Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Frequently Asked Questions
1. General questions
2. Legal issues
3. Hormones and surgery
4. Appearance and passing
5. Helpful links

1. General questions
What do all these words mean?
Androgynous = someone who feels as both genders, or in between.
FTM = Female to Male
MTF = Male to Female
Gender identity = the gender you feel like
LGBT = Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender.
Passing = others see you as the gender you want!
Post-op = someone who's finished with gender reassignment surgery (GRS / SRS)
Pre-op = someone who hasn't gotten surgery (yet)
SRS = sex reassignment surgery
STP = stand-to-pee, a prosthetic you can use to pee through while standing.
T = short for Testosterone.

I would like to be a boy, but I like girls too, am I a lesbian?
You can be a lesbian but still be transgender at the same time. Sexuality is not the same as gender identity.

How can I find FTM or LGBT support here?
Look for LGBT community centers in your area.  A google on "LGBT group <where you live>" can help you find some.
Colleges and universities may have special LGBT clubs/groups too. You can try looking for "<your college/university> lgbt".

2. Legal issues
How do I get my name and gender changed?
This is different in every country, and even different states in the US!
TS Roadmap (http://www.tsroadmap.com/reality/legalindex.html) provides you with a step-by-step guide (USA).
In some countries, you simply have to pay to get a name change (usually after it's been verified by a judge/lawyer).
If your country has a medical programme for transitioning, a name+gender change may be included.

3. Hormones and surgery
How do I start T?
This is different in every country. USA: You need to get (at least) one letter from a therapist who specializes in gender issues. 
You can then either get a referral from a doctor to see an endocrinologist (hormone people), or the doctor can decide to give you testosterone.
Netherlands: Participate in the programme (traject), meetings with the gender teams help them decide if you're ready to take testosterone.
These are just examples. You may not need a letter, or a therapist! The best way to find out is to contact the doctor.

Buying Testosterone online is dangerous and illegal.

What kinds of testosterone are there?
You can get injections, gel or pills, depending on your preference and where you live.
Injections: Sustanon, Nebido. Gel: Androgel, Testim. Pills: Andriol.

What does Testosterone do?
Positive: lowers your voice, more hair, fat on your body is redivided and make you look more masculine, stronger muscles, larger clitoris, higher libido, more stable emotions
Possible positive effects (a chance of happening, not always): your shoe size may increase with 1 to 1.5 sizes

Negative: exhaustion (in the beginning), hunger (in the beginning), acne, headaches, cholesterol changes, higher blood pressure, higher risk of heart diseases (same as in bio males), liver problems
Possible negative effects: itching clitoris and area around it, changes in weight
Contact your doctor or endocrinologist if you're experiencing problems too long.

The changes are different for everyone. Look at males in your family to see what you could expect. It takes at least a year, to four years (like puberty), to get all the changes.

What surgeries are there?
Top surgery (mastectomy) - reforming your chest into a male chest.
There is bilateral mastectomy (double incision), which results in two horizontal scars after removing breast tissue. A peri-areolar (aka Keyhole), breast tissue is removed through an incision in the areola.

Hysterectomy - removal of the uterus. Hysterectomy BSO is removing the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes.

Metoidioplasty - the clitoris enlarges when you use testosterone. With a metoidioplasty, the surgeon releases the clitoris and moves it to make it resemble a penis. You usually retain sensation.

Phalloplasty - there are different ways to perform this surgery. Surgeon takes skin from somewhere else on your body. The urethra (pee tube) is extended and a penis is made from your skin. Other surgeries can be done simultaneously (ex. hysterectomy).

4. Appearance and passing
What is binding and how do I do it?
You purchase a binder, which is basically a compression vest that flattens your chest. It'll resemble a man's chest. A list of online stores that sell binders can be found here (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,112495.0.html).

What is packing and how do I do it?
Packing is stuffing your underwear. Some do it with socks, others do it with packers. Packers are usually made of silicone, and are intended to look like a real penis and stuff your underwear. Packers move around so you can try underwear specially made for FTMs which have a sort of 'pouch'.

Is it illegal to own a packer under 18?
No, but companies are not allowed to sell anything sex-related to minors.

