Attacking and Challenging Members - Fair Game or Not?

[Anne2345]

Telling a person that their ideas are invalid or wrong because they haven't:

1. Had surgery
2. Suffered as another person has
3. Lived full-time
4. Attempted suicide
5. Been discriminated against in a particular way

or had some other life experience is belittling.

We should be discussing the issues that we face. Attacking another's credibility achieves little except for driving away those who are too fragile to tolerate the drama.

Good thing, I suppose, that I am not so delicate and fragile to have run away from this site crying and bawling my ass off, never ever to return ever again, huh? Although I am sure many here have had their doubts about me over the past several years. Which is totally fair.

And in this, folk here have both challenged and attacked me for the things I have written in the past. Over and over again. Even you, Eryn, have attacked and challenged me within posts I have submitted on this forum. You have also belittled me, too, on more than one occasion, so there’s kinda this pot/kettle/black undertone thingy swimming around within the currents of your post, but I digress . . . .

Regardless, although I agree there is no place for belittling members here within the forum, the thing is that I needed members to challenge and attack me and the substance of the posts I had submitted.

I absolutely NEEDED it.

I needed it to get through all of the static, fog, and chaos roiling around inside my head. I needed smacked around and beat up some to wake me from my own self-imposed prison. I needed members here to be brutally honest to me, to even be rough with me, to stir me up, upset me, and make me THINK.

Using kid gloves would have accomplished little to nothing for me here. Using kid gloves would have done me a huge disservice.

I would be dead right now had some of y’all not stepped up to the plate and just challenged the absolute out of me, over and over again.

Anyone that takes transition lightly is in for a world of hurt. Anyone who is not fully prepared for the challenges and hardships of transition (whether such hardships and challenges come to fruition or not) is setting themselves up for failure. Anyone who moves forward down this path unprepared to sacrifice or lose huge parts of the “former” life does so at their own peril.

In a very real way, as I see it and experienced it to be, the TS section is tantamount to internet version of tranny boot camp. You gotta go through a lot of shit, be deconstructed, and broken down before you can move forward and be rebuilt into something stronger, something better, something more knowing, something more aware, into something more real and authentic.

Only a fool would believe that this section is not also inhabited and regularly visited by a fair number of tranny wannabees, folk who attempt to talk the talk but are unwilling to walk the walk, and members who are living just plain outright in fantasy land. To those people, they NEED their bubbles burst. They NEED to be challenged. They NEED to be discredited. Not only for their own good, but for the good of members here who are truly TS, but who are still early on in their transition, or are still trying to figure things out.

Words, ideas, concepts, and stories are powerful. They are not to be used or wielded casually or recklessly. Particularly not here, not in THIS forum. Because these things here truly can be the difference between life and death, between moving forward and committing suicide. This shit is SERIOUS, and it should be treated as such and taken seriously.

To those that repeatedly challenged me, I thank them and all that they did for me. I would not be where I am now without their tough love.

Instead, I would be dead. And lemme tell ya, I very much like where I am at now, and quite grateful for the opportunity to be here ALIVE to experience it all.

As such, although I am against belittling folk, I'm all for attacking and challenging members who choose or need to post here when circumstances warrant.

Just my two cents worth . . . .

[whowhatwhen]

I think 'yall put too much effort into careposting and arguing about who is real and why who is real and real real real.

Real.

[Tina_gm]

Interesting. Is there really a TG bootcamp in here to be a member? does a pin get slapped on and penetrate ones breasts when they pass? Should there be?

What if I am going through my life, pondering, then come to a conclusion that I am a woman inside, not merely a CDer. I come on here and state this, asking for help and advice on how to deal short term with GD and long term transition... Along the way, while I do not feel any different, but I then decide that I haven't and won't be going through the 5 things mentioned. Am I then cast out of membership, or should I be? I mean, does someone have to transition to be considered TS, or should they be?

