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Being a Gentleman

Started by Angel On Acid, June 05, 2010, 08:18:36 AM

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Angel On Acid

Does this seem to annoy anyone else as well? I first realised it when I was coming out of a hotel with my girlfriend. A guy held the door open and said ladies first, but I went through as well after and said thank you. I thought that the guy wouldn't have held the door open for me, because i'm a boy. What's wrong with being polite to everyone regardless of gender? Basing it off of gender is stupid. You could argue that girls are generally weaker, although would the same thing happen with a small guy?

Another thing that irritates me is the concept of that boys can't hit girls. When I first say this to other people they say that i'm a woman beater, but i'm not. I think it's unacceptable to hit anyone without a good reason, but I will defend myself if it came round to it. There are abusive women out there. I also hate women that take advantage of this and slap the ->-bleeped-<- out of boys, because they know they won't get anything back.

Amy x
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rejennyrated

Physical violence is truly the last resort of the terminally incompetant!

The thing about not hitting women is obviously based on the generalisation that men are, on average, stronger than women. But I agree, whilst the principle may be laudable, in practice it is often horribly abused and not just in physicallity.

When you factor in that most women have a larger vocabulary and superior linguistic flexibility it means that denying men any recourse of physical response can seem a bit like condemning them to endure years of clever and waspish provoccation without expecting any come back.

I don't approve hitting people, but neither do I particularly like my sex's chosen weapon which is the tongue.

The brainless moron who first said "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me" probably should have tried growing up openly transgender in the 1960's and going to school, whilst legally male, wearing a skirt. I did it, and I continued to do it, but if am being honest for once, I have to admit that there were times when it took and incredible amount of will power and emotional resilience to do so.
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Kaelin

I'm in San Antonio (mildly conservative by US standards), and it's rare for anyone to say "ladies first."  I can't even recall someone saying it the past five years.  People generally hold doors on the merits of the situation (they hold it to keep the door from hitting someone, or for someone who has a hard time moving around).

Violence is not all that common in my circle, so I may have a skewed result, but I think there is a greater tendency to consider more the physical ability of the participants involved rather than focus on the gender, and a lot of discussion actually deals with the "merits" of violence (who did what leading up to the confrontation, their mental states, how offensive/defensive were the participants, etc).  Granted, some people will bring attention to the fact that a female is strong relative to other women if she hurts a male who is weaker than her, and some people may still speak with some flavor of the old ways, but the prevailing attitudes are much better than they were historically.  It may "help" that much more of serious violence is weapon-related (which can strip away some if not all of a physical advantage) and that men overall do not possess the same physical advantage they did in the past (exercising is more egalitarian today, so social factors do not contribute as much to physical disparity).

But language is a powerful weapon, and while social factors seem to contribute towards women developing it, it's wielded by men as well.  There are quite a few people who make a living out of using language as a weapon, and it's generally legal.
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Dana Lane

Leave chivalry alone!!!!  But seriously, I totally love it. When I was living as a male I always treated women with the utmost respect and holding doors, offering my seat, etc was standard for me. Perhaps it is from me growing up in the south.

Women have to put up with the testosteronial (new word) urges and actions of guys so why can't they offer to hold a door for us?
============
Former TS Separatist who feels deep regret
http://www.transadvocate.com/category/dana-taylor
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FairyGirl

Quote from: Dana Lane on June 05, 2010, 11:17:25 AM
Leave chivalry alone!!!!  But seriously, I totally love it. When I was living as a male I always treated women with the utmost respect and holding doors, offering my seat, etc was standard for me. Perhaps it is from me growing up in the south.

Women have to put up with the testosteronial (new word) urges and actions of guys so why can't they offer to hold a door for us?

lol totally agree with you Dana, though I also agree that politeness should extend to everyone regardless of gender. Being courteous and polite is free, but the good will it generates is priceless.
Girls rule, boys drool.
If I keep a green bough in my heart, then the singing bird will come.
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Angel On Acid

Quote from: Dana Lane on June 05, 2010, 11:17:25 AMso why can't they offer to hold a door for us?
Why can't it happen regardless of gender?
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barbie

Opening door for women is not tradition here, but it was not bad when some guys opened the door for me when I was in the U.S. A few of them even saluted me  :o

I believe offering favor is always nice.

Barbie~~
Just do it.
  • skype:barbie?call
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Nathan.

Quote from: Amy on June 05, 2010, 11:56:32 AM
Why can't it happen regardless of gender?

It does where I live.
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Al James

my brothers were all taught by my dad that gentlemen hold the doors for ladies carry their bags and always walk on the outside of the path. guess it filtered thro to me as well cos thats how i've always treated ladies
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Dana Lane

Quote from: Amy on June 05, 2010, 11:56:32 AM
Why can't it happen regardless of gender?

