Binding&Packing... But not perceived as male? I don't understand!

[notyouraverageguy]

Yesterday I was binding AND packing for the second time.
BUT apparently I didn't present as male, it seems like I "pass" more without either.
Ugh...
Has this happened to anyone else?
I don't get it.
:/

I've "passed" so much without them... maybe its because I was around LGB ppl, &all my friends are girls?... But I know of guys who are the only guy in their group of friends... maybe it was my height...

Any thoughts?

[Adio]

Binding and packing are only part of passing as I'm sure you know.  Attitude and overall presentation really affect how other people read you.  Are you being self-conscious or extra self-aware when binding/packing?  People can pick up on that and see timidness as "feminine."  Or maybe you really let loose and forget to keep in check certain gender cues or mannerisms that you otherwise might be aware of but feel binding and packing make up for (they usually don't in my experience).

It has happened to me.  When I first started out, I thought that everyone was going to automatically be like wow, he's obviously a boy because he has no breasts.  Didn't quite work that way.  It was hard in the beginning.  But once I figured out that binding was only a small part of passing, I was able to focus more on the things I was tipping people off on and fix them.  It's still a struggle sometimes but not nearly as much.  The only time I have problems is when I'm with a group of females and I'm the only male or I phrase things wrong (still working on the "I want" instead of "I think I'll have").

[Lachlann]

Because you need the attitude to go along with it.

[Eli]

Because you need the attitude to go along with it.

Aviator sunglasses work wonders, especially dark or reflective lenses.

Also, I agree with Adio's post; it's not all about the chest & crotch. I'm sure there's a whole check list you could go through appearance-wise from hair right down to shoes. Then there's also posture, mannerisms, etc. Don't beat yourself up over it though. Like anything worthwhile, passing may take some more practice/time.

[notyouraverageguy]

Thing is, I pass a lot without it. Im usually he'd or him'd or his'd more often then not. I rarely get her'd or she'd, it only happens about 20% of the time. And the rest of the time, ppl don't use pronouns.
I have all the rest, I mean how would I pass before if I didnt. And if anything, I have more confidence binding alone.

[Teknoir]

More hardware != more passing by default.

I'm with other people here - maybe the extra hardware gave you the confidence to drop your guard a little, and you let a few mannerisms slip though.

After some time of a good pass ratio, it's not unusual to get overconfident and cause yourself some non-pass time.

Hanging around with groups of young women doesn't help. People will think you are the token lesbian.

Hanging around GLBT people also doesn't help - they know what they're looking at.

Your height is an out. Yes, I know there are short bio-guys, and you can't change your height. It's one of many outs, so work on what you can change instead. Getting antsy about your height isn't going to be productive.

Attitude. Mannerisms. Speech patterns and inflections. Physical movements.

[Lachlann]

What Teknoir said.

You've been hanging around LGBT people who probably know about your situation. And it's possible you've let your guard down as well.

[Eli]

I have all the rest, I mean how would I pass before if I didn't. And if anything, I have more confidence binding alone.

Perhaps that seemingly slight shift in confidence was enough for people to get the wrong impression.
If that's the case, then maybe just take a little more time to adjust to packing to get your confidence level the same as with just binding?

[Smashley]

Well I havent started packing yet, but I have been binding for a while and I dont know what it is but i have days where I pass a couple of times, but most days I dont pass at all and its kinda frustrating...Iwish people could see me for the guy that i truly am...