5. Helpful links
Susans Wiki (https://www.susans.org/wiki/Main_Page) - wiki full of information
ftmtransition.com/transition/faq/faqtranst.html - FAQ completely about Testosterone
ftmguide.org/ - Hudson's FTM Guide - handy guide for everything
tranarchism.com/trans-basics/ - Transgender basics

Far from complete, but I really need to celebrate New Year's Eve and watch fireworks now.

 This is a trans 101 that I find answers a lot of questions and addresses terminology.  (http://tranarchism.com/trans-basics/)

I'll share a few links that were helpful to me.


ftmguide.org (http://ftmguide.org) - Hudson's  FTM Resource Guide.  Covers every topic I can think of.

susans.org/Female_to_Male/ (http://susans.org/Female_to_Male/)  -  A few links were useful to me.  worth checking out.

This is a really good idea, especially with that recent thread talking about the massive rehashing of topics happening. We should get this stickied.

Good info, but the "how do I get T" bit isn't wholly accurate as the process differs from country to country, doctor to doctor and clinic to clinic.  Therapists aren't always necessary.

I'd say non-binary instead of androgynous. A lot of the non-binary trans folk I know are quite far from being androgynous, lol.
Just my 2c.

If it's a resource, I love it. If the READ FIRST means (because we don't want to answer your newbie questions) then I hate it. Hugs, Devlyn

Why not just refer people to the Wiki and the Reference Library?

Quote from: Arch on December 31, 2011, 08:38:47 PM
Why not just refer people to the Wiki and the Reference Library?

Both are kind of off (IMO).

Quote from: Kreuzfidel on December 31, 2011, 06:26:53 PM
Good info, but the "how do I get T" bit isn't wholly accurate as the process differs from country to country, doctor to doctor and clinic to clinic.  Therapists aren't always necessary.

Well I think that's good to point out.  OP did it was far from complete.  So we can help complete it.  I think we can all add to this thread and help contribute some more info or resources for people wondering about T to read.

Quote from: Arch on December 31, 2011, 08:38:47 PMWhy not just refer people to the Wiki and the Reference Library?

Good idea.  you should link to those, because I didn't know about them.  And think most people probably don't think to look for them either.  which is why we get all these repetitive threads.

But no one is being forced to read or answer "repetitive" questions. There is nothing repetitive about a new member summoning up the courage to register here. That repetitive question may very well be the first step on what we all know is a difficult trip. I hit the introductions and mention the wiki all the time, and also, the members who do visit the introductions always tell new members "If you have questions, ask." Hugs, Devlyn

This board only has people coming in to ask questions to which they can find the answers on google within one minute. Then once answered, they never return.
And seriously, this is a life changing thing. If you're not prepared to spend 5 minutes googling (what does T do? Where are LBGT support groups here?), you should really ask yourself if you want to continue with this change. The same, repetitive questions push away everything else. This is the same for every other forum: put some effort into looking for it yourself, or gtfo.

I completely disagree. Sending people to google or yahoo answers is not what Susans is all about. Hugs, Devlyn

People should be grateful someone is making this because people repeatedly show they're too lazy to put any effort into something.
Having an MTF drop in on a forum to leave some negative comments isn't very helpful either. The FTM boards are overflowing with questions which can be answered within one minute of googling and there's hardly any information or experiences from social things.

Oh, well now that you've said that, this crossdresser is going to move into the FTM section. Hugs, Devlyn

There are links to the Wiki and reference library at the top of every page in the forums.  Note: some of the ref lib articles are out of date.

In addition, I'll ask that this thread go back to discussing the issue raised by the OP and to not let it descend into an argument about who belongs where.  Please remember that staff are the only people who are authorized to police these forums.  Let's not forget that this is a subsection of the "Community Conversation" forum.  Everyone is welcome to contribute what they feel is important.  If anyone doesn't like their contribution, feel free to ignore it or, if it violates the TOS, report it to the staff.

If there are problems in the Wiki, please let me know about it so it can be fixed.  Making things better here is a LOT easier if we get good feedback from the users of our resources.

One more thing . . .

