I can say Saudi Arabia and Japan are like that; Japan has had some smaller contexts where play and bending norms is ok, but the larger economic drive of larger society is pretty strict.
Level 40+ linguist and trans woman. She/her. Interests: Judaism, human rights, LGBTQ joy, MTG, comics, language, fashion, feminism. New, obnoxious fitness affictionado. Fash begone.🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈✡️ Black Trans Lives Matter.
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I can say Saudi Arabia and Japan are like that; Japan has had some smaller contexts where play and bending norms is ok, but the larger economic drive of larger society is pretty strict.
In some states, as a trans man who passes for male, I'm legally banned from using a men's restroom but practically banned from using a women's. My choice is between breaking the law and being arrested for breaking it. Few Democrats are talking about how much trans people have lost, and how quickly.
The contradiction at the heart of transmisogyny has always been that people will insist they don't see us as women while treating us exactly like women, and specifically as women they are entitled to sexually exploit or brutalize.
Well, my DMs are open if you ever feel like venting.
Just be kind to yourself and if you have access to a therapist, give that a try. Talking to another human about it in a safe environment helps. And no, social media is not safe.
Hey, it sounds like you are doing the work at a good time. I didn’t allow myself to really question myself until my late 30s. And I concluded that first that I was just broken. It took me more time to work out what my fear was and then a few years to start confronting it.
I hope you can get to a situation where you can get out and be around people and feel secure.
🫂 Since I taught for 20 years, I had to be in front of people. But I went through life as a zombie, dead inside and not letting anyone know my real personality. I was such a phony. And my coworkers knew I was masked. And I never pulled off being a guy successfully in the first place.
The NES titles are very frustrating, especially if your reflexes aren’t quite as sharp as they used to be. Pattern recognition and coding is very necessary for progress. But working out the boss strategies was a true joy.
Western society has always cared about gender as much as possible, and most cishets are so codified in their heuristics that they treat any deviation from the norm as an aggression. They just don’t always feel like they’re being targeted. “Well, they’re not being queer at me, so I guess it’s OK.”
I was a hermit for over 20 years. I just did grad school, taught during the day, went home, and avoided being found out while not even knowing what my dark secret was. But I can get along and do stuff with young people well enough. All those years inside kept my skin young looking.
It is deeply disturbing to me as a trans woman that many of my peers who were kids in the 1980s didn’t make it thanks to Reaganite fascism and neglect during a medical crisis. I never got to know them, and living in the closet for 20 adult years was torture. I feel lonely and I stand out.
I’m one of the late Gen X kids. I am trans and I don’t see lots of people my age at community events. Maybe one reason I made it to now is that I was closeted for so long. And that makes me very angry; I never got to know my peers when I was young. But at least I am here.
sometimes i think about why the reason there isnt a substantial amount of older gay people is because the american government chose not to do anything about aids so it would kill all of them
Picking up garbage is an honorable activity. I am not going to mock that. But dicking around trying to look intimidating?
Critics savaged Alien Resurrection but honestly, I enjoy it. Ron Perlman snark, Sigorney Weaver being physically intimidating and inhumanly confident, and Winona Ryder. It’s a good time, damnit.
… the actual hell?
I didn’t think I needed to make a comment about something that is obvious. There are multiple genocides happening now. I am working on preventing the one I have agency on. I’m not throwing insults at you. Be better.
The work I do includes legwork for other trans people relocating to avoid state harassment. I am doing what I can and supporting a community in need. I am empowered in that cause. But that is both too much and never enough for ideologues.
And honestly, people who tell me I can’t work with them just because I hate talking about a topic I can’t be constructive on. I get litmus tested repeatedly. And they act like I am rich. If that isn’t collective judgment on a class of people, i don’t know what is.
I am in a class of people seen as an enemy of the state by Trump for being a Jewish trans woman who supports a free Palestine. And yet people on the left tell me I need to stop being who I am because just being a Jew in public working on other causes harms Palestinians.
She’s a daughter who respects but struggles with her traditional father, she’s quick witted, she takes risks and is committed to her friends and ethics. And she doesn’t take no for an answer. Her determination is indomitable. And I love that spirit. I want it in me.