I come here occasionally to get a perspective on things. A different view point. Perhaps a validation, or just answers to questions swirling through my head. I can't really say I have felt any rejection or harsh treatment by those who identify as TS.

Interesting too, about your claim about the wannabe's. I don't wannabe any of this, and don't wannabe going any further than I feel the need to. It does tend to complicate life more than life is already ridiculously complicated as is. Maybe someone is dealing with a pink fog, and may think they are TS, and those who know the difference can help point them in the right direction, maybe not being brutal, but simply honest?

I do hope my occasional presence here is not offending anyone. There are a great many of us who are not TS, but still deal with difficult and challenging and confusing gender issues and perhaps dysphoria. I would like to hope that those in this section would be helpful, rather than harsh and brutal.

[Anne2345]

I do hope my occasional presence here is not offending anyone.

You know, these things always come down to statements and accusations such as this one. I mean, it's almost not even worth discussing or putting out there crap like my OP because these things always degenerate or devolve into an argument about who is being offended by something or who is being offensive to who or whatever.

Take my words fwiw they are worth. Perhaps they are worth nothing at all. Perhaps the words of those who have preceded me are worth nothing at all. Perhaps everybody here is full of shit. Perhaps we should just clean the whole thing up, sterilize everything, and shower all who come through the door with hugs and kisses and watercress sandwiches with tea and cookies and stuff.

I did not write that it was necessary for folk here to be treated "harsh and brutal," Gendermutt. So I would appreciate you not twisting the meaning of my post like that.

And I said nothing to invalidate YOUR existence, whatever your existence may or may not be composed of.

So if I offended you, and it looks like I did based upon the substance of your reply, that's on you, not me . . . .

But if someone can't handle themselves in the relative safety of an internet forum, then they ain't got no chance at all out in the real world, and they need to know this sooner rather than later so they can do whatever is necessary to get a grip and take control of their lives . . . .

[Badtranny]

I think 'yall put too much effort into careposting and arguing about who is real and why who is real and real real real.Real.

Really?

So you don't think it matters if someone who is naive and questioning (like I once was, and Annie once was, etc etc) comes here and gets bad information from people who aren't even out?

I was helped immensely by these 'careposters' at a time when I was incredibly confused about who I was. I was also taken in by a longtime poster who 100% misrepresented themselves and befriended a few of us in the process. Eventually the fraud was uncovered but I shudder to think about those who may have made decisions based on this person's advice.

As Annie pointed out so eloquently, transition is a serious business and I don't think it's unreasonable at all that the topic of transition be represented by people that are actually transitioning.

[LeaP]

IMHO, the single most important issue - throughout life - for cross sexed people, IS reality. Recognizing it. Dealing directly with it. Overcoming the effects of avoiding it. Avoiding our own fantasies and traps. Trying to stay in it and present and engaged when every fiber wants us to hide, run, or deflect. Stopping rationalization. Letting go of control.

If someone thinks they might be TS, the kindest thing you can do is help them confront reality head-on. Now. Right now. It IS the cure. Everything else is in the details.

[Tina_gm]

Anne, you did not offend me in the least, I was wondering if my presence offended those on here who identify as TS. I really am asking that question, along with a few others. I have not experienced the harsh brutal stuff, but maybe because I am not contemplating or going through transition. I would only argue that while there should not be a simple kumbaya hand holding for anyone and everyone no matter what, there are a whole bunch of people on here, who knows maybe even me, who are finding their way like those who have done so in the past and are now ready to take on transition. Being so brutal might just further confuse someone who feels unwelcome so they just keep on drifting around? I would agree though, if I come on here and say I am TS and ready to go, I should be for warned of the difficulities, and be tasked that I am certain and ready for it. I just don't know if it needs to be done brutally.

[whowhatwhen]

Really?

So you don't think it matters if someone who is naive and questioning (like I once was, and Annie once was, etc etc) comes here and gets bad information from people who aren't even out?

