how do you perceive members here

[Meghan4now]

So, as I read threads, or look a photo posts and comments, I can not help but form a mental image in my mind. My image of individuals here tends to divide into the gender binary. Not always, but usually. Sorry if that makes me a troglite

In my mind's eye, most of the self identified TS I see as women. And of course the fabulous FABs. But when it comes to CDs, it really differs. Some I seriously imagine as women, even if I met the in Drab. Others I see as men, and yet others depend on the day and the post. I find the language and concepts tend to drive that for me quite a bit. And BTW, writting tee he he or other overly stereotypical comments is likely to scream man in a dress to me.

How do you pictures others here, and what drives that image?

And of course, my own narcissistic self doubt wonders how I am perceived.

[Rachael Leigh]

Meghan this is a great question, I know that many here who are primarily CD understand they are not women and me being one know that well, I never will be.
To that end I like to think of most here as girls as I put it but knowing full well they are just a man in womens clothes. I think we do tend to get caught up on labels and well I dont care for them.
Im a guy who enjoys life and also likes to present as a women and yes I like being treated as one to a point but not because I am one but there just are times I do feel like acting as one and this is my expression when Im out and dressed
I think this kinda answers your thoughts
Leigh

[Lorileah]

Oy, this can't end well. Tread carefully

[Amy Fakley]

I just mentally read every post in the voice of the celebrity which most resembles the avatar, lol.

[Meghan4now]

Amy, so I should imagine your voice as Jody Foster?

Lorilea, I hope that's wrong. Twas not meant to be divisive. I have faith that this will be a good thread.

[Amy Fakley]

Amy, so I should imagine your voice as Jody Foster?

Awww that's sweet ...
I always imagined you must sound something like Rachel Ray :-)

At least nobody said Sean Connery
Attachment 263633

FACT: you will now read the rest of this thread in Sean Connery's voice

Mwuhahahahahaaaaaa

[Stephanie47]

Oy, this can't end well. Tread carefully

Amen, I "canceled" my intended answer!

[ClosetED]

Yes, trying to assign labels is built into humans, but tread carefully how you tell others how you label them.
So you may view the avatar or posted pictures and decide how close to your concept of 'woman' they come, or based on the words they use, if that seems like what you expect a man to write or a man overemphasizing feminine stylings, like me signing "Hugs, Ellen"

So to answer your question, "how do I picture others here?" - I view them as they wish to be seen with the labels they assign themselves. So, based on your avatar, I see a very feminine person, using a name Meghan. You are posting a question of introspection and not one of "look at the new nail polish color I got today". So I view you as an intellectual who desires to appear feminine and does a good job at it.
Ellen

[Fiona123]

I think of posters here as women. 🌺

[CarlaWestin]

I think of posters here as women. 🌺

Yeah, me too. And every now and then someone will post a picture link or something that exposes their whole male existence.
And that really catches me off guard.

[NancySue]

This is a good but very difficult question. When I peruse the Threads, I assume our common denominator is CDing. From there, I believe, like snowflakes, there are no two of us alike....similar, maybe, but each of us has, our own way to which we've acclumated to this compulsive behavior pattern that is with us for the duration. We've each experienced our own individual initiations, i.e. Hose, bras, panties, etc. and at different ages, for which may or may not have developed into additional attire ranging from specific items to fully dressed. I enjoy discussing similar and differences with others and accept everyone in their own way, as unique. I perceive you as an individual that's come full circle, however. Your reference to "narcissistic self doubt" suggested some negative issues. I'm curious what they are.

[Lily Catherine]

I see multiple, complex variations on a common (if decievingly simple) theme. Perhaps because the very title of the site (crossdressers.com) itself carries quite a large umbrella to begin with. Consequently the least I can do is to look at all of us with acknowledgement and acceptance, distinct from and independent of approval. I read posts in the same way I'd read an informative article or a newspaper, although occasionally I do slip into hearing it from a GG of similar age - to sometimes awkward results from my overactive imagination.

As much as my 'narcissistic self doubt' (to borrow Meghan's own terms) wonders how I'm being perceived sometimes, I can't bother to take it to heart. Our identities are bound to grow and change despire the common ground we're anchored in.

[steftoday]

I read just about everyone's posts as being spoken with a female voice (usually affected in pitch, inflection, volume by seeing the avatar the poster is using). If it's a FTM, I "hear" a male voice. I've done this since I started here.

Obviously, that changes if I've met the poster in person.

