Susan's Place Transgender Resources

lets try to be more optimistic friends.

List one, (or more) thing that is GOOD about being in the wrong body.. if you can't think of anything.. don't reply to this.

mine is..

I'm glad that I cant ejaculate.. I think it would be annoying and messy.

your turn..

I'm rather happy with my boob development so far

Understanding that issues such as these are not easily fixable nor in the imagination.  It has helped me realize that the brain has a deep rooted core in a sense.  Being trans, I feel a lot more sympathy towards the plight of others, because I know through the experience of my own trials how hard some issues can be in life.  In fact, I don't know I would feel this empathy towards others, as much as I do now, if I was not trans.

Having to sort through my gender has most definitely boosted my critical thinking skills! My brain appreciates the exercise.

Two: One, more sympathy for others' problems which I previously did not have. Acknowledgement of other problems, rather than assuming they were ridiculous.

And second, I must have gained some mysterious insight into the human mind non -trans haven't. Even if it's just knowledge of how fixed and persistent the mind can be. And how much gender roles really are social constructs (not completely, but people seemed a little obsessed with a lot of made-up differences between the sexes.)

Hmm, I might also know how to better please a woman :laugh:

i know how both men and women think/feel  ^_^  .
*plus , it gave me a wider perspective of how people can be different to endless degrees and there's really no such real thing as a stereotype , just common traits sometimes

I thought of more than four. But I still think the disadvantages greatly outweigh the advantages.

If a gay man gets into a romantic relationship with me at this point, I'll know it's for ME, despite my not having had SRS (yet).

When women complain about that time of the month, I can sympathize from personal experience, even if they don't know it.

I know all about everyday sexism, the kind that a lot of men do unconsciously. Like the guys who talked to my chest instead of my face. Or the guys who talked down to me because they thought I couldn't possibly know about the subject at hand. Or the guys who acted differently toward me when they realized that I did indeed have a brain and the will to use it.

I escaped a traffic ticket once just by being young, blond, and female. And I wasn't trying to get out of it. (This wasn't just a freebie that I took advantage of; I learned from the experience and was more careful in the future. Another example of sexism in action, though.)

A few straight male friends told me personal things that they probably wouldn't have shared with a regular guy.

Learning, understanding and appreciating more about people

Made me alot more positive.

• I have a blackbelt in internet.
• I have a true appreciation for happiness having lived without it for so long.
• I learned I was a strong person, or at least much stronger than I thought.
• I know those that still love me really love me.
• I realize those that don't, never really did.
• I got to experience the vibrancy of youth twice, where the simplest thing, like a breeze across my face or a bumblebee buzzing by, can seem new and beautiful and fantastic.
• I'll never really understand boys, but I do have insight into their world that most other women will never have.
• Everything I've lost has made me truly thankful for everything I have.
• I wake up each day so unbelievably happy that I get to be me.

Easy.

My life has been one long adventure of self discovery.

Even today I am STILL changing and still learning surprising things about myself. I know that is true for non trans people too, but for us the changes and the extent of exploration can be FAR wider and far more dramatic.

I've said it before and I'll say so again. I wish the medical process could be better (ie postops could be fertile) but I LOVE having been trans and I would definitely do it again!

Once I have established my identity as male, and lived as male I will probably be one of the most secure guys (well, secure in my masculinity.) I'll know that skirts don't make me a girl or gay, it's insignificant in comparison to "boobs/female reproductive organs don't make me a female."

Quote from: Jen on May 26, 2010, 02:19:42 AM

• I have a blackbelt in internet.
• I have a true appreciation for happiness having lived without it for so long.
• I learned I was a strong person, or at least much stronger than I thought.
• I know those that still love me really love me.
• I realize those that don't, never really did.
• I got to experience the vibrancy of youth twice, where the simplest thing, like a breeze across my face or a bumblebee buzzing by, can seem new and beautiful and fantastic.
• I'll never really understand boys, but I do have insight into their world that most other women will never have.
• Everything I've lost has made me truly thankful for everything I have.
• I wake up each day so unbelievably happy that I get to be me.

wow
*stares at almost one's ultimate dream*

Quote from: something else on May 26, 2010, 01:24:23 AM
i know how both men and women think/feel  ^_^  .
*plus , it gave me a wider perspective of how people can be different to endless degrees and there's really no such real thing as a stereotype , just common traits sometimes

That's what I was going to say.

Can't add anything more except possibily the occasional pleasure of dreaming of how good it would be to have completed.

