A quote from Sun Tzu........

[Barbara Jo]

...... who was a Chinese military general, strategist, philosopher, and writer..... who lived during the Eastern Zhou period which was about 475 B.C. to 221 B.C

" Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment -- that which they cannot anticipate." .

As it relates to us.... dress and look like a woman, people will then just assume that you are a woman. :)

[docrobbysherry]

Using that logic, put on a horse suit and everyone will assume you're a pony?:devil:

[Patience]

And if you dress up as Batman, will people think you're Batman?

[Barbara Jo]

Those are not serious analogies. :)

[docrobbysherry]

Why not? When I've dressed up as a woman no one thot I was one. Including me.:straightface:

[Barbara Jo]

It's assumed that one does not look like and sound like King Kong.
It's just when someone is reasonably passable. Keep in mind that not all woman are beauty queens. :)

[TAG]

You never met my first wife. She was a lot like King Kong just smaller

[docrobbysherry]

"Reasonably passable"? That means u haven't passed, Barabara. :sad:
When u pass, they without a doubt thot u were a woman.:battingeyelashes:

That is VERY different from being treated nicely and politely as a trans. I have passed a few times in my life and the difference was like nite and day!:eek:

[Helen_Highwater]

People see what they expect to see based on certain criteria. Face to face I'll never pass but my experience has shown me that many have assumed, and that's the important word, assumed, I was a female because I ticked all the boxes to the casual observer.

I dress for the time and place, commensurate with a woman my age and try to emulate female mannerisms, walk etc, as much as possible.

And how do I know they thought I was a woman? I was walking out of a store next to a GG. As we got to go outside a car alarm was going off. She commented about it to me and I could see from her surprise that it was only when I replied she realised I was CD. She saw why see expected to see based on how I was dressed.

This is what blending achieves. To hide in plain sight, merge into the crowd. Be one of the masses.

[Di]

If you agree or disagree with Barbara Jo and her quote- statement.
That’s fine
But be respectful please.
If you answered already …move on .
Not a debate forum….the constant back and forth can get you time off the forum.


I feel like we are in grade school sometimes and I am of having to bring out the ruler.

[alwayshave]

Barbara Jo, I agree at a distance. Close up, not so much.

[GretchenM]

I agree Barbara Jo and I think the philosopher's statement is quite true when it is taken and applied seriously. And that is exactly what I see when I see CD/Trans people who have a normal "fit in" approach experience in real life. If you are going be sensational don't expect many in the general public to take you seriously because you are not presenting a serious expression. I fully agree with Di's comments. Thank you, Di. Helen also puts it very well.

[Barbara Jo]

So are somewhat masculine born females not passing as the females they are?
There are many born females that have faces with rather masculine features...even some famous females.

It is how one presents herself.overall :)

[Fiona_44]

Barbara Jo,

I like how that quote fits what many here try to do. Who knew Sun Tzu was an expert on blending in!!

[Barbara Jo]

BTW, by "reasonably passable" I meant in the mind of a given CD.
IMO, many are too critical/paranoid about the way they look just because they do not look like a young beauty queen.

[KarenCD334]

If you agree or disagree with Barbara Jo and her quote- statement.

... I am of having to bring out the ruler.

That could be fun.

Sorry, You are right but I couldn't resist.