And if you think of the standard spelling, Lane, it’s either a road name, or it could be masculine or feminine. But I have a new association with it, honestly. I really adore Lois in My Adventures with Superman. She is a new take on an old character. And a real role model.
I think my name’s femininity is found in my middle names. If you’re Jewish, you can probably guess what R and S stand for. They’re super common. (And I do the exotic spelling thing in S, because… it’s fun.)
I find it a little weird when other trans women tell me my name is beautiful and feminine. I picked it in 1998 because I felt kinship with a disassociated girl, and it was a name that literally didn’t fit in with the people around her. Her life felt unreal.
Goddamn I hate being right about this. The National Guard getting deactivated/reactivated every 29 days so they don't get full benefits and pay ALL ON TOP OF it starts screwing with their IRL jobs was the easiest call happening from this administration. Not taking care of your troops... Bad idea.
Compelling me to give up my ethnic markers or risk ostracism here in the US is awful and indefensible. These days I wear a chai, which is very clear in what I support. But that’s my choice and if I want to switch back to a Magen David, that’s none of your business.
Eugenics is a morally repugnant, abhorrent pseudo-science. Adopting its premises and terms is not a good idea.
The overwhelming majority of Zionists in the US are Christians. CUFI has 40 million members. Jews don’t join that organization. There are about 6 million Jews in the US. If you want to picket a synagogue, I want to see receipts of you picketing five churches first.
Hopes and dreams.
Denouncing Jews because some of us are Zionists and just assuming we support a violent government is Judenhass. Just as white people don’t get to decide what’s anti-Black racism, you aren’t qualified to say what is or isn’t Judenhass.
It’s really Judah, one of the 12 tribes’ founder. And there’s the military leader Judah Maccabee. I remember an obnoxious Catholic douchebag insisting it was Judas Maccabeus. I was like, he would hit you in a hammer for saying that.
Speaking as a Jewish trans woman… mind your own dang business. I named myself the name I had used online and in console RPGs since 1998. My Hebrew name is very basic and traditional, of course. But I don’t use it in daily life.
There’s also tons of graft in automotives. The predatory speed traps operated by police are much like brigands in the West. And then there’s the parking authority in cities like Philly. I like public transportation tons. Sorry, Europeans, it isn’t the same here. For better or worse.
Ahegao is literally idiot face, they’ve been screwed so hard that they have lost all composure. This is way different in tone than a little death spasm.
I dress like a librarian or college professor (since I have been one), but with a bit more color and queer ethos. Also I either bleach or use bright colors in my hair. And … I look younger than I am, but I am fine being seen as middle aged. Clocky, but classy and that means it doesn’t matter.
How do you dress like me? Well, have a mom in her 70s give you her castoffs over the last 30 years, go thrifting in the Poconos where there are a ton of seniors, occasionally buy something from a website, go to Gabe’s or Ross once in a while near the end of the season.
I think it was Iggy Pop telling a story of how he got confronted by Trump shaking him down for a percentage of the door, and gesturing to the large and burly men behind him to ensure that he got his taste. And Iggy didn’t play his game or scare.
God, I love going hard with dressing up for the dolls when I go to South Street. Cis people ask me about my clothes, and the dolls say i am so bold and unapologetic and they wish they could pull my look off. My heart: please! You’re cooler than me!
Yes, of course military occupation will for its duration reduce visible street crime. That's what Bukele in El Salvador is all about. Fascists want us to dispute that instead of emphasizing the military occupation *is* crime in so many ways & does more damage than all the muggers in the world.
This person’s manifesto says that they tried and failed, as they found a place where they could get groups of people to agree with their self-hate, they had the opportunity to do more to go back, but they refused that specifically so as to cause maximum atrocity. It’s a chicken versus egg scenario.
Repeating my Friday outfit because I didn’t spend enough time out with it. Minimal makeup and lots of sunscreen because I am going to be out for a long time with two bags.
Half assing it and not enjoying it, still counts as doing it. Actually, I’d say it accounts for 1.5 times the value.
