Personal Win - Passing at the Manliest place in Town

[Bastian]

Had a personal win today. I went for my first archery lesson at a local bow-hunting store in town. I never once said anything (I'm really passive about correcting people, it's a bit not good...) yet the store owner, the coach and even another archer called me by male pronouns! I was shocked. My voice is still pretty high for a guy (though I suppose I wasn't talking as much as usual, too focused on killing the paper target  ), I was dressed how I always dress and IMO I did't look any different then I looked every other time someone called me "She" or "miss" yet three complete strangers, in what I can only think of as being a pool of manliness (and for all I know/knew, intolerance) all called me 'dude' 'man', etc. It was great, it made me feel fantastic!

Just felt like I had to share 

[Cindy]

Congrats!!!!!!


Way to go!

[Beth Andrea]

Congrats, that is a win!

I can only think of as being a pool of manliness (and for all I know/knew, intolerance)

In my experience, *most* "gun nuts"/hunters/manly men are actually pretty tolerant. Men do kid around with other men, and once they get to know you, you can expect playful (more or less) banter...but they are not intolerant.  Some are, but they're mostly shunned by the others.

Anyway, that was my experience as "one of those guys", presenting as male-ish and seeing how (perceived) gays, blacks, etc were treated. All in all, guys in the "manliness pool" are pretty good guys. (Unless you say something nice about Obama )

[Bastian]

Thanks guys,

and you're right Beth. I suppose it's more intolerant of me to think they might have behaved intolerantly simply based on the idea that they like to hunt/kill paper targets lol. Lucky i'm in Canada so i'm pretty sure any passing remark about my support for Obama would go unnoticed lol. I'll try to remember not raise my views on Harper just in case  . It's kind of odd but I really am noticed the more 'macho males' involved in either hunting as witnessed today or other hard 'manly' careers read me or at least call me by male pronouns.

Just earlier this week I had a farrier out to see my horse. We were booking our next appointment and he said something along the line of "Alright ma'am *pause* Sir, i'll see you then." It was kind of surprising and since I am so quite about correcting I was kind of surprised this complete stranger had corrected himself all on his own. It makes me wonder if he thought I was in fact trans because of how I look though I have a very male name, or if he was simply unsure as to whether I was female or an effeminate male. I didn't stop to ask him in any case

Now if only my voice would deepen just a bit more I might start getting this treatment all the time!

[Bastian]

The lesson was on a compound but now that i've got the basics and enjoyed it so much i'm going to buy a traditional recurve!

[CursedFireDean]

I really want to get myself a recurve bow, I outgrew my previous bow :/ Recurves are definitely my favourites!

Congrats on the passing, that's awesome!

[Ms. OBrien CVT]

I am more partial to a compound, as I used to hunt.  You need a good bow to bring down a whitetail.

Good job, Bow-man.

[AdamMLP]

I'm not sure if this is an issue with compound bows because I've never shot one, but with recurve definitely watch your technique and definitely get someone to check it when you're starting out.  I picked up my bow this summer after not using it for several years, since I was 12 or 13 probably, and I kept on twanging my arm and got some impressive bruising from it.  Using a better arm guard than what I had would probably help too, the red marks were where the string got caught between that and my arm.





Eventually I got my dad to come out and he pointed out my flaws.  I need to start picking it up again next summer if I can find something to catch my arrows after we pulled the barn I was shooting in front of before down as shooting horses is something I really don't want to do.  I'd love to go to a club but there's not one within over an hour of me.

Don't let my stupidity put you off though, it's an awesome sport.  And congrats for passing.

[Ms. OBrien CVT]

Nice bruise, Alex.

Definitely need a bigger guard.

[CursedFireDean]

I did that one time to my arm at camp- but the problem was more of the bow. It needed to be re-strung and the arrows wouldn't clip onto it properly. They went sideways instead of straight

[Bastian]

While practicing with the compound I hit my arm a couple of times. Luckily I knew what I was doing wrong and the coach came over and told me what I was doing wrong too, so I'm pretty confident that if I start feeling that thwack in my arm I know how to fix it x) I'm just in the process of making my own arm gaurd right now. I'm pretty fond of leather working so I figured i'd make myself one  . Got my eye on a pretty, custom recurve, just gotta save up some more money first!

[aleon515]

I am more partial to a compound, as I used to hunt.  You need a good bow to bring down a whitetail.

Good job, Bow-man.

Well also a lot more fair than a gun. It's way harder. I think it seems like a great hobby.

--Jay

[DriftingCrow]

Awesome Bastian!

You should take knife throwing classes next

[Bastian]

Had to drop by for another update cause i'm so thrilled. Like previously mentioned I've never passed well in the last three years. Suddenly it's happening way more often! I had to go back to the archery range to buy an arrow. It was obvious they had forgotten who I was, yet both the guys there called me by male pronouns! Even though I was talking a lot more than last time (usually my give away, just in how I talk and my voice is a bit high). I have developed a theory on it lol. Since hunting, even archery, is a very male dominated sport, and I'm fairly androgynous looking right now, they automatically assume, based upon the male to female ratio in hunting that i'm male. It's the only explanation I can come up with, and i'm fine with it!

On the same day I also was walking around in walmart and this little girl ran out in front of me and I heard the mom say "Watch out for that boy" to her daughter. I was pleased as punch!

Oh and I totally found a dark hair on my cheek today Up till now all the facial hairs been slowly trying to form a neck beard on me so I welcome this promise of hair on my cheeks as well!

Those are my happy passing updates, cheers!