Community Conversation => Transitioning => Real-Life Experience => Topic started by: Dawn D. on February 04, 2010, 07:01:09 PM Return to Full Version
Title: Ultimate passing test?
Post by: Dawn D. on February 04, 2010, 07:01:09 PM
Post by: Dawn D. on February 04, 2010, 07:01:09 PM
I just had a very unique experience (I think). I had a customer come in today who happens to be blind. I had to rely entirely upon my voice to be convincing. Now this customer is a repeat customer. He knew me from before transition.
Anyway, as I am ringing up a sale with him, he asks me, "so, where's your husband today"? He caught me so unprepared that I was completely uncertain as to how to respond. So, I hesitated and he asked a tag question of "he left you here alone, huh"? I said "yes"! Then the phone rang and I averted any further questions on the subject, wheewww!
His wife was with him and she is sighted. Evidently, I guess I passed on the visual enough with her and on the audible enough for both! This encounter really took me aback for a moment though. Encountering someone visually impaired never occurred to me before. I've really been practicing hard at getting my voice better and now I suppose it's getting pretty close to where it needs to be. I never thought it would.
What a great feeling though!
Dawn
Anyway, as I am ringing up a sale with him, he asks me, "so, where's your husband today"? He caught me so unprepared that I was completely uncertain as to how to respond. So, I hesitated and he asked a tag question of "he left you here alone, huh"? I said "yes"! Then the phone rang and I averted any further questions on the subject, wheewww!
His wife was with him and she is sighted. Evidently, I guess I passed on the visual enough with her and on the audible enough for both! This encounter really took me aback for a moment though. Encountering someone visually impaired never occurred to me before. I've really been practicing hard at getting my voice better and now I suppose it's getting pretty close to where it needs to be. I never thought it would.
What a great feeling though!
Dawn
Title: Re: Ultimate passing test?
Post by: Janet_Girl on February 04, 2010, 07:11:35 PM
Post by: Janet_Girl on February 04, 2010, 07:11:35 PM
That is so cute. You now longer need validation, I would say. ;D
Title: Re: Ultimate passing test?
Post by: K8 on February 04, 2010, 07:15:38 PM
Post by: K8 on February 04, 2010, 07:15:38 PM
Good one, Dawn.
Voice is more than pitch and resonance but includes inflection, manner, word selection, etc. As you become more comfortable being the real you, your mannerisms of voice will follow. (That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it. >:()
Don't you love all those different small encounters that just reinforce what you knew all along - that you are a woman?
- Kate
Voice is more than pitch and resonance but includes inflection, manner, word selection, etc. As you become more comfortable being the real you, your mannerisms of voice will follow. (That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it. >:()
Don't you love all those different small encounters that just reinforce what you knew all along - that you are a woman?
- Kate
Title: Re: Ultimate passing test?
Post by: Syne on February 04, 2010, 07:18:33 PM
Post by: Syne on February 04, 2010, 07:18:33 PM
Yay! Congrats! Where I currently work at there are a few blind people that I interact with and while they never knew me from before, I was quite happy that they always get the gender right when I talk to them. :)
Title: Re: Ultimate passing test?
Post by: sneakersjay on February 04, 2010, 07:20:27 PM
Post by: sneakersjay on February 04, 2010, 07:20:27 PM
Cool!
My ultimate test was passing 100% with someone who knew me before as a client, but it had been >3 yrs since I last saw her. I just introduced myself as if we had never met, and she was totally clueless. ;D
Jay
My ultimate test was passing 100% with someone who knew me before as a client, but it had been >3 yrs since I last saw her. I just introduced myself as if we had never met, and she was totally clueless. ;D
Jay
Title: Re: Ultimate passing test?
Post by: Radar on February 10, 2010, 07:54:14 AM
Post by: Radar on February 10, 2010, 07:54:14 AM
Very cool Dawn. :icon_mrhappy:
I've been passing alot on the phone and clients- even pre-existing ones- have been referring to me as he. When a co-worker just hears my voice they sometimes say he too, but then "correct" themselves. ::) Some have actually not corrected themselves lately though. The funny thing is I'm not out at work yet.
I've been passing alot on the phone and clients- even pre-existing ones- have been referring to me as he. When a co-worker just hears my voice they sometimes say he too, but then "correct" themselves. ::) Some have actually not corrected themselves lately though. The funny thing is I'm not out at work yet.