There is no point to working on job seeking today, because everyone is on holiday. No one is looking at anything like that. So I have decided to go out, play, magic, and serve as much as possible this afternoon. Because I can.
The difference is that structural inequalities are very real and serious and impact so many sectors in the lives of people who face the x and privileged people get to look away.
White person: “Of course you would say that, it’s in your best interest.” Unspoken: Therefore I can dismiss it as self-serving dishonesty without guilt. There’s no need to care about self-serving statements because I make them all the time and they’re comforting and let me ignore things!
Like, ok, there is some sort of sociology going on here, the guy cares a lot about mythology, but it doesn’t explain modern material conditions.
I remember almost 20 years ago in bookstore in Japan killing time for three hours before getting on a train. They had Maps of Meaning. “Oh, it’s an advice book, let’s see what this guy has to say”. I was infuriated by the complete Gish gallop and absence of actionable advice.
Trump.
I can say as an academic and a Jewish trans woman who underwent an early version of conversion therapy as a kid, I flirted with libertarianism in undergrad, believing in meritocracy, but getting out and seeing different cultures got me to understand the evil of hierarchy and hegemony.
His family had connections to the Klan. And yes, Hair Furor has used connections to the mafia in his earlier career doing casino and music promos.
It wasn’t the first by any means, but the system of paying dues and creating ridiculous titles and sending tithes to higher ups was all part of the organization. Hate was a key component, but the social circle was another sales point.
And strength. Having an other to oppose, an external threat, even if imagined, allows for group solidarity. And they can build a new hierarchy on that. They don’t actually support each other, but some higher ups can exploit it. The Klan was always a pyramid scheme.
And that’s how any kid can wrapped up into a vicious circle of abuse from peers online. They are looking for people to adopt and indoctrinate in cruelty and mockery so they can rebuild their identity. They groom in the way they accuse us of doing, and that irony is part of the point for them
Oh, sure. Transitioning gender takes social capital resources like different clothes, hair care, and parents and a social circle who will listen and let people try different ways of being themselves. Most kids won’t have that capital. And the social pressure is immense to conform.
“Of course you would say that, it’s in your best interests, therefore I can dismiss it as self-serving dishonesty without guilt” is such a basic white Christian mantra justifying anything.
Your social circle sapphic needs to be informed of this
The reality is that far-right violence and politics is the most common and consistent threat to functioning democracy. The biggest obstacle to dealing with this threat is broad spectrum of centrist/centre-right opinion that considers acknowledging this reality "unfair".
I am loathe to go into the NYT archives to read coverage of civil rights movements from the 1950s abd 60s and seeing how many articles give people of color a voice as opposed to white Christians. But if I had access and time, and the mental fortitude to put up with it…
But this shooter should best be characterized as a 4chan regular and alt-right chud, their gender transition and apparent detransition shaped their perspective far less than their social circle of sociopathic malcontents.
Trans people, like any other minority demographic, have a complicated and loud dialogue about the role of firearm ownership. Some know they are able to use them responsibly. Some know they aren’t ok with having them at home. Some of us are just as irresponsible about owning them as others.
And they had the fucking gall to pull this shit hours before it was time to fast. I try to tell doorknockers politely to not come back, but they were repeat offenders.
The one guy in the back said “no, you are a gentile, that’s our word”, and I said “oh no, you don’t understand, you stole that word from my people without permission, I know you folks are real Christians, and you keep trying to steal our identity and culture. Now go away and don’t come back.”
I’m Jewish, and there is no actual comfortable way of saying gentile out loud unless I am in a roomful of Jews. Now, I did use it once to tell a bunch of Mormons at my door to fuck off. English was their second language, and when I told them “I don’t talk biblical interpretation with gentiles”, 1/
There is great honor in novel pronunciations of words one is only exposed to in books.
He was an orange lantern ring telling its wearer to take everything not bolted down and to carry a set of crowbars for everything else. I don’t know if that meets the definition of human life.
I call mine my HRTniversary. I tried hormoniversary. But I needed to tack on more syllables to make it feel right. I’m 48 and happy around month 42.