I was helped immensely by these 'careposters' at a time when I was incredibly confused about who I was. I was also taken in by a longtime poster who 100% misrepresented themselves and befriended a few of us in the process. Eventually the fraud was uncovered but I shudder to think about those who may have made decisions based on this person's advice.

As Annie pointed out so eloquently, transition is a serious business and I don't think it's unreasonable at all that the topic of transition be represented by people that are actually transitioning.

It's the internet, you're supposed to take things with a grain of salt and seek guidance outside it as well.
If someone truly has to transition they will, arguments or not.

It seems like every 5 minutes here the exact same arguments happen within the same group of people about the same things.
For all anyone knows I'm actually a fat 60 year old man with hairy nipples, which is why I take my own posts and everyone else's with a grain of salt.

[STACY B]

Hell they Busted my Chops here a Bunch of times ,,lol,, Most of you just STOP AND THINK BACK,, Back when you first came here and what you knew or thought you knew? You just gotta know when to Shut up an back down when you don't really have the answers. First thing they tell you here is to seek Therapy,, Until you see a Pro and get an Expert to evaluate you your opinion really doesn't count all that much anyway. There is a Little bit of a System here, An then it's off to the endo and so on and so forth.

This is Not the Cross dressing part,, No one here wants to here you went out here and there and about what you bought or anything of that sort, Some of us like that stuff and we will go to the CD side and check it out but these folks here are serious Bizz about Transition from one sex to another Full time all the time from begin to end and all that RLE is all a part of it and it you havent reached out that far yet don't comment about stuff you know nothing about.

Like me I joke an clown but stay within my spectrum of Transition time, All the Catfish folks will get found out sooner or later they all do, This is a small world and we Meet each other from time to time and without Trans Cred from meeting someone from here your words mean very little to most of us. No matter the picture or your big words or talk personal meet up to verify your real is priceless in my book.

Anyway Bang away at me and Please convince me to STOP an to Not Transition and tell me how to go about it and live to tell others. Just because we are all trans we are different people from different places in the world and live different lives and are never going to all get along and for the most part only thing we do have in common is being Trans an nothing more.

[sarahcsc]

For everybody along this path, there will be times when they need to be supported, and there are times they will need to be challenged.

If you assume that a 'hit of reality' is what everybody needs, then maybe you should read about the importance of having dreams and fantasies too.

We shouldn't be the ones to dish out reality because our realities are always going to be biased.

We can certainly tell others our stories, but to assume it to be 'reality' is nothing short of arrogance and ignorance.

I've heard both horrendous and wonderful stories of transitioning, some were full of hardships while others were smooth sailing. Somehow, the former is emphasized but the latter ignored.

It is the "don't transition unless you are faced with suicide or have absolutely no choice" mentality which generates so much negative views.

And the "you don't know what you're talking about unless you've gone through what I've gone through" mentality that creates the divide.

Also, people who holds these mentalities are often the most vocal group as well.

I agree that we all need to be supported and challenged at different times, but we should leave our stories, biases and agendas out of the picture as much as possible and focus on the person asking for help. We might still get things wrong sometimes but at least our conscience will be clear.

The very concept of sex and gender and transitioning means differently to different people. To heed only the advice of those "who are out" is to lose sight of the vast majority of others who have faced other unique challenges in their lives who has equally precious pearls of wisdom to share. Why discredit others "who are not out"?

Love,
S

[Kimberly Kael]

For everybody along this path, there will be times when they need to be supported, and there are times they will need to be challenged.

I couldn't agree more, though I'll add that none of us are really qualified to distinguish between the two definitively given how little information we know about anyone here. Providing a range of views is a useful service we can provide as a community.

We shouldn't be the ones to dish out reality because our realities are always going to be biased.

