deal.
The giveaway was that I had too much detail in the profile.
Enough things added up that they asked me if I was on here.
It wasn't that they looked at the pic and knew right away.
I have since made my profile and pics a bit vague and haven't been spotted since.

At the time I was active with a local chapter of tri ess and getting out regularly.
That left lots to post and some pictures with unique backgrounds ect.

kristinacd55

11-07-2011, 09:30 PM

I see you and your friends know the first rule of passing in everyday situations: don't wear a cocktail dress and stilettos to the mall. The flossier and blingier you are, the more likely you are to stick out and prompt unwanted curiosity. Very nice everyday casual looks, all three of you!

Thanks! Even though we heard/saw some looks....after a bit I didn't give it a second thought.

Cari

11-07-2011, 09:50 PM

On the flip side I have read a few folks and had some friends read
here were some of the clues.

1: Dont pose next to your car; never show a license plate.
2: If you have distinct art or furniture don't pose in front of it.
3: If you live in a small town just post your state in the profile.
4: Take a long hard look at your pics if you have distinct features or tatoos don't show them off in the pic.
5: Don't pose with a pet, unless its a real common pet like a goldfish :)
6: Watch your backgrounds how specific are they.

If you are worried ask a friend on here to check your profile and see how close they come. In every case I know of: people are a little suspicious but don't really believe it or want to believe it. Then they start watching and putting little things together. Eventually they have enough to ask or worse yet start showing friends and asking what they think.

I dont date photos anymore or post them quickly - when I was active friends started wondering why I was never around on the third weekend every month it had become a pattern. If they suspected the profile it would be really easy to note that pics got added when I wasn't around. {this may hold for folks who can only dress when family is away ect}

BTW I don't regret posting pics at all - I have been recognized but only by other CD's.

NathalieX66

11-07-2011, 10:02 PM

Wasn't recognized last night when I went shopping with some best buds! Of course, I was about 100 miles from home lol

I reckognize some faces in this photo. We may have met.
i do know that girl in the middle.

However Ive already made it known to some friends about this side of me, even though I told them midway through life. That eliminates the lies and the closeting. This is a side of me that I must live.

However, let's say someone from work or someone that knows me peruses crossdressing sites, and finds someone that looks like me.....well, what are they doing here?.....savvy?

sissystephanie

11-07-2011, 10:17 PM

In all the years that I have been CD'ing I have had a lot of pictures taken. But I have never posted any on the Internet myself. So I don't know if anybody has ever recognised me or not. For the past 6 years I have gone out in public in the Atlanta, Ga area dressed completely enfemme many times! But I did not wear any makeup or a wig, so I looked just like the man that I am. Except of course for the fact that I was wearing feminine clothing!! Still haven't heard from anybody about that!! I am at the point in life where I really don't care if someone does recognise me!!

kristinacd55

11-08-2011, 08:58 PM

[QUOTE=NathalieX66;2649359]I reckognize some faces in this photo. We may have met.
i do know that girl in the middle.

Yup Nathalie.....we met at the last Raven :)

sara.s

11-08-2011, 09:07 PM

I sent a pic of me holding "myself dressed" to a friend and told her that the girl was my girlfriend but she easily recognized. What a bummer:doh:

Risque_Christine

11-26-2011, 11:42 PM

A few people in this thread correctly mentioned that if you don't want to be noticed, don't wear stilettos and a cocktail dress. That being said, the chances that somebody YOU know will recognize you in that attire is pretty slim, just because they cannot connect the dots. I can now attest to this having walked out of a very nice hotel at a major corporate function, dressed exactly that way. I had cased the the hotel with great care, looking at exit routes so Christine could enjoy her evening without getting recognized and fired as she left the event. l walked down 9 flights of stairs, exited into a side lobby and DROPPED INTO A HALLWAY WITH 5 PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME VERY WELL IN DRAB. I nearly died on the spot. I put my Imperial Christine look on, threw my shoulders back and thrust my chest out, fluffed down my evening gown so the garters did not show and strutted past in 3 1/2 heels. They did not have a chance, I blew right by them to my car. And I had the best time that night I have ever had. So life is a risk, take it and be glad you are alive to be recognized.

Best, Christine