Eh, I still deal with anxieties. I actually am watching the old video I linked you to now, it’s the first time I have actually watched one in years. I HATED seeing that guy. But I am different enough now to feel like that’s just someone else now. My voice doesn’t sound anything like that either.
OMG! I love it! And it goes so well with your immaculate coiffure:
I also just moved to a major city after living in the woods for a while. That may cause another major change or two in my life. I’ll find out soon, I guess. And I look decent for a doll whose first set was Unlimited. I can start hitting the gym again.
It’s rather amusing that there are so many gorgeous and vivacious younger content creators in MTG who are happy being trans. I’m an auntie who was more active in my past life, but I love talking to the current generation and sharing their joys and venting.
I’m 48 and my egg cracked at 41. I’ve been out full time for two and a half years.
I think that there’s a pretty high percentage of MTG players who played VTES and were trans, more so than the general MTG population. In my case, a concrete egg, but I got out eventually. I preferred the Ventrue.
Unfortunately Yuengling doesn’t fit the geography, it’s from NEPA. And their owners are asshats so I kinda wish they were known for being in the past.
This game is the original source for the mechanic magic players today know as monarch.
My favorite video I ever did wasn’t about Magic: the Gathering, but another game created by Richard Garfield, Vampire: the Eternal Struggle, who also had a deadname. youtu.be/t5137tXW6eE?...
I lived in Japan for ten years between 2000 and 2020 and was known for sitting at the feature match table of GPs and Nationals and an occasional PT taking notes for the Sideboard. I mostly played Limited and qualified for both original Kamigawa limited PTs. My YT channel almost killed me.
Hi, Amanda. I’m Lain Kaplan. I’m an enby trans woman. I did text articles in Magic’s first fifteen years for major sites and did an oral history series on YT under my necronym. I’m comfortable enough to talk about it again now.
No, you’re right. And it’s not like we can really use any serious sanctions against them besides being on the public record and accountability. So they can be sued for malfeasance.
I’d like to see you try. I got my license laminated, no less!
Gw… I see, that’s very clever. Is this a canon name? I am kinda over the symbiote stuff, having recently played Insomniac’s SM2. There are some fantastic moments in that game, that got me crying often. But the symbiotes are not any of them.
Huh, they actually found an ethical and morally defensible use for AI. I’ll be dipped.
As always, there's a Helluva Boss clip for this moment
This was oddly calming to watch.
You’re welcome. I can’t help but express the stuff I see linguistically.
As a person who sells and occasionally buys cards online, having a post office within two minutes walk from my apartment is pretty fucking awesome.
Bi people to the front too. Nothing wrong with guacamole, but I think it can take turns being the headliner.
I am in good health, I felt fine enough getting out of there, but from getting in the front door it took me three hours to get set up and started, which sucked. Today? Out in under 2 hrs.
Be positive. I may switch if there is comparable rates for a place nearer to my place. The 20 minute walk to the office is brisk and safe, but it can desiccate a little.
Back off, gays. You’re coming up in a bit. Lesbians, trans people, to the front. Demisexuals and mollusks in the back, please.
It worked for transphobes, after all, and there’s no evidence for any of their drek besides their paranoid phantasms.
So it’s 60/140 here. At least for the first month. I cut my evening activity short to be well rested and hydrated. They took my finger test and the tech was like, wow, you ARE well hydrated! Yeah, girl, I did my homework. And I like Gatorade.
The thing about accepting Newsom's depravity against trans people or the homeless on the grounds of "Yeah, that's bad, but we have to beat Trump or it'll be worse." is that by accepting it, you mark it as acceptable, both within your mind and in the larger world around you.
a man goes up to a newspaper vendor, glances at the front page, leaves the next day he comes back, does it again after weeks of this the annoyed vendor asks what the hell he's doing I'm looking for an obituary, the man replies obituaries aren't on the front page the one I'm looking for will be
It makes total sense to me. The pure heat radiating off the ground in KSA left a mark.
I can say for sure that I met a bunch of cute guys and had a good vibe with them. And they were all self-made men. That’s the best kind, if you ask me.
Estradiol is a hell of a drug. And I pine.
Ah. Well, I respect your prerogative to have that point of view.
… why would his doing a good job upset you?