Sometimes I see people on this site putting other people down. It doesn't always have to be name calling (though that happens), but it can be as subtle as diminishing their experience or invalidating their real struggles. One thing I think we should all keep in mind is that gender dysphoria effects everyone in different ways. Maybe we are different ages, come from different backgrounds, have diverse circumstances, and our experience with dyshoria isn't one in the same, but that doesn't mean that how someone else feels about the issues is ever irrelevant. It's one of my biggest gripes and one of the things that I constantly see around here (even though it's in the clear minority). No matter what your struggles are, they are not irrelevant. These issues impact and effect our lives in many real ways. And no needs to be insulted when they talk about their dysphoria and related issues on a support site. I'm glad other people have found ways to cope, but there is a way to treat other people. When we diminish their experience (even if we can't relate) we do a great disservice to other people. Secondly, it's important to remember that you're not in the other person shoes and only know what they feel comfortable sharing. You don't know their everyday life, what they've been through and what they continue to feel. It's like going onto a support forum for survivors of child abuse and calling them whiners. Seriously, is that the right way to treat people? Why should it be acceptable here? Perhaps empathy and compassion will go a long way for this board as it does for other ones. I hope people consider the impact of their words and the way they treat others before speaking. This is something that does have an impact on many of us even the surrounding circumstances differ for each individual person. And for many of us, this is the only place we can talk about things related to gender issues, including pure venting, asking for help, getting it out, finding ourselves, helping others in need, etc. Shutting down the conversation serves no one in the end. Respecting one another and having compassion should be the goal, not invalidating or criticizing others. If your experiences are more important or harder, then good for you, but this isn't a contest. It's a support site for people in a diverse minority group.
