If being FTM is a fad...

[Devyn]

...then what about the FTMs in other countries other than the US and UK?

So, a certain blogger that most of us know is always saying we're just a "trend" or a "fad", and while I believe that some FTM out there might be transitioning for attention or some other reason other than GID, I doubt that is really most of us.

This question has always been brought to mind when she talks about this. I mean, how is it a "trend" if there are FTMs in other countries? I mean, take Japan as an example, since I have a friend that lives there. The cities pretty much glorify femininity, which I have no problem with. Even the younger guys that hang around the cities there are such, a lot of them get into the whole "metrosexual" thing.

So, where do FTMs fit in there if they're "rejecting their femininity" or whatever? Not to mention, that country doesn't even allow gay marriage and you can only get your gender marker changed if you have no children, have never been married, and you have both surgeries (top and bottom.)

I don't really think they can get into a "fad" of being trans, and if they do, well, it's difficult to get surgery done over there for that so if they really weren't trans, a lot of them wouldn't go through with it because a fad is something that fades. It doesn't last.

Anyway, what about other places like Africa, other parts of Asia, some places in Europe? What about the FTMs that don't even know about transsexualism or GID? Fad? I think not.

This probably just seems like a jumbled mess of ->-bleeped-<- that I just typed out and it doesn't flow together too well, but I think it's a serious question to consider. If FTMs "aren't really FTM" and there's no such thing as GID, then how do you explain the FTMs that have never heard of being transsexual? Do they classify as "real"? I'm sure that if you don't know something exists, you can't be into the "hype". Which is another thing. I'm made fun of me and laughed at and insulted badly. If it was a hype, people would all be willing to call me by my male name and male pronouns and nobody would question me and they wouldn't make fun of me for "thinking I'm a guy".

[meh]

She is taking the whole trans youtube community as a fad. They want us to not have public videos and to only share them with family and friends (Which is pretty funny because I'm sure a lot of homophobic people would say the same thing about being gay). Since our videos are public they are saying we do it to be trendy or for attention or to lure unsuspecting kids into the trans "cult" (as her followers puts it) and that we're narcissistic .

They say that GID doesn't exist and that we're all delusional. They are sad pathetic lesbians who need something better to do. You can't argue with them. They will turn everything you say around or ignore you and spout off about some other ridiculous notion they have. They compare our decision for HRT/Surgery to an anorexic person starving themself. That will tell you how much they understand right there.

Her and her followers are obsessed with how we look and what we decide to do with our own bodies or the way we live our own lives. It's pretty sad.

I can't believe ftms actually leave supportive comments on her blog.

[Hrobinson]

the thing that comes to mind on this subject is seriously who in there right mind would put themselves through transition to be fashionable. Its like so easy isnt it to pop a pill and change, its sooooooooooo not, if you dont suffer from GID why would you even think about gender in the first place??

[kesenaie]

They're just frustrated because they can't find a girlfriend and have to lurk on the internets for one. They also can't stand up for themselves, judging by all the feminism comments and the 'males demand more respect' blog posts. They're just weaklings and project their shortcomings on others who succeed in becoming who they are on their own.

[insideontheoutside]

the thing that comes to mind on this subject is seriously who in there right mind would put themselves through transition to be fashionable. Its like so easy isnt it to pop a pill and change, its sooooooooooo not, if you dont suffer from GID why would you even think about gender in the first place??

Who in their right minds would inject botulinum toxin into their bodies for "beauty" ... or literally starve themselves with "fad diets" ... or have their noses broken under anesthetic to then be remolded with plastic into something called "The Newport" ... or pop vicodin with their friends and go to a club to drink and dance?

Seriously, people do all sorts of things for "beauty" or "fashion" or "trends" or simply to be liked by their peers ... and it's happened all throughout history.

[Wraith]

Maybe bashing FTM's is somewhat of a fad She's just bashing us in public for her own attention.

[Tad]

I dont think a trend or fad could have made me as happy, or feel so comfortable and confident with myself, and released me from such depression and whatnot.. that transitioning to living as male did. Fads and crap are superficial. Superficialness only brings momentary happiness.. if even that. This is not momentary happiness.. this is the final feeling knowing that things are right and as they should be finally, and the satisfaction and contentment and peace that has brought me and continues to bring me.

[asher]

Maybe bashing FTM's is somewhat of a fad She's just bashing us in public for her own attention.

Haha, I second this.

Also agree with what Tad said 100%. Well put man.

[VeryGnawty]

Since our videos are public they are saying we do it to be trendy or for attention or to lure unsuspecting kids into the trans "cult" (as her followers puts it) and that we're narcissistic.