Our links page should contain the links to websites that are valuable and interesting to the FtM community.  If these links are missing or broken, then feel free to send a note to the links staff or you are invited to join the staff to work toward making the links section better.  Thank you.

I think most people do plenty of internet searching before they come here. I mean, what's lazy about setting up an account here to ask a question? The lazy person WOULD just google it. Besides, isn't 24 hour a day live transgender help technicians our specialty? Hugs, Devlyn

I think that questioning a person who has "been there/done that" seems to hold more weight, seems to be more valid, in some people's view, than a dry article in a Wiki.  And we do try to be as supportive as possible here which means that asking questions is (hopefully) safer here than in other places on the web.

Part of being supportive is being patient with new people and answering their questions, even if they have been answered a couple dozen times already.  A link to a good answer is an adequate reply, don't forget.

I'd say remove the positive and negative effects of T, and just list the effects/possible effects.  Not everyone is looking forward to the same effects, i.e. not all want clit/dick growth.

Quote from: JohnAlex on December 31, 2011, 05:47:52 PM
I'll share a few links that were helpful to me.


ftmguide.org (http://ftmguide.org) - Hudson's  FTM Resource Guide.  Covers every topic I can think of.

susans.org/Female_to_Male/ (http://susans.org/Female_to_Male/)  -  A few links were useful to me.  worth checking out.

I agree--ftmguide.org is an amazing site.

will leave this to someone else to update
this forum isn't worth spending time on

Quote from: Nezhi on January 01, 2012, 12:14:59 PM
will leave this to someone else to update
this forum isn't worth spending time on

My post wasn't a jab at you, I was just saying that it IS a great resource for information as well.   

This is taken from the Really Awesome Trans Glossary which is found on the page I previously linked: http://tranarchism.com/trans-basics/ (http://tranarchism.com/trans-basics/)


1. Social Etiquette 101

If you make a mistake, accept being corrected gracefully, and move on. You don't have to be terrified of accidentally offending someone. That just makes things awkward. If you make a mistake and dwell on it, that's even more awkward. Even worse is starting an argument defending ignorance or assuming you know better than someone with obviously more education and experience on an issue. Being corrected is ok, and it doesn't make you stupid or insensitive. Just learn, and move on.

Use their chosen name. A trans person's "real" name is the name they choose to identify with, and no birth assignment or bureaucratic paperwork can refute that. Often trans people cannot afford a legal name change or are not yet old enough to change their name legally. Never put their name or pronouns in quotes. It's sarcastically derogatory.

Use the pronoun that is consistent with their gender expression. A person who identifies as a certain gender, whether or not they have taken hormones or had surgery, should be referred to using the pronouns appropriate for their identity. For example, if the person wears a dress and goes by Susan, feminine pronouns are appropriate.

If you're really unsure, ask which pronoun they prefer. Don't be afraid! Simply ask, "What pronoun do you prefer?" Note that many genderqueer people use they/their/them as gender-neutral singular pronouns. Be tactful when asking about pronouns; it's pretty rude to do so without at least involving yourself a conversation first.


2. Sex and Gender 101

Gender Identity: One's actual, internal sense of being male or female, neither of these, both, etc. Everyone has a gender identity, including you. For transgender people, their birth-assigned sex and their own internal sense of gender identity do not match.

Gender Expression / Presentation: The physical manifestation of one's gender identity through clothing, hairstyle, voice, body shape, etc. (typically referred to as masculine or feminine). Most transgender people seek to make their gender expression (how they look) match their gender identity (who they are), rather than their birth-assigned sex.

Sex: The assignment and classification of people as male or female based on physical anatomy at birth.

Sexual Orientation: A person's enduring physical, romantic, emotional and/or spiritual attraction to others. Gender identity and sexual orientation are not the same. Trans people can be heterosexual, gay, lesbian, pansexual, queer, etc. just like anyone else. For example, a trans woman who is primarily attracted to other women would probably identify as lesbian.

Sex and Gender Misconceptions: Catch phrases involving "between the ears" or "between the legs" are grossly misguided. Gender is no more a "social construct" than sex is, just as sex is no more "real" than gender. If anything, one's gender identity that arises from self-awareness and a lifetime of social development is far more "real" than any judgment based on what that person's body was shaped like when they were an infant.


