Rant about my day // Rant about language

[deaddogx]

ok. thanks for taking the time to clarify your point of view for me.

[deaddogx]

Hey there :-) interesting rant! i'm wondering about the context of use? do you mean trans guys shouldn't refer to themselves as trannies?  or do you mean they shouldn't call mtfs trannies? would love you to enlarge on this. thanks.

[Sheik1847]

I don't think transguys should refer to themselves as trannies (or really use the term at all) out of respect and solidarity with our trans-sisters. I see it as a huge slap in the face to transpeople in general, and I know a lot of trans-women do too. I don't really think anyone has yet come up with a reasonable defense of their "reclaiming" it. because even if it has been used against a few trans-men individuals, its nothing compared to the way it's been used in vast majority towards transwomen

[deaddogx]

I know that you have well-meaning intentions. Please consider the following points: 'trans = 'across', hence trans+gender can mean across genders, or spanning genders. Trans+vestite = cross dresser.Trans+sexual = sex change. A person, mtf or ftm, can refer to themselves as trannie/tranny and imply any of the above. How can anyone police these meanings? Also, are you advocating a hierarchy? How many individuals have to suffer before they have a right to use a word? And who decides?

[Sheik1847]

If you look up the word tranny, do you get a bunch of videos about post-gender transpeople? no, you get a bunch of cis-sexist videos featuring transwomen, often accompanied by the term "shemale". Until that's changed, I don't think that any transperson has the right to "reclaim" that word. If it were just a word, yeah, anyone should be able to use it, but its not just a word, its a history and until that history is different, I think its disrespectful for people to use it.

[Sheik1847]

Before you say "without using it in a different context, it won't change", transkids don't make up the majority of people who use it. I doubt that the minority of transkids who try to use it in a "reclaimed" way are going to change it.

also, I'm going to be straight up with you. I cannot imagine that anything you will say to me is not something I haven't already thought about. I'm surrounded in this stuff everyday working for Genderfork. Yet my opinion remains the same.

no hard feelings

-A

[xtifanatic]

figured it would help with your class

[Sheik1847]

I know you did. And I thank you for it. I just have to work out another system.

[MaxInTransition]

ok so I know its a touchy subject for a lot of people and saying this wil probably get people pissed off...and I understand the arguement....

but I've been CALLED a tranny as a negative thing, before. So no, a white person saying the N word is not the same as a ftm saying tranny. because though stereotypically tranny means trans women, people DO call FTMs trannies too. As a negative thing. So why can't I reclaim it too?

I don't use it a lot. But I have a problem with this problem.