Quote from: SilverFang on May 26, 2010, 02:34:35 AM
Once I have established my identity as male, and lived as male I will probably be one of the most secure guys (well, secure in my masculinity.)

Interesting. I feel that I'm perfectly secure in my masculinity. It's my maleness that I'm insecure about. I wonder if I'm deluding myself to separate the two like that.

I can parallel park and talk about my feelings. At the same time, if needed :)

Pain wanders.

Quote from: Arch on May 26, 2010, 11:31:29 AM
Interesting. I feel that I'm perfectly secure in my masculinity. It's my maleness that I'm insecure about. I wonder if I'm deluding myself to separate the two like that.

Not really, just assume I said maleness as it's more accurate.

Not having a "regular male configuration" in the pants does have it's perks..
No "awkward erections", no "blue balls", no mess after "play", etcetera.

No monthly visitor to contend with

Quote from: Virginia Marie on May 26, 2010, 02:44:21 PM
No monthly visitor to contend with

Personally I never considered that as an advantage - more like a cause of tremendous disappointment, but I know all the FtM's think I'm nuts saying that.

Quote from: rejennyrated on May 26, 2010, 06:50:10 PM
Personally I never considered that as an advantage - more like a cause of tremendous disappointment, but I know all the FtM's think I'm nuts saying that.

Yes, yes I do.

Quote from: rejennyrated on May 26, 2010, 06:50:10 PM
Personally I never considered that as an advantage - more like a cause of tremendous disappointment, but I know all the FtM's think I'm nuts saying that.

If "monthly visitors" were transferrable, I would gladly donate mine!



OH! oh oh oh, another advantage-- if I wasn't trans, I probably never would have met the majority of the awesome trans people I know (here and elsewhere)!

the ability to know once your out who your real friends are
jessica

Meeting the people I have on this site. I have made more real friends here than I ever thought possible. I also feel free to be me.

Cindy

Quote from: ƃuıxǝʌ on May 26, 2010, 06:28:11 PM
And when a cricket ball slams into your crotch at high speed...

...It still hurts and can cause damage.

It hurts no matter what you have down there, and T does make that area sensitive too.

To understand what true happiness is.  In the past I've experienced what I thought was happiness, but it doesn't compare to what I feel almost every day now.  It truly is amazing.

As someone who struggles to understand and get along with (most) women and who might have been something of a misogynist had things been different, I think that experiencing the things that women go through (physically, hormonally, societally), even if I perceive and experience them differently than a woman would, has led me to develop a lot of empathy that I might otherwise not have.

It's made me a raging feminist in terms of my views of law and policy matters.

I was spared the experience of violent homophobia growing up. My discomfort with my effeminate side was internally-motivated, not externally-imposed.

All the millions of scars that I got growing up/firefighting/being in the military healed to near-invisibility, which was irritating at the time but I now see it as a positive.

I wasn't allowed to play football, so I have no football injuries - all my sports were spinal-cord-safe.

When I sucked at sports, people assumed it was because I was a girl (not the case) rather than because I was an effeminate gay nerdy klutz (probably more accurate), so I wasn't beaten up for the latter.

When I was raped, the rapists were able to choose a hole that was significantly less painful, less delicate, and of less emotional significance to me than the one they would have used if I'd been born male.

I still think the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.

Quote from: rejennyrated on May 26, 2010, 06:50:10 PM
Personally I never considered that as an advantage - more like a cause of tremendous disappointment, but I know all the FtM's think I'm nuts saying that.

Quote from: SilverFang on May 27, 2010, 01:58:50 AM
Yes, yes I do.

brave soul to be the first to point out what we're ALL thinking.


Anywho back on topic.
Sexism. Yes this was gonna come up. I'm far less of a jerk than I probably would have been, had i been raised male.

Quote from: rejennyrated on May 26, 2010, 06:50:10 PM
Personally I never considered that as an advantage - more like a cause of tremendous disappointment, but I know all the FtM's think I'm nuts saying that.

I'm with Jenny on this one...in fact if any FtM's want to swap, I have a beard, a chest rug and other sundry items I'd happily exchnge.

Oh and the best thing about being trans...the people I've met so far.

Best part of being trans is the amount of self-awareness I have had to cultivate to live day to day.

The community at susan's is the only good thing.