3. Trans Terminology 101

Transgender: An umbrella term for people whose gender identity differs from the sex or gender they were assigned at birth, and for those whose gender expression differs from what is culturally expected of them. The term transgender is not indicative of sexual orientation, hormonal makeup, physical anatomy, or how one is perceived in daily life.

Transsexual: Similar to transgender in that it indicates a conflict between one's gender identity and sex assigned at birth, but with implications of hormonal/surgical transition from one binary sex to the other. Unlike transgender, transsexual is not an umbrella term, as many transgender people do not identify as transsexual.

Trans: Prefix or adjective used as a simultaneous abbreviation of either transgender or transsexual, derived from the Latin word meaning "across from" or "on the other side of." Because it avoids the political connotations of both those terms, many consider trans to be the most inclusive and useful umbrella term.

Trans Woman / Trans Man: Trans woman refers to a woman of transgender experience. She might actively identify herself as trans, or she might just consider being trans part of her medical history. It is grammatically and definitionally correct to include a space between trans and woman. The same concept applies to trans man. Unless you're involved in a conversation specifically about trans issues, you should just stick with woman or man. 

Transition: The complex process of leaving behind one's coercively assigned birth sex. Transition can include: coming out to one's family, friends, and/or co-workers; changing one's name and/or sex on legal documents; hormone therapy; and possibly (though not always) some form of surgery. It's best not to assume that someone will "complete" this process at any particular time.

Transphobia: Fear, discomfort, distrust, or disdain directed towards trans people or trans concepts. This word is used similarly to homophobia, xenophobia, misogyny, etc.

Cis: Prefix or adjective that means "not trans," derived from the Latin word meaning "on the same side." A cisgender person is not transgender, and a cissexual person is not transsexual. In discussions regarding trans issues, you'd differentiate between women who are trans and women who aren't by saying trans women and cis women, but this term otherwise probably won't come up. Cis is not a fake word, not a slur, and is not intended to "label" anyone; consider trans and cis neutral descriptors analogous to homo and hetero, a pair of Greek-derived prefixes used in discussing sexuality.

CAFAB and CAMAB: Acronyms meaning "coercively assigned female/male at birth." No one, whether cis or trans, gets to choose what gender they're assigned when they're born, which is what makes it coercive. In the rare cases when it's necessary to refer to the birth-assigned sex of a trans person, this is the way to do it.

Cross-dressing: The act of dressing and presenting as the "opposite" gender. One who considers this an integral part of their identity may identify as a cross-dresser. ->-bleeped-<- is an obsolete term with the same meaning. Drag queens and drag kings are cross-dressing performers who take on stylized, exaggerated gender presentations. Cross-dressing and drag are forms of gender expression and are not necessarily tied to erotic activity, nor are they indicative of one's sexual orientation. Do NOT use these terms to describe someone who has transitioned or intends to do so in the future.


4. Sex and Gender 201

The Gender Binary: A system of viewing gender as consisting solely of two categories, termed male and female, in which no other possibilities for gender or anatomy are believed to exist. This system is oppressive to anyone who defies their coercive birth assignment, but particularly those who are gender-variant or do not fit neatly into one of the two standard categories.

Binary: Used as an adjective to describe the genders female/male or woman/man. Since the binary genders are the only ones recognized by general society as being legitimate, they enjoy an (unfairly) privileged status.

Non-Binary: Preferred umbrella term for all genders other than female/male or woman/man, used as an adjective (e.g. Jesse is non-binary). Non-binary identities do fall under the "trans umbrella," but not all trans people are non-binary (e.g. Erin is a binary woman with a trans history).

Genderqueer: An identity commonly used by folks who reject the gender binary. Those who identify as genderqueer may identify as neither male nor female, may see themselves as outside of or in between the binary gender boxes, or may simply feel restricted by gender labels. Some genderqueer people do identify within the binary (e.g. "genderqueer woman"), but reject the conventions and expectations associated with that gender.

Queer: General term for identities, presentations, and sexual orientations that reject gender conventions and expectations. There's a lot of overlap between queer and trans, but not all queer people are trans, and not all trans people are queer (many trans people do in fact conform to gender norms and expectations). The word queer is still sometimes used as a hateful slur, so although many have reclaimed it from their oppressors, be careful with its use.

