[The Oopster]

Originally Posted by June

Hi, I have a question for the Trans folks in our community.

Knowing that there are a lot of acceptance issues for everyone involved, do you think it is more difficult to be accepted or welcomed into the on and off line BF communities as a FTM or MTF?

Where do you see the differences/disparities occurring? Why do you think that is? How can we help make that better?

Thank you, and feel free to ask me for clarification.

June

Originally Posted by Thinker

I don't know that I can answer really. I had some pretty deep roots in the community well before I decided to transition, so I just figure no one pays me any mind because of that.

If there is something more specific you want to ask (me), then please know I will give you an honest, thoughtful reply. I certainly want to help in any way I can.

Originally Posted by June

Thank you, Thinker. So, here, let me put you on the hotseat for a moment. Do you think you kind of got "a pass" here because you were so well known by people, and you were just kind of "Our Thinker" and didn't start out being "other" or "outsider" or even "unknown"?

I wonder how it looks to those who have transitioned prior to coming to the site or even afterwards, but aren't as well known or known at all?

I feel like I'm in pretty much the same boat as thinker.

Yet i know that there are other people that have been in the community then trasitioned that haven't felt welcomed.

It's hard I know i've seen non welcoming stuff at times but I guess I've always seen it more as a certain persons personality and not as something from the community as a whole. Unfortunately someone new won't know that "that is just unfortunately how so and so acts."

We all have people that we see them post and we either know to stay out of the thread or just wait on the edge of our seat for the drama to spew forth. Unfortunately some people know how to insight drama and still stay within the TOS.

I guess the only way I can think of helping out in those situations is for people to give the newcomer assurance privately also. Sometimes addressing within the threads just helps keep the other person baited. (I just thought of this ... I just usually avoid all together. So thanks for asking because now i'll be more aware of how to support that new person.)

I feel like i'm rambling so i hope i said something ... darn heat!