[Lana Mae]

I agree with Fiona. I see everyone as women. Some though, I wonder what they look like as males? As they look so good as women! I'm embarrassing myself! Time to shut up! Hugs(note I hug as a male because real men hug!) Hugs and luv Lana Mae

[Jaylyn]

I tend to think more like what the title of our web site says, "crossdressers". I know I am a male that enjoys the dressing and we tend to think in the direction we simulate with. I feel I'm just a guy that enjoys dressing and I think of others as the same. Some take the dressing to a higher level than I do and sme not as far but in the end we are what we are.

[2B Natasha]

What drives the image for me is not a made up voice. Nor is it the diction or the poor spelling or lack of proper punctuation. Heck. I fall into the catagory. Spell check. Greatest program ever written in my opinion! You all sound the same in my head. Hint. It's the same voice I use when I read the paper. What drives the image I have in my head is the content of the post. Not the style, but the subject.

Cheers.

[Meghan4now]

Ellen, thanks, that is a really generous compliment.

Nancy Sue, like many people here, I really like getting positive affirmations. It's one of the main reasons we post photos. But why do we live for these affirmations? Often we look for approval of others because we are unsure of ourselves. Even the most confident of us get these doubts. When enfemme, my most self critical thought is my beard shadow. Sometimes it is amplified in our minds. No one has a 100% correct view of reality. Some of us believe we are more talented than we really are, some of us less than we are. Both beliefs have their strengths and weaknesses. My experience suggests underpromise and overdeliver.

[Tracii G]

Glad it wasn't me this time that stepped in the poo.
I'm sure you have offended a few here with the screams man in a dress comment.
I see others here as people of all different stripes.

[Ellie Summer]

In my head I think of everyone in here as females, at least if they're presenting themselves that way. The ironic thing is that where most of us would been seen by our peers in shock when dressed, if I saw any of you dressed as men it would seem out of place to me. I'd still accept everyone however they present themselves, I'm just used to thinking of everyone in here as women. It's a little bit like my swim group. We're so used to seeing each other in our small swim suits, that on the occasion that we bump into each other in the grocery store we'll joke "Oh hey! weird, so that's what you look like with clothes on!"

[Katey888]

Good question Meghan...

As well as the obvious diversity of perceptions among us more 'involved' folk, it perhaps also lends a little insight to how the muggles perceive us and why things can be so confusing for them... as well as for us, sometimes, of course...

As you asked the question, I always think of you as very feminine... partly because of how you present, but also because of the sensitivity of your approach (not saying that's an exclusively feminine trait, but we always stereotype here, don't we..? )
And those are really the only two things we can get from the forum - trusting to the veracity of photos (which contribute hugely to perception) and the relative consistency of an individual's tone and style in what they say. On the whole, I tend to think of most of us as our femme image.

But there are many - for me - where those aspects conflict. While I'm more than happy that most folk that tip up here and join in are sharing aspects of what we do, I do think our motivations are hugely different for why we're doing it. It is possible that some folk here aren't necessarily expressing any feminine aspects to their persona - they may just enjoy dressing up or participate for some other reason (equally valid) but I think that absence of something that embraces that confusing 'mix' comes across in tone, approach and sometimes a repeated assertion that "they're all male underneath..." or similar... Out of respect for that assertion - I find myself thinking of them as unfeminine males dressing as females...

Curiously, having met some folks as both male and female representations, I am able to think of both aspects of them as being the same person. Perhaps that's a level of acceptance we can only ever dream of from the muggles...

Katey x

[Dana44]

I will say this again. When I came here I knew I was quite different. I was amazed at the crosdressers and my opinion was that they were mostly women and feminine in the threads. I am gender Fluid and a TG but many of you are TG and I have learned a lot from you all and found that my feminine traits are similar to yours.
Megan, you look quite feminine and that's how i perceive you.

[GBJoker]

I used to perceive all people on here the same way I imagined all people on the internet in general; robots with extreme randomizing responses.

That has since changed. And trust me, no one wants to know.

[nikkiwindsor]

Good luck imaging or imagining who I am for I, myself, have trouble imaging or imagining who I am. And to confound things further, I grow and change over time too!

[Majella St Gerard]

The name of the site is Crossdresser.com so I preceive everyone hear as one. There is a very wide spectrum of crossdresser types though, some just underdress and some go all out. I see myself as a man in a dress type, some people would say that I make crossdressers look bad because I don't wear a wig and try to pass. But we are all in the same boat, we are men that enjoy wearing women's clothing. By the way you look fantastic Meghan.

[Charlyne]

I think of each of your posts as being done by a woman. And the tips and statements about improving ones appearance as simply girl talk.