Heteronormative / Heteronormativity: These terms refer to the stereotypical dynamics between primarily heterosexual masculine men and primarily heterosexual feminine women.

Monosexual / Multisexual: Umbrella terms for orientations directed towards one gender (monosexual) or many genders (multisexual).

Pansexual: Open to all genders and sexualities. Sometimes the term omnisexual is used in the same manner. Pansexual is being used more and more frequently in place of bisexual as more people acknowledge that gender is not binary.

Heteroflexible: Similar to bisexual, but with a stated heterosexual preference. Commonly used to indicate that one is interested in heterosexual romance but is "flexible" when it comes to sex and/or play. The same concepts apply to homoflexible.


5. Trans Terminology 201

Sexual Reconstruction Surgery / SRS: Refers to several different surgical procedures, and is only one small part of transition. Also occasionally referred to as genital reconstruction surgery (GRS), these terms are both preferred over "sex change operation" or anything with "reassignment." Not all transgender people choose to or can afford to have SRS. Overemphasizing the importance of SRS to the transition process should be avoided.

Gender Dysphoria: Anxiety and malaise regarding one's assigned gender/sex.

Gender Identity Disorder / GID: A controversial DSM-IV diagnosis given to transgender and other gender-variant people.

Intersex: Describes a person whose natal physical sex is physically ambiguous. There are many genetic, hormonal or anatomical variations which can cause this (e.g. Klinefelter Syndrome, Adrenal Hyperplasia, or Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome). Parents and medical professionals usually assign intersex infants a sex and perform surgical operations to conform the infant's body to that assignment, but this practice has become increasingly controversial as intersex adults are speaking out against having had to undergo medical procedures which they did not consent to (and in many cases caused them mental and physical difficulties later in life).

Gender Fluid: A general term for non-binary gender identities. Overlaps with genderqueer and bigender, implying movement between different gender identities and/or presentations.

Bigender: Refers to those who feel they have both male and female sides to their personalities, often used by cross-dressers. Do not confuse this term with Two-Spirit, which is specifically associated with Native American and First Nations cultures.

Butch: An identity or presentation that leans towards masculinity. Butch can be an adjective (she's a butch woman), a verb (he went home to butch up), or a noun (they identify as a butch). Although commonly associated with masculine queer/lesbian women, it's used by many to describe a distinct gender identity and/or expression, and does not necessarily imply that one also identifies as a woman or not.

Femme: An identity or presentation that leans towards femininity. Femme can be an adjective (he's a femme boy), a verb (she feels better when she femmes up), or a noun (they're a femme). Although commonly associated with feminine lesbian/queer women, it's used by many to describe a distinct gender identity and/or expression, and does not necessarily imply that one also identifies as a woman or not.

Drag: Exaggerated, theatrical, or performative gender presentation. Although most commonly used to refer to cross-dressing performers (drag queens and drag kings), anyone of any gender can do any form of drag. Doing drag does not necessarily have anything to do with one's sex, gender identity, or orientation.

Gender->-bleeped-<-(ing): Used to describe gender expressions that "->-bleeped-<- with" gender norms and expectations.

Passing: Being perceived by others as a particular identity, gender, age, race, etc., regardless of how the individual in question identifies, e.g. passing as straight, passing as a woman, passing as a youth.

->-bleeped-<-: Refers to a cis person who fetishizes trans people.


6. Terminology to Avoid

Disclaimer: Not all terms listed in this section are necessarily bad, but they can be very degrading if used in the wrong context or directed towards the wrong person. Please try to avoid these terms and usages unless someone identifies with them and asks for them.

Problematic: ->-bleeped-<-, she-male, he-she, it, trap, hermaphrodite, T-girl, boi
Preferred: do not use these at all
These are all derogatory. "->-bleeped-<-" is a slur that has been used for decades to degrade feminine spectrum trans people; although many trans people have reclaimed it, it is still a hurtful slur to many others. "She-male" and the like are degrading terms commonly used in pornography. Although "T-girl" and "boi" are somewhat common identities, many trans people feel they imply they are not "real" women and men.