It's no less true for any subject, but reality checks are still useful. Anyone who assumes that liberal family members are guaranteed to be accepting, or who thinks that a workplace policy prohibiting discrimination is any kind of guarantee, or that a weekend dressed is a reasonable approximation of living full-time needs a reality check. Yes, it can go completely overboard in the "your wife will leave you and you'll be unemployable" vein, but that's why getting multiple perspectives is useful.

I've heard both horrendous and wonderful stories of transitioning, some were full of hardships while others were smooth sailing. Somehow, the former is emphasized but the latter ignored.

To be fair, there's usually a lot more to say about the former than the latter. I have posted my share of positivity here and haven't been explicitly called out for it. No, it doesn't tend to lead to much conversation but there's often not much to say and certainly few cautionary tales that emerge. "Watch out! You might be just fine!" doesn't exactly rate as a headline.

It is the "don't transition unless you are faced with suicide or have absolutely no choice" mentality which generates so much negative views.

Yeah, I'm not a fan either and I've said as much from time to time. I think there's an inherent danger to letting that much pressure build up and acting under duress as a result. There has to be a better way of saying that what you gain is subtle and what you risk losing can be earth-shattering, so be really, really sure you know what you're doing. I suspect the transition or die meme emerged largely from historical treatment where that was essentially the magic phrase required to get medical treatment. That in turn may have reflected the cost / benefit picture given where western society was on trans issues. Things have indeed improved in recent decades albeit not uniformly. Unfortunately there's also some evident backlash attached which will hopefully be short-lived.

Why discredit others "who are not out"?

Putting someone's views in perspective relative to their lived experience can be helpful for observers. Consider watching a debate between scientists and politicians — wouldn't you like to know which is which and what their credentials are before weighing their relative arguments?

[Anne2345]

We might still get things wrong sometimes but at least our conscience will be clear.

My conscience is clear, thank you very much . . . .

Why discredit others "who are not out"?

Then why discredit anybody at all on any issue at all for that matter, right?? Why not instead just give everybody's opinions and stories equal weight, regardless of their experience, education, and background?? I mean seriously, just THINK about that for a moment, and see if you don't come to the same conclusion that the remainder of the rational and logical world has . . . .

If you assume that a 'hit of reality' is what everybody needs, then maybe you should read about the importance of having dreams and fantasies too.

Not sure what you mean by "dreams and fantasies," but NO ONE HERE is saying that there is no place for positive stories, feedback, and validation within this forum. NO ONE is saying that. And quite frankly, it gets tiresome reading all of the crap from members who feel compelled to spout that accusation out when things become perhaps a bit difficult. It's a ridiculous and unfounded accusation and argument, however, and one I suspect is tossed around because some folk would rather live within the matrix instead of outside it. I myself have submitted more than my fair share of positive posts, and I have commented many times in a very positive manner. That's true of every longtime and regular poster here. To say otherwise, in the face of the overwhelming evidence (don't take my word for it, go ahead and sift through past posts and OPs and check it out for yourself), is to live in la-la land.

The true value of experience is recognizing situations for what they are, and based upon that recognition being able to respond competently, wisely, and in a manner that has a foundation based in reality and results. If you want to throw that out the window and go barreling through a china shop blindfold, have at it. I'll not stop you or anyone else who chooses to do so . . . .

Challenging conversations or threads arguing the same thing about whose real or not?
It takes too much effort to caaaaare.

*takes grain of salt*

Wow. Just plain wow. Then why bother even coming here? Why not go somewhere else if you are so miserable and distrustful of folk here? Good people put much time and effort into composing and submitting posts and responses on a wide variety of topics and issues here. And they do this not for the glory or glamour - because there is none - rather, they do so because they CARE and they desire to help in any way they may be able. Many good people have helped me over the years here. They deserve better than scorn . . . .

[arbon]

Wow. Just plain wow. Then why bother even coming here? Why not go somewhere else if you are so miserable and distrustful of folk here? .........
They deserve better than scorn . . . .

So does she.
She was not being scornful to anyone.

