What makes me so special?

[suzifrommd]

Not so much us vs. them as understanding vs. misunderstanding.

I've only come out to a few people and already I'm tired of hearing "well everyone has a little bit of the other sex in them, don't they?"

I do my best to educate, but it's tiring, isn't it?

[BlueSloth]

Not so much us vs. them as understanding vs. misunderstanding.

I've only come out to a few people and already I'm tired of hearing "well everyone has a little bit of the other sex in them, don't they?"

I do my best to educate, but it's tiring, isn't it?

yeah, I've only done it a few times too and I'm already tired of it too.

I could come up with some sarcastic, snarky comebacks, but fortunately I'm too nice to use them.

It's totally understandable that people don't know what androgyne means, but then after I explain it....  I don't know, I guess people assume that if they haven't heard of something before it must not be real, and feel compelled to question it.  As if they're suddenly gender experts and can quell my crazy notions and restore their sense of normalcy with a few quick questions.

[ativan]

Everyone has heard of extraterrestrials, yet if one stepped out of the shadows and tried to explain themselves...
There are people who would suddenly consider that they are experts because they watch 'Aliens' on the history channel.
They wouldn't have a clue and be just as dismissive.

It's a tough thing to ask of people who have only their binary life experience to understand that there is more to it.
Give them time to think and absorb the concept.
It is alien and confusing at first, but they can understand it, if they want to.
Some will refuse. It is difficult, maybe to difficult for some. Move on. That's what they want to do.
Our time is coming, it just isn't here yet.

Ativan

[BlueSloth]

I've been careful about who I've told so far, and it's usually turned out ok eventually.  But I think I'm going to need to learn to stand up for myself and tell people I don't like having my identity challenged when I'm emotionally vulnerable.

Other times I like challenges.  Especially if the questions are for androgynes in general rather than being aimed at me directly.  Things like "everyone has a little bit of the other sex in them, don't they?" make for interesting forum threads, but it's not something I want to hear from a friend when I've just come out and I'm nervous about their reaction.

[suzifrommd]

I've been careful about who I've told so far, and it's usually turned out ok eventually.  But I think I'm going to need to learn to stand up for myself and tell people I don't like having my identity challenged when I'm emotionally vulnerable.

Other times I like challenges.  Especially if the questions are for androgynes in general rather than being aimed at me directly.  Things like "everyone has a little bit of the other sex in them, don't they?" make for interesting forum threads, but it's not something I want to hear from a friend when I've just come out and I'm nervous about their reaction.

Blue, I really like the way you put that.

The stakes are much higher when you eagerly want your friend to understand you than when you're discussing something in the abstract.