I am totally happy with the way it is now. You are more than welcome to not be happy with it. :)
============
Former TS Separatist who feels deep regret
http://www.transadvocate.com/category/dana-taylor
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Miniar

I don't hit women...

BECAUSE THEY HIT BACK AND THEY DON'T FIGHT FAIR!

...




"Everyone who has ever built anywhere a new heaven first found the power thereto in his own hell" - Nietzsche
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Greg

Where I live polite people like me hold the door open for anyone. That's how we roll.
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elvistears

I think the women hitting men one is a real toughie. It all depends on the situation.  I won't go into too much detail, but I was in an abusive situation before I transitioned, with a straight cisgendered male. He was an abusive alcoholic, who used to wind me up and degrade me until I flew into a rage and started bashing him.  Then he would try and make me feel guilty about it and make out like it was no big deal if he'd hit me, because in the past I had hit him.  Even though he was bigger and stronger than me.

Bad times.  Even though I'm not a woman, I feel pretty strongly about this.
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Cindy

Most doors are of a size that one adult can walk through at a time. Common courtesy means that people give way to others. If some one is infirm, disabled in movement, heavily pregnant or carrying a heap of stuff (etc) it should be clear that they cannot afford being hit by a swinging door. And also in some cases need clear passage. You hold the door open and make sure they are safe. If boys and girls are out together for a date Yes I expect the 'boy' to show courtesy to the 'girl'.
In normal life people are equal, I suggest that common courtesy by all genders is to allow people clear access through doors without being hit or tripped.  Who holds the door open is the first to reach it, does it have to be held open for everyone? No just pass the way through. But if you are the last through and a person coming needs help you wait and allow them passage.

I think the rule is simple, it's the rule of life. Treat others as how you wish to be treated.

As for violence. All violence is bad. Sadly in family situations females usually receive the worst deal. Most men are physically stronger than most females. They can punch kick and dominate the physical situation. And then they can rape. 

Cindy
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justmeinoz

Common courtesy and genuine politeness make for a more pleasant world. With regard to doors, whoever hasn't got their arms full should be happy to do the job regardless of gender.

Violence is a crime, regardless of gender.
"Don't ask me, it was on fire when I lay down on it"
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darklady

Also young people are expected to be polite towards elderly. As living woman I have somehow realized that even more. I do not know why but it has been come very much more visible for me when I have been lived as female. ???
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Angel On Acid

Quote from: darklady on June 07, 2010, 06:06:03 AM
Also young people are expected to be polite towards elderly. As living woman I have somehow realized that even more. I do not know why but it has been come very much more visible for me when I have been lived as female. ???
Whether they should be respected individually depends, but I think it should be expected to hold the door open for them and to offer your seat.
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MRH

I understand totally about the boys hitting girls thing. I remember once on Jeremy Kyle (yes I watch it lol) everyone was on this guys side until he said he had hit his girlfriend and they all hated him. Im not saying you should hit women but I know a lot of abusive women who smack their boyfriends all the time and everyones fine with it. If the lad smacks back everyone is digusted. I'm sorry but if I was getting beat up by a girl i'd push her back.

Girls shouldnt hit guys
Guy shouldnt hit girls.
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Farm Boy

Quote from: MRH on June 07, 2010, 01:16:51 PMIm not saying you should hit women but I know a lot of abusive women who smack their boyfriends all the time and everyones fine with it. If the lad smacks back everyone is digusted.

That's something that really bothers me as well.  I saw a video once where these people did an experiment.  They had a couple sit on a park bench and have the guy start "hitting" the girl in front of passersby, which led to much commotion and anger.  Then they had the girl start whaling on the guy, which either triggered no response or actually led to people cheering her on.  (These were separate occurances, with different people, so they didn't see it as her 'fighting back' in response to his 'hitting.')  It just struck me as really sad.  Even in highschool, I'd see girls hitting their boyfriends with immunity because "boys shouldn't hit girls."  Even though girls are generally not as strong and less likely to hurt guys, it's really disrespectful at the least.

I'm also all for politeness and holding the door for people who need it and those coming in close behind me, but if I'm approaching a door and a guy goes out of his way to get there first and open it, I'm just going to get annoyed.  (I've always been this way, even before my dysphoria properly set in, so it's not just that...)
Started T - Sept. 19, 2012
Top surgery - Jan. 16, 2017
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Hermione01

^ this also goes for girl on girl fights, that's why people (mostly guys) cheer them on, cause it reminds them of sex, all the facial grimaces, huffing and puffing, sweating, clothes torn etc. Crude, but true. So public displays of females fighting anyone is a real crowd pleaser.  ::)

IMO, I don't think anyone should be hitting anyone else, except when it's in self defense. When girls hit they can hurt, some more than others, but generally speaking, guys pack a powerful punch and can knock a girl out in one hit. That would be very rare incident, visa versa.
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