Wait... we get to have CULTS now?  OMG, nobody ever told me!

So, who wants to join VeryGnawty's Naughty Genderists?  We have cookies.

[ty.to.the.man]

ok well isn't a fad sumthing you choose to do? well i certainly did not choose 2 be trans that for sure. also i feel bad 4 ppl in rural places that r trans cuz they probly wont hav enough money 4 surgery,binder,packer,etc. and mite also not b accepted.

[Gabby]

So, where do FTMs fit in there if they're "rejecting their femininity" or whatever?

The masculine and feminine thing just looks fail fail fail to me now.

There's strong aspects and weak aspects, soft aspects and hard aspects to each of us.  It's about being adult, being true to oneself, admiting you love certain things and there's nothing wrong with loving what you do love

Edit: What is strong in one situation is weak in another.

[Lee]

I look at their arguments about how GED doesn't exist and why people transition, and I realize that none of them pertain to me in any way.  I had never heard of transmen before looking into it, I'm bi and not looking to have a straight relationship rather than being a "lesbian", in my family and friends it's usually the women who are more dominant/better educated/have higher paying jobs/etc, and I grew up with (as one of my friends put it) a "leave it to beaver" childhood in a very normal and loving family.  I'd like to see them try to explain where my dysphoria comes from if it's not from being trans. 

[xAndrewx]

Lee- Our dysphoria surely comes from hating men! We hate them so much we want to be one  Only kidding but really I feel like that would be another excuse they use.

None of their excuses and reasons are logical. I'm the first person to debate with someone about the "born this way" or genetics conversation and so on but the stuff they say just doesn't make sense. I don't read into it much when those people say that but I agree that it seems like they have severe issues with something about being trans for some reason and take it out on people like us

Sorry guys I'm feeling very sarcastic today

[NathanW]

I don't being FTM is fad because I didn't choose to feel the way I do and I don't think any person would just wake up one day and say oh I'll be transgender because it's cool !
I'm not sure if the person posting that blog some how feel threatened by the FTM community.

[insideontheoutside]

None of the arguments of that particular blogger and others like her make sense in a debate capacity because holes can be shot all through them.

Case in point - being a masculine female who then identifies as butch and has a sexual preference for women only is perfectly acceptable. They might even say they were "born that way" when it comes to being a lesbian or even being butch. But of course, there's no room for any variation. But really, any argument they have would not hold up to actual debate or scrutiny without the term hypocrite coming up an awful lot.

It's insecurities combined with ignorance combined with probably a number of other things. The problem is when the person with all those levels of issues will not only not admit to any of them, but adamantly argue that it's everyone else with the problem - and make it their personal crusade to rally against all that they hold as "wrong" in their personal belief system.

Some of the stuff she says has a small amount of truth, but it's twisted around to fit her purposes and specific agenda. Half the time I think it's some twisted numbers game - like "we need more lesbians to go AGAINST all those XY ->-bleeped-<-s in the world!" It's some screwed up version of "feminism" that seeks to empower itself through lies and manipulation. It's like the feminized version OF misogyny - it's not treating people equally it's looking down on them and treating them poorly. It's also an extremist viewpoint. And like other extremists it's not open to debate because they are right and we are wrong and that is that. 

[Darrin Scott]

So wait, all this FTM trend thing is coming from a few posts from ONE blogger? Wow....that person created quite the fuss.

[Leek]

They're just frustrated because they can't find a girlfriend and have to lurk on the internets for one.

I think all the problems in the world can be traced back to someone's needing a girlfriend.

(And I wish people would stop giving that crazy lady any attention. She can do nothing to us; just ignore her.)

[Darrin Scott]

(And I wish people would stop giving that crazy lady any attention. She can do nothing to us; just ignore her.)

This.

[Darth_Taco]

Who are you people talking about!? D: I keep seeing this lady mentioned, and I am completely lost as to who you're referring to.

[Ashley Allison]

Sorry if I am intruding.... But WOW, if it was ever true, being FTM or MTF is probably one of the most heart wrenching , horrendeous "trends" of eternity to experience... But, obviously it is not a choice and a trend.  I am MTF and I don't know how FTMs experience their gender dysphoria, but it is not something that I would label a trend.  If I could choose, I would never put my worst enemy through this type of experience (though I am glad I know what it feels like, because it gives me a sense of perspective).  This lady blogging obviously wants to degrade the true, emotionally poignant issues people experience as much as she can... Guys, I am sorry this is even a topic.