Problematic: real, bio, genetic, natural, born
Preferred: cis
Trans people are not fake, artificial, or unnatural. Their genetics have the same effect on them that cis people's do, and they're born to be who they are just as much as cis people are. Cis is also preferable to "non-trans," which would unfairly create a labeled group and an unlabeled one.

Problematic: sex change, pre-op, post-op, non-op, female-bodied, male-bodied
Preferred: do not reduce trans people to their bodyparts
Bodyparts are not the defining trait of one's identity. If you do need to talk about surgical options or techniques, be as medical and specific as possible, e.g. "Erin underwent vaginoplasty in July 2009." Be tactful and aware when asking trans people about their medical history. It's usually none of your business.

Problematic: MtF, FtM, transgenders, a transgender, a transsexual, a trans
Preferred: trans people, transgender people, trans women, trans men, women, men
The acronyms MtF and FtM are still very common, but their use is being phased out because they make it sound like someone is stuck in transition forever and define trans people by their birth assignments. Trans and its variations are adjectives, not nouns. Using them as nouns strips trans people of their identities and objectifies them. You wouldn't say "Erin is an MtF," you'd say "Erin is a woman."

Problematic: transwoman, transman, trans-woman, trans-man
Preferred: trans woman, trans man
The one-word "transwoman" or hyphenated "trans-woman" imply that trans women are a "third gender," distinct from woman. By including the space, trans is just an adjective modifying a particular type of woman, just like Asian woman or young woman or liberal woman. While some self-identify with these terms, they are not generally accepted.


7. Trans / Cis Summary

In most cases, trans and cis by themselves are sufficient descriptors. This brief summary describes the subtle differences between subcategories for when distinctions are necessary.

Transgender = umbrella term
Transsexual = describes someone who undergoes binary transition
Cisgender = umbrella term for "not transgender"
Cissexual = describes someone who does not undergo any form of transition

Transsexual usually overlaps with transgender, but there are a lot of trans people (even transitioning ones) who don't consider themselves transsexual, and there are also some gender-normative transsexual people that don't consider themselves transgender. However, the distinction between cisgender and cissexual is almost always inconsequential, unless discussing issues specific to transsexual folks that do not involve other people under the trans umbrella. When in doubt, trans and cis by themselves are the safest choices to use in a discussion regarding trans issues.

Quote from: Paul on January 01, 2012, 01:33:59 PM
My post wasn't a jab at you, I was just saying that it IS a great resource for information as well.

It wasn't your post.

I don't think he likes girls in the sandbox! Hugs, Devlyn

Adding other stuff:

Getting Testosterone: In many areas there is a requirement about seeing a gender therapist. In many countries there is the option to used informed consent in order to obtain testosterone. In the United States there are LGBT clinics (often in liberal cities) which offer low cost/sliding scale doctors appointments with specialists in transgender health. These clinics usually offer informed consent.

For transgender youth informed consent is usually not an option.

Buying testosterone online without a prescription can be dangerous and illegal.

(Under words)
Non-op- a person who does not wish to undergo any surgery

(under what kinds of testosterone)
Testosterone is the only kind of testosterone, however it is administered in different forms including gels, patches, intramuscular injections, and pills. The most commonly used is injections due to their low cost and slow release time. Each option and sub-option (ex: different brands of injections and patches work differently) should be researched to determine what method will work best for you.

(under what does testosterone do?)

Most of what is written here isn't stuff testosterone actually does. It's things people relate to taking testosterone but might not be a direct effect.

Possible effects of testosterone are: increased muscle mass, body fat redistribution, body hair and facial hair growth, hair loss, increased sweat production, increased acne especially on the chin, chest, shoulders, and butt, change in sex drive, change in odor, genital dryness, increased LDL cholesterol, increased risk of heart disease and stroke, hoarseness and deepened voice, irregular menstruation, increased risk of blood not clotting, increased blood pressure, and infertility.

Large doses can create risk for liver damage, kidney damage, irritability, and increased frustration.