It teaches me to fight, not physically but with my soul for a dream. It also makes me realize what's really important like certain people, things, places.
:icon_geekdance:

Being in a position where your mind doesn't match your body forces you to take stock of who you are and why, something very few people do, even if when they have the "chance" to.
The amount of self awareness this gathers can be unwanted, but I believe that knowing yourself, your mind, your desires, and being accustomed to asking yourself "why" on every thing can lead to a far stronger self image and a better chance at actually getting what you "really" want from life.

Its kind of forced me to step out of my self in a way, and be more observant  of the world around me.  Since I never knew where I fit in, I would kind of hang back and watch people around me.  I've developed a weird ability to pick up on small details on people and things, and just "know things".  i think its made me naturally curious, and I have become a more well rounded person because of it.

1. Discovered the most interesting forum ever, made better by all the interesting and intelligent members in it.  8) (Flattery, flattery...) Even those few who rub me up the wrong way sometimes make good points!
2. I have gained a vast, VAST amount of knowledge on the subject of gender. Even gender stuff not related to trans-ness I can really spout about should I need to!
3. I have become more open-minded about the different ways people think (especially with regards to plastic surgery. It's your body, you do what you like to it!)
4. Funnily enough, I have learned that it is OK to explore your feminine side, it doesn't affect your gender identity. I never expected that!

And that is definitely more than one good thing. I tried!

Quote from: ƃuıxǝʌ on May 27, 2010, 03:50:13 PM
Not as much. My trans guy buddy and I were comparing notes on the subject; his four year old daughter has a propensity to charge at us and slam into our crotch. From me, this elicits a yelp of pain, from him, just an 'oof' of air being knocked out of him.

The potential for damage is still there which more concerning to me. I had a friend who was bruised down there for weeks because she fell on a bar and knew a woman who couldn't have children after suffering a pretty bad groin injury... walking into desk corners by accident have always felt really painful as well. To me it's similar to being able to hold your alcohol more than the next person, just because you can doesn't mean you're suffering less damage.

Female or male bodied, no one wants to be hit with a cricket ball at high speeds.

The other day I was feeling miserable and I was tempted to use my freaky body to scare huge internet burly body builders.
An image of my developing boobs.. I USED STEROIDS ONLY ONCE AND I USED ONE OF THE STEROIDS THAT YOU ALL USE! and watch them get all nervous and defensive before running away paranoid. That's right! #1 freak the queen bee coming through!

If I ever become fully passable I'm still able to make strange male vocalisations with my voice at the expense of a sore throat and scare away anyone I don't like.

My body scarring is uniquely patterned it's possible to play noughts and crosses or creatively draw on the various patterns on my body like you might with patterned wallpaper but you don't get in trouble for drawing on my body with a pen I'm fine with it assuming I like you.

Eventually with luck I will be one of the rare pepole in this world who will be qualified to say who gets the better orgasm.

I have a number of stranger than fiction experiences in my life which could easily be used as plot points in a story. Those memories are uniquely enriching amongst the pain.

I don't believe in an afterlife but if I'm wrong I won't be upset because I know I will be sent to hell but I can say I was honourable in my life given the clues I had to work with to hell with anything that would judge me for that.

I know where my heart is some bastard threw it into the middle of hell and I know where I've gotta go in my life to go fetch and the things I've goto do in my life become obvious at my young age. I have friends older than me who struggle with the fact that they have no dreams or aspirations and don't know where they are going in life and feel bored and unfulfilled and wish they were special.

Quote from: ƃuıxǝʌ on May 29, 2010, 05:30:02 PM
Actually, female genitals suffer no risk of testicular torsion, which is massively damaging and hugely painful.
There is a distinct difference in anatomy and it doesn't do us any good to deny it.

Yes, but Other things can get damaged.

Just wanted to say...

If I wasn't going through the process of what I am and becoming who I feel I am, I don't think I'd be the same person, and that'd really kill me to consider.

Self awareness and emotional maturity. And not giving a rat's what others think!

I love how a "good thing" thread turns into people talking about getting hit in the crotch. I love you, Susanites. Don't ever change.  :icon_blah:

My good thing would also be the whole mental awakening part.  I was a pretty closed-minded person for a looooooong time.

Quote from: natalie rene on June 02, 2010, 11:16:07 PM
I love how a "good thing" thread turns into people talking about getting hit in the crotch. I love you, Susanites. Don't ever change.  :icon_blah:

My good thing would also be the whole mental awakening part.  I was a pretty closed-minded person for a looooooong time.

Lol, yeah. We like to derail threads here (and being easily offended, they're frequently minor arguments.)

This has made me more open minded than I was and probably more than I would have otherwise been.