[whowhatwhen]

Wow. Just plain wow. Then why bother even coming here? Why not go somewhere else if you are so miserable and distrustful of folk here? Good people put much time and effort into composing and submitting posts and responses on a wide variety of topics and issues here. And they do this not for the glory or glamour - because there is none - rather, they do so because they CARE and they desire to help in any way they may be able. Many good people have helped me over the years here. They deserve better than scorn . . . .

I like it here because there are resources here that help me, I'm just offering a different POV here and being roasted for it.
I've actually had people PM me and say they don't post in this section because of all the realness witchhunts.
No matter how far into transition they are or want to go people shouldn't feel scared to post here.

[Rianna Humble]

I've heard both horrendous and wonderful stories of transitioning, some were full of hardships while others were smooth sailing. Somehow, the former is emphasized but the latter ignored

I don't know what forums you've been reading, but they are not on this site...

It is the "don't transition unless you are faced with suicide or have absolutely no choice" mentality which generates so much negative views.

Or to be more precise it is exactly this kind of deliberate misrepresentation of what is written that causes the problems.

[Rachel Smith]

My experience with this site. I was welcomed. I ask for advice and received it. Sometimes I liked it sometimes I didn't. What I didn't do was confront with hostility and I received none in return. I still like it here but mostly just as an observer. I will post occasionally but mostly only do so in my journal now.

Edit here
Just was wondering. Does anyone here think that perhaps the reason some of us have an easier time of it is because of those that went before? Many come here for help and guidance and it may be/have been you and your knowledge and resources that help someone else avoid some of the pitfalls. To those that helped me THANK YOU!!

[stefan37]

Transition is serious stuff. (Insert expletive of choice). When one starts to shed their birth gender. Things get real very fast. Marriages blow up. Familial and friendship relationships dissolve. You can lose your employment. Management can make employment difficult. Finding employment can be challenging if not impossible.

The last thing a person contemplating transition needs is to hear " you go girl ". They need to hear how others that have faced these obstacles navigated around them.
They could be in serious trouble if they get information from those espousing fairy tale transitions. The reality is the majority of us need surgical intervention to have a chance of living as our target gender. It's freaking expensive. It's not uncommon to spend 25 grand alone in facial hair removal. Add another 10 grand for therapy and hormones. 20-40 for FFS. 25 for SRS. Huge hefty price tag. How will someone pay for that. Can you afford to transition.

They need to hear from those that have been and are still going there. I mean after all this is the TS forum. The world will not sing Kumbaya and give blanket acceptance. You will need ridiculed. You will experience hostility. Hostility that can and has lead to severe injury and in some cases death.

They need to understand that their expectation of what they perceive may not materialize. Then what?? What if spending huge amounts of cash. You still are not happy. You are not passing. Will you have the internal fortitude to soldier on?

That's what the blunt honest talk those that visit this forum get. If you can't stand the heat on an internet forum. No way will you be able to handle life as a transitioner. See my definition in a previous post.

[Angela Campbell]

If someone posts something that appears to be very much on the fantasy side of things, they will be called out on what they say.

I don't think that is belittling someone, it is not an attack on them as much as the subject matter. Then again if you plan on transitioning, you better be able to handle that, because out here in full time land, it's brutal.

Also if advice is being handed out, it's nice to know who it's coming from and that they are"real"

[becky77]

I don't agree with everyone and sometimes there are things said that I don't like.
However I go away have a think about it and I can be amazed at times how something makes me think differently, then I realise i've been looking at it from completely the wrong way.

Sometimes those hard unpalatable truths are the ones that end up having the biggest impact.

Also, some things just don't ring true until you are on the other side. There's no doubt about it I have certainly changed my tune since transitioning, there's nothing wrong with being challenged and when your talking BS, you need to be called out.

Transition involves a lot of growth, there's no room for uncompromising opinions.

I've learnt so much from this part of the forum and I don't mind admitting it.

[becky77]

It doesn't offend me, nothing wrong with asking questions and contemplating things.
What can be offensive is people still in hiding telling fulltimers how it is.

What can be irritating is those who want to bend known definitions to suit themselves.

[Tina_gm]

Becky, I would sort of equate the CDers and such types telling the fulltimers how it is or bending definitions to many religious or other non accepting from society about how TG is a choice and wrong and evil yadda yadda.

[Nigella]

We have no real way of knowing who is and who isn't full time and living the life of their true gender. We take things at face value, but the wealth of experience here will soon out those who are trying to pull the wool. What I find irritating is those who will not accept that all we are doing is offering advice. I have yet to see the old ways of this forum returning, TBH, the day that happens I will hang up my moderation hat, I wouldn't want to go through that again.

There has been no attacking, but certainly lots of challening, those who do not like the challenge will have difficulties in RL, if they can't take it here.

[Beth-Lock]

We have no real way of knowing who is and who isn't full time and living the life of their true gender. ....

Except some of us have met in RL and can vouch for each other.

I have been on this site for a long time, right through my actual transition. I have been through a lot of ups and downs here. Yet, overall, it is the information of a factual type as well as the recounting of the experiences of others, which has been of the greatest value. I owe those behind the site's existence and those making it work, day by day, a debt of gratitude. Thank you.

[Suzanne F]

Yes tough direct talk here is needed. Yes I have been very lucky in most respects concerning my transition so far. However, as documented there have been huge personal losses. I needed to hear people saying it wasn't real until I came out at work. That challenged me and I needed it. Yes I got defensive and yes I had good reasons for timing. But I was scared. I needed a push to get out of the nest. It is not a fairy tale to transition. This place needs to be able to transmit the truth. Of course we could all work on loving truth telling.
Suzanne

[Michelle789]

Anne, I love your post!!! I think you raised some interesting points here.

I think there needs to be a balance between being nice and being truthful. Many people may either sugar-coat things, or tend to say things with and intent and tone of belittling and trying to hurt others. I have personally experienced both. What bugs me isn't people being objective and telling me the truth. I want that. I want someone who can tell me the realities of transition, of whether or not I need FFS, and the realities of getting FFS. What I don't need is someone who gives me objective feedback and then goes and brags about how hot she is. This has never happened to me on the forum, but it happened to me with someone I know in real life. It really irritated the shit out of me and made me feel like crap. I was seeking out objective advice from someone who knows me in person about my face. I never asked them to brag about how hot they are or how many guys keep hitting on them. It's really irritating. Fwiw, I don't think this person is that good looking, at least not IMHO. I've seen far better looking transwoman than her who have never said anything hurtful to me. But it still gets to me. It's really hurtful and not necessary.

I've also had people on the forum who have attacked me and accused me of being not real. I've been accused of being a troll, and I have received hate mail. I have also received lots of genuine support and sound, objective, advice from this forum. I believe that most people here are sincere and come with the intent of helping out other people. This kind of belittling and attacking goes on both on the forum and in real life trans communities.

Living in fantasy land is indeed dangerous, and transition is very serious stuff. You really can lose a lot, not to mention the hefty price tag on this. However, we have to understand that we're all different human beings, with different needs, and different levels of dysphoria. What works for one person may not work for another.

The reality is that some of us may have easier goes at transition and some of us may have tougher times.

Some of us will lose all our friends, some of us will lose very few friends.

Some of us will lose our jobs and even careers, while some of us may not only keep our jobs but make our best salary since transitioning.

Some of us will pass just by putting on a wig, makeup, and women's clothes. Some of us will needs 2-3 years HRT to pass. Some of us will need HRT plus FFS to pass. Some of us will never pass.

Some of us can easily change our names and gender markers, some of us can't do it so easily.

Some of us have such bad dysphoria we may need the whole package of surgeries and procedures: HRT, facial hair removal, FFS, BA, and SRS. Some of us elect to live as women no HRT, facial hair removal, FFS, BA, or SRS. Some of us fall in the middle of the spectrum. HRT & facial hair removal, but no surgeries. Some of us may need HRT, facial hair removal, and SRS, but no FFS or BA. Some of us may need FFS but not SRS.

We all have different circumstances and personal needs dictating how we go about our transition timelines. Some of us may just go full-time from day one. Some of us may switch back and forth for a year or so before going full-time. Some of us go full-time before starting HRT. Some of us need a year of HRT before going full-time.

Some of us are in professions where our chances of losing our jobs are slim. Others work in professions that are both transphobic and sexist.

As transwomen, we face both sexism and transphobia.

The most we can do is to prepare everyone for the reality of transition. What actually happens is literally YMMV. YMMV varies not only with what happens to us with our personal transition related circumstances, but also with HRT results, and facial hair removal results, and surgery results.

We have to recognize that not everyone is fortunate enough to live in a state where they can change their name & gender easily, or that many of us can't afford it. We have to recognize that there may be TSes who need FFS and SRS but may never have the finances to pay for it.

We have to understand that some of us either are genetically blessed and don't need FFS, or that some of us just don't care whether or not we pass and can live with masculine facial features.

We have to understand that some people may not change their names or genders because they need a job, or have a difficult decision to make on whether or not to keep your birth last name.

Some of us keep our birth last name, while others change it.

Some of us know we're TS and are going to transition. Others are still questioning. Some of us may switch back and forth for many years before finally deciding to go on HRT and transition.

Some of us live in trans unfriendly states like Texas. Some of us live in more trans friendly states like California.

There may be a lucky transwoman who lives in a state like Texas that loses very little. Even in L.A. there are transwomen who lose a lot.

None of this is black and white. The real problem I see here is a lack of empathy. A lack of understanding that everyone of us is on a different path. I see that some of us fail to put ourselves in the other person's shoes, and we assume that all transitions are the same. We forget that everyone's personal circumstances are different, and that we don't all need the same procedures or surgeries. Most of the fighting I've seen here, including some that I have been involved with, are caused by a lack of understanding the other person's perspective.

Fact vs Opinion & Reading Comphrehension

There's a difference between stating what my experience is and what worked for me, and telling others that you have to do this, and being rigid about your beliefs. Your beliefs are only your experience, not necessarily fact of life. Do you remember from reading comprehension in school when they gave you "Fact or Opinion" quizzes, to decide what is a fact or an opinion. Maybe it's time to seriously brush up on our reading comprehension skills. Maybe it's time to learn what the difference between a fact and an opinion is.

Here are some examples.

Electrolysis can cost around $10,000. This is a fact, because it's measurable and can be backed up. You can actually look at your receipts and prove how much you actually paid for electrolysis.

You have to change your name and gender to be considered RLE or full-time. This is an opinion. There is nothing to actually back this up. Even WPATH doesn't state this.

You need to be on HRT for at least one year to be considered for SRS. This is a fact. It's in the WPATH standards. Most SRS surgeons require this.

You'll never pass. Opinion. It's pretty difficult for someone to predict the future and tell them whether or not they'll be passing 3 years later or not.






One more warning. Year 1 of transition isn't necessarily the hardest. Some of us may find year 2 or 3 to be the hardest. You may not lose all your friends or jobs right away. I have heard of TSes whose friends initially accepted them, and within a year, they were all gone. I have heard of TSes who initially kept their jobs, and lost them 10 months later. Sometimes you may get clocked and mis-gendered more after a year on HRT than you did before HRT. This is the biggest warning I can give everyone, is that just because your transition looks like it's going smoothly at first doesn't mean it's going to stay that way. A smooth early transition can turn into an ugly mess later on.


Social Ettiquite

I want to add this about belittling. If someone asks you for advice on whether or not they should get FFS. The best way to tell them is to point out what needs work, but also remind them of what they do have going for them. "Yes, your jawline looks masculine and jaw reconstruction or recontouring would help. However, you have great cheekbones." Don't tell them things like "you're ugly and will never pass" or "you'll never be beautiful". Don't give them constructive criticism, and then brag about how good looking you are and how much male attention you get. This will only make the other person feel like crap. Please refrain from bragging about yourself.

If someone walks up to you and asks you for advice on clothes or passing, it's okay to give constructive criticism if asked for. It's not okay to just blurt out something to someone when they never asked for constructive criticism.

Do: If someone asks you "Is my skirt length too short?" you may reply "Yes, I think you should go with something longer and more age appropriate"

Don't: Just walk up to someone and say "you're dressed too inappropriately for your age"

Do: If someone asks you "Should I wear a dress or pants?" you may reply "Pants is more appropriate for this situation" or "A dress is more appropriate for this situation"

Don't: Just blurt out "Are you going to wear normal clothes to the meeting next time?"

Don't: Say that "dresses are for cross-dressers, pants for for real TSes" - not only is blurting out something to another person wrong, but women, including transwomen, do wear dresses and skirts. And women wear pants too. There is no rule saying what to wear, other than maybe a situational expectation or workplace dresscode.

Do: If someone asks you "Is my beard visible?" you may say "Yes, I can see it"

Don't: Just blurt out to someone "90% of people clock you on your beard and don't say anything"

Do: If someone asks you "Why am I not passing?" you may say "I can see your facial hair in certain lighting" but also remind them of what they do have. Remind them, if it's true "but you have nice small hands and feet"

Don't: If someone who doesn't pass says they were ma'amed, don't say "Oh, people must be really polite these days." This is a subtle put down that reminds them that they obviously don't pass.

None of the above incidents happened to me on the forum. Every single one happened to me in real life from other transwomen in my local trans community. I am mentioning this because this stuff may go on on the forum. I just want to educate people in the etiquette on how to address people in these situations. We have to find a balance between stating objective criticism and hurting someone else's feelings. Many times our approach is what causes others to get hurt. This will serve us all good both on this forum and in real life.




Finally, I just want to say that not every one of us has big hands and feet. Some of us may just be lucky to have smaller and feminine shaped hands and feet.



The key takeaways from this post.

1. Recognize that everyone's experiences and needs are different, and try to understand the other person's perspective.

2. Understand that there is no right or wrong way to transition, nor to be a woman.

3. Brush up on your reading comprehension skills and learn how to distinguish between a fact and an opinion.

4. Exercise good social ettiquite both on this forum and in real life when addressing other people about their TS related issues.



Edit: I'll add one more thing. I think people often feel that when they've been oppressed or dealt with tough circumstances that "tough love" is the only way to go. Many people feel that they've experienced enough harshness from the world that they need to project harshness back onto others. Sometimes people feel that in their mind that "tough" or "belittling" behavior is the only way to survive. Some people just can't see the light. My father has this same exact attitude. He believes that it is somehow his duty to be a dick towards me. Take my word. If anything is going to cause you to be mistreated, aside from masculine features, inappropriate clothing, male voice, or lack of confidence, I can guarantee you that a harsh "tough love" or cruel attitude will only bring cruelty back to you, and that a nice, sweet, softer attitude will bring kindness back to you.

I will say that honestly that from my own experience if dealing with real life TSes, that the ones who are nicer, friendlier, softer personalities with better social ettiquette tend to have a much easier time at transition than do people with tough, harsh, and critical personalities. "Tough love" attracts more "tough love" and tenderheartedness attracts tenderheartedness.

I'm not saying that bad things don't happen to good people. Not at all. But if you just focus on hardship and believe that being tough is the only way to go in life, you're going to have a tough life. A tougher life than those who portray a softer, gentler approach to life. Because your attitudes are reflected back at you. People treat you based on what you put out.