(under surgeries)

scrotoplasty/testicular implants: the formation of a scrotum, often using small silicone implants to give the feeling of testicles.
Urethral lengthening: An option available with bottom surgery which increases the length of the urethra so one may urinate through the tip of the post-op penis. Usually this is formed by using the vaginal tissue.
Vaginectomy: removal of the vagina, and closing the opening.

One can have any of the main surgeries (ex: metoidioplasty, phalloplasty) with or without options like a vaginectomy, scrotoplasty, urethral lengthining, etc.

(under what is binding)

Binding is compressing the chest, in order to create a flatter appearance. One can use a piece of clothing specifically for chest compression, or other options which are often less effective, or can be harmful such as ace bandages, duct tape, or sports bras.

Quote from: AdamMLP on January 01, 2012, 10:36:14 AM
I'd say remove the positive and negative effects of T, and just list the effects/possible effects.  Not everyone is looking forward to the same effects, i.e. not all want clit/dick growth.

I agree with this.  I find my body hair to be a pro but not all guys feel that way.

If it was me then fair enough, but what is this if not a place for all transpeople? Regardless of how far they are in transition/their skill at googling/skill at decoding bland and clinical text/or where they live. Even just in the uk I find it hard to find any information as most is geared towards US residents.

Quote from: AdamMLP on January 01, 2012, 03:45:45 PM
If it was me then fair enough, but what is this if not a place for all transpeople? Regardless of how far they are in transition/their skill at googling/skill at decoding bland and clinical text/or where they live. Even just in the uk I find it hard to find any information as most is geared towards US residents.

Not to mention not everything people want to know is as general as "how do I get T?" or "how do I change my name?"

QuoteNot to mention not everything people want to know is as general as "how do I get T?" or "how do I change my name?"

Guess why it's called frequently asked questions.

QuoteIf it was me then fair enough, but what is this if not a place for all transpeople? Regardless of how far they are in transition/their skill at googling/skill at decoding bland and clinical text/or where they live. Even just in the uk I find it hard to find any information as most is geared towards US residents.

These are faqs not complex questions that require someone to look through scientific papers, or read philosophical articles. It must be very difficult to understand that...

{This section deleted by Emelye for being inappropriate and abusive.}

Maybe if you read the other topics, you'd have noticed people actually wanted a FAQ. But oh well, you can go screw yourself.

You'll always be a boy before a man. Hugs, Devlyn

Quote from: Nez on January 01, 2012, 04:40:05 PM
Guess why it's called frequently asked questions.
These are faqs not complex questions that require someone to look through scientific papers, or read philosophical articles. It must be very difficult to understand that...
This is why I'm leaving Susans. Because obnoxious idiots can wander around, leaving negative comments while contributing nothing themselves... besides a random topic telling us how wonderful it must be to have female genitals. I have no problems with MTFs, they just miraculously twist my words even after I say that someone dropping in from another forum only to leave negative comments can gtfo. And ofcourse, the mods suck their dicks and completely miss the point. All 'Devlyn's done is ruin my view of MTFs even more.

Maybe if you read the other topics, you'd have noticed people actually wanted a FAQ. But oh well, you can go screw yourself.

If you're going to leave then just go without causing all the aggro and insulting people more.  And yes, this is a good idea, but the mentality behind it that was given off, atleast in my case, was that this was being posted not to be helpful for people just beginning their transition, but rather so that people further on in their transition don't have to bother with them and their questions.  Reading some of the comments - maybe I'm looking into them - but I wouldn't want to be part of a community who didn't want questions to be asked by those who need advice on the medical/physical side of things simply because maybe there isn't that much stuff out there on the internet - certainly isn't easy to find it for the UK, let alone smaller countries - or because they want a more personalised answer to their specific question, or maybe an opinion.

Wow can we stop with the fighting???

Mods is there a way to delete all the fighting and just keep with the topic?

Quote from: Wesley_33 on January 01, 2012, 05:19:30 PM
Wow can we stop with the fighting???

Mods is there a way to delete all the fighting and just keep with the topic?

be easier to start a new thread if the OP does indeed leave the boards,otherwise well be unable to have the first post altered with amendments and it'll be just as difficult to find anything as on the boards in general. i agree this could be a useful resource, but disagreed with the undertones and probably got a little too carried away. sorry guys.