Quote from: natalie rene on June 02, 2010, 11:16:07 PM
I love how a "good thing" thread turns into people talking about getting hit in the crotch. I love you, Susanites. Don't ever change.  :icon_blah:

My good thing would also be the whole mental awakening part.  I was a pretty closed-minded person for a looooooong time.

I found this to be a bit odd also... But hey, if someones idea of a good time is getting hit in the crotch by something... More power to them  :laugh:

I also agree that I've become much more open minded also

Quote from: Virginia Marie on June 02, 2010, 11:40:44 PM
I found this to be a bit odd also... But hey, if someones idea of a good time is getting hit in the crotch by something... More power to them  :laugh:

I also agree that I've become much more open minded also

Could be a new 'reality' show. USA Crotch Hitter, and then of course franchise around the world. We would vote on who writhed the most convincingly.  :laugh::laugh:

Cindy

Quote from: CindyJames on June 03, 2010, 03:24:47 AM
Could be a new 'reality' show. USA Crotch Hitter

OMG Cindy... Don't give them any ideas!! They'll run with it for sure!

One good thing about being trans is there's a TON of good things about being trans. The community, the support we provide for each other, the open-mindedness of the whole ordeal... Plus, there's also the color PINK!! lol!! :D

Quote from: Jasmine.m on June 03, 2010, 09:15:56 AM
OMG Cindy... Don't give them any ideas!! They'll run with it for sure!

One good thing about being trans is there's a TON of good things about being trans. The community, the support we provide for each other, the open-mindedness of the whole ordeal... Plus, there's also the color PINK!! lol!! :D

Pink is only good on panthers.

Quote from: LordKAT on June 03, 2010, 09:24:45 AM
Pink is only good on panthers.

No uh!! What about pink Vespa's??

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.debonayrepi.com%2Finside%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2008%2F09%2Fvespa.jpg&hash=fb241dca068a46deda2fc02d6bcb522998d5bbe8)

Purple maybe , pink is still for panthers

Quote from: LordKAT on June 03, 2010, 10:07:27 AM
Purple maybe , pink is still for panthers

Growl (Do panthers growl?)

Cindy

Us KAT's do growl, but we purr just as well.

I believe that we are all put here for a purpose and our souls actually -chose- the path that we are taking in this life.  There are lessons we are here to learn and connections we are here to make.  Our lives are not always comfortable and can sometimes be quite tragic.

I see being trans as an evolutionary process - a journey to -self- and -authenticity-.  Doesn't matter if you finally come to it at 22, 42 or 82, or if your end is total transition or somewhere in between. 

I am the sum of all my experiences and I think -I- am actually pretty cool.  :P  So I would have to say that for me there are so many things about being trans that I am both thankful for, and enthused about!

I have the wonder of a 13 year old girl as a male at age 46, the diversity of being able to be both male and female in my daily life, and OMG the -shoes-!  I have found another soul who sees me, all of me, and loves both my boy and my girl!  I have a circle of very supportive friends who also see me and accept that I love Tinkerbell, and Johnny Weir, and now the caring and nurturing side of my personality does not seem so out of place with my birth gender.

I would not be any other way...well...maybe if I could have all that I have now and be 21, blonde, 5'8", with 36Ds...  :)

I can feel warm and snuggly while snuggling with a boy.

This wouldn't be on everybody's "good" list, but for some of us it is a cool aspect to our generally freaky personalities.

Quote from: emoboi on June 07, 2010, 09:06:15 PM
I can feel warm and snuggly while snuggling with a boy.

Just curious, how is that trans-related?

Quote from: Silver on June 08, 2010, 12:28:15 AM
Just curious, how is that trans-related?

Second that


At least I will never have to worry about getting a female pregnant.

I'm more sensitive to people when it comes to self-identification. 

no pms/periods. no menopause.

I'm unable to have children. I dislike children so it's a major plus for me.

Ice cream still tastes like ice cream.

I now understand how men REALLY treat women

I've learned all sorts of things about life - as well as me - that I would never have learned if I wasn't trans.

I've discovered that the people in my life really are amazing people :)

I know I'm valued as a human being, rather than how I look.

I've met loads more good people that I never would before.

I inspire people.

I'm finally in a relationship where I'm treated as a human being, rather than being used like I was before.

I can empathise with the way women are treated.

What do you mean one thing?
I lead a VERY interesting life. I would never trade with anyone. If I had to choose again I would be me. I have the experience of both genders and it is an amazing one. I simply love my life.