I like the idea of an FAQ, but the infighting and whining needs to stop.

I tend to ignore faq's, they rarely answer my questions are are very hard to navigate. Why read a zillion pages only to find that your question isn't even covered when you can simply ask?

I have disabled the external links to comply with the ToS. Such links can be posted by Family and Staff. Sorry, Nez.

There are protocols for improving the site, and we can follow them here. There's no reason we can't revamp the Wiki and the Reference Library, and come up with a nice link or sticky with FAQ for people who want one. The main problem is...humanpower (I've been told that "manpower" is rather sexist, but there's no good synonym for it).

If you see the need for a project like this, alert the staff and see if anyone has the time and inclination to work on it. Or volunteer for the Wiki yourself. Or start corresponding with a group of other members, come up with a plan you can agree on, and present it to the administrators. Staff should be the final judge. Otherwise, you wind up with a lengthy pastiche of information (and possibly misinformation) that nobody will want to wade through; you wind up defeating the purpose of an FAQ section.

I've looked more closely at our Wiki and our Reference Library since I last posted in this thread, and they can definitely be improved. For example, I tried to find an entry for the Hudson Guide and didn't find it where I expected it. But I think it's better to build up our existing resources and add an FAQ to them, then sticky the link in the FTM thread.

Nez, I apologize for sounding flippant earlier. I honestly didn't realize that our resources could use some improvement--I've never used them much--and I didn't see why we couldn't just link to them and save everyone the trouble. Serves me right for not looking.

You know that in the title you SHOUT that I have to (READ FIRST).  So I do.  Then I find this: Far from complete, but I really need to celebrate New Year's Eve and watch fireworks now.

Don't ya think that before demanding that people read it!, damn it, you might at least want to finish it?

Quote from: Arch on January 02, 2012, 02:23:56 PM
I have disabled the external links to comply with the ToS. Such links can be posted by Family and Staff. Sorry, Nez.

There are protocols for improving the site, and we can follow them here. There's no reason we can't revamp the Wiki and the Reference Library, and come up with a nice link or sticky with FAQ for people who want one. The main problem is...humanpower (I've been told that "manpower" is rather sexist, but there's no good synonym for it).

If you see the need for a project like this, alert the staff and see if anyone has the time and inclination to work on it. Or volunteer for the Wiki yourself. Or start corresponding with a group of other members, come up with a plan you can agree on, and present it to the administrators. Staff should be the final judge. Otherwise, you wind up with a lengthy pastiche of information (and possibly misinformation) that nobody will want to wade through; you wind up defeating the purpose of an FAQ section.

I've looked more closely at our Wiki and our Reference Library since I last posted in this thread, and they can definitely be improved. For example, I tried to find an entry for the Hudson Guide and didn't find it where I expected it. But I think it's better to build up our existing resources and add an FAQ to them, then sticky the link in the FTM thread.

Nez, I apologize for sounding flippant earlier. I honestly didn't realize that our resources could use some improvement--I've never used them much--and I didn't see why we couldn't just link to them and save everyone the trouble. Serves me right for not looking.

Eh, I'l make an offer to improve the information type stuffs. Most of it is out dated (this website looks like it's stuck in 1994) and doesn't have new terms. Do I just message Emelye?

Quote from: Nygeel on January 02, 2012, 03:16:20 PMEh, I'l make an offer to improve the information type stuffs. Most of it is out dated (this website looks like it's stuck in 1994) and doesn't have new terms. Do I just message Emelye?

It's also a bit too hard to find certain information, as I found.

I'm sending you a PM.

Honestly, when I read the title of this when it was posted, even before there were any responses, my first instinct was to get away. It seemed pretty obvious that it would devolve into some kind of unhappiness. Not casting judgement in any direction or on any particular people, but still. This had watch out written all over it. :P

<disheveled wig, bloody nose, HUGE smile> Nah! Come on in, Felix, the water's fine! Hugs, Devlyn

Quote from: Devlyn on January 03, 2012, 03:24:34 PM
<disheveled wig, bloody nose, HUGE smile> Nah! Come on in, Felix, the water's fine! Hugs, Devlyn

Lol Devlyn this cracked me up. :laugh: