Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transgender talk => Topic started by: amydane on January 05, 2018, 09:58:44 PM

Title: Handwriting
Post by: amydane on January 05, 2018, 09:58:44 PM
I'm just curious if any of you have significantly changed your handwriting? It's sort of funny, because I can't really switch back and for between girly handwriting and boyish handwriting. I haven't transitioned to full time yet, but my handwriting has. ;) I'm sure people who see my handwriting wonder some things, especially at work, but I don't really care. It's just another way of expressing my inner self.


Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Handwriting
Post by: MeTony on January 05, 2018, 10:20:04 PM
I've always had terrible handwriting. I can hardly read my own notes. I love computers.


Tony
Title: Re: Handwriting
Post by: Cassi on January 05, 2018, 10:26:07 PM
ditto
Title: Re: Handwriting
Post by: Deborah on January 05, 2018, 11:39:57 PM
I hardly write anything by hand anymore.  I do everything on my phone/pocket computer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Handwriting
Post by: ImSomething on January 06, 2018, 01:16:33 AM
My handwriting has changed on its own over the years and I honestly don't know what to think of it. I feel like it fits with my identity but I don't know what it's supposed to be indicative of in terms of identity. I've had people close to me (family members, significant others) make fun of me and say it's really bad but I've also had girls in my classes compliment my handwriting style. So I dunno. It's certainly me in my handwriting, though. Anyone who knows my handwriting can tell immediately when the writing is my signature pseudo-cursive semi-chicken scratch printing.
Title: Re: Handwriting
Post by: KathyLauren on January 06, 2018, 07:28:53 AM
I have worked a bit to slow down my handwriting, making it a bit more legible.  I figure more legible - more girly.

At least that's what I thought until this week, when my (cis-female) therapist gave me some written notes.  Holy @#$%, and I thought mine was bad!
Title: Re: Handwriting
Post by: jessica95 on January 06, 2018, 08:14:25 AM
Quote from: amydane on January 05, 2018, 09:58:44 PM
I'm just curious if any of you have significantly changed your handwriting? It's sort of funny, because I can't really switch back and for between girly handwriting and boyish handwriting. I haven't transitioned to full time yet, but my handwriting has. ;) I'm sure people who see my handwriting wonder some things, especially at work, but I don't really care. It's just another way of expressing my inner self.


Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
I dont write much on paper usually, so dont know about that.
Title: Re: Handwriting
Post by: Julia1996 on January 06, 2018, 08:32:06 AM
Is there a difference between male and female handwriting?? With my handwriting I should be a Dr. But I almost never write anyway. I use my phone to make notes to myself and I have a SmartShopper device for grocery lists.
Title: Re: Handwriting
Post by: Kc1058 on January 06, 2018, 08:37:09 AM
My writing has always been a combination of script/print, and over the years has gotten to a point where it's very hurried. I'm with Julia- If you're to judge my writing- I should be a dr as well.
I was also told at one point - no one writes anymore they print, it's faster. 🤷🏼‍♀️ By that logic, I'd say just start printing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Handwriting
Post by: Yakayla on January 06, 2018, 10:40:13 AM
I have changed my hand writing by a lot. I tend to writing a lot and I don't really change it on purpose. I've just notice since I've allowed myself to be my more bubbly self, my writing changed to fit my personality more. Lot of curls and bigger circles.
Title: Re: Handwriting
Post by: Kylo on January 06, 2018, 12:15:04 PM
A while back I switched from mainly cursive to capitals. Main reason was I no longer needed to write by hand often and usually just did when I was book keeping or writing notes for study and I couldn't read my own scribbles

When I have to go in and write five or six sides of A4 for university exams I will switch back to cursive as legible as possible. It's not hard to tailor the style to whatever's needed.

Don't see why I should change my writing for any other reason
Title: Re: Handwriting
Post by: Steele on January 06, 2018, 12:15:27 PM
Take drawing lessons... I've noticed that artist's handwriting is similar - both male and female.
Title: Re: Handwriting
Post by: meatwagon on January 06, 2018, 02:57:21 PM
my handwriting hasn't changed much over the years except to become even less legible after i stopped having to try so hard for school/parents.  i did notice within the past year or so i started mixing lowercase and capital letters a lot, again pretty much due to caring less about the quality of my handwriting because i'm the only one reading it.
Title: Re: Handwriting
Post by: BT04 on January 06, 2018, 03:08:46 PM
As an artist and a writer, longhand writing is really important to my creative process. I've noticed that if I spend too much time typing everything, my thinking gets sloppier. There's something that happens to the brain when you use word processors to the detriment of longhand - basically, you confuse the writing and editing processes and this creates subtle friction between the hemispheres as they both try to do their job at the same time. This often leads to writers' block, crummy sentence structure, poorer logic (if you're writing something persuasive rather than purely creative), and muddier, weaker writing all around. When I found that out, I made sure to start taking pen to paper more... and I've noticed a marked difference after a while.

To that end, I'll probably have to give up my all-caps print script. Cursive is way more efficient! And for those of you who hate writing by hand because the writing utensils are terrible, I got two words for you: fountain pens. They are an absolute JOY to work with, and I can't imagine going back to ballpoint pens or even pencils after using something as buttery and tactilely pleasurable as a Kaweco pen.
Title: Re: Handwriting
Post by: Sephirah on January 06, 2018, 03:10:35 PM
My handwriting is probably one of the few things in my life which has stayed constant. And something I always took a certain amount of pride in. I tend to write slowly and somewhat deliberately. Not sure why, it's something I've always done.
Title: Re: Handwriting
Post by: Faith on January 06, 2018, 03:12:34 PM
my handwriting has always been neat. Out of practice now with so much computer .. along with my spelling. Both have always been better than my Wife's.
Title: Re: Handwriting
Post by: Lady Lisandra on January 06, 2018, 03:35:42 PM
My handwriting has changed a lot over the time, specially after I took interest in calligraphy and ornamental penmanship. I have developed two ornamental "fonts" which I assume must say a lot about my new personality. It's a shame I don't get to use them at work. They're meant to be beautiful, not easy to read....
Title: Re: Handwriting
Post by: Anne Blake on January 06, 2018, 04:31:58 PM
I have enjoyed the change in my handwriting style. I used to primarily print with a strong left to right slope, now I write more with a vertical or even backward slope. It also tends to be more legible because I take more care when writing.
Title: Re: Handwriting
Post by: Lucy Ross on January 06, 2018, 04:57:13 PM
Quote from: Julia1996 on January 06, 2018, 08:32:06 AM
Is there a difference between male and female handwriting??

(https://www.dailydot.com/wp-content/uploads/438/38/unnamed.png)

As I get older I try more and more to have legible handwriting, making it larger and clearer, for those occasions when it's needed. 

When I was a kid I was told that cursive is faster.  A lie! 
Title: Re: Handwriting
Post by: Subbie on January 07, 2018, 12:43:55 AM
Quote from: BT04 on January 06, 2018, 03:08:46 PM
As an artist and a writer, longhand writing is really important to my creative process. I've noticed that if I spend too much time typing everything, my thinking gets sloppier. There's something that happens to the brain when you use word processors to the detriment of longhand - basically, you confuse the writing and editing processes and this creates subtle friction between the hemispheres as they both try to do their job at the same time. This often leads to writers' block, crummy sentence structure, poorer logic (if you're writing something persuasive rather than purely creative), and muddier, weaker writing all around. When I found that out, I made sure to start taking pen to paper more... and I've noticed a marked difference after a while.

To that end, I'll probably have to give up my all-caps print script. Cursive is way more efficient! And for those of you who hate writing by hand because the writing utensils are terrible, I got two words for you: fountain pens. They are an absolute JOY to work with, and I can't imagine going back to ballpoint pens or even pencils after using something as buttery and tactilely pleasurable as a Kaweco pen.

As a Linguist :P I think you make a very good point here. Specifically, that the medium you use to construe your ideas can affect the way you structure those ideas - look at Twitter compared with an academic essay, for example. Applied to the point made by the OP, a change in the nature of grapheme form suggests a change in attitude toward your writing, and, since writing is essentially a relational behaviour, a change in disposition toward your audience as well.  :)
Title: Re: Handwriting
Post by: BT04 on January 07, 2018, 01:24:27 AM
Quote from: Subbie on January 07, 2018, 12:43:55 AM
As a Linguist :P I think you make a very good point here. Specifically, that the medium you use to construe your ideas can affect the way you structure those ideas - look at Twitter compared with an academic essay, for example. Applied to the point made by the OP, a change in the nature of grapheme form suggests a change in attitude toward your writing, and, since writing is essentially a relational behaviour, a change in disposition toward your audience as well.  :)

Interesting! My grandmother has been a hobbyist handwriting analyst for probably a decade now; she believes you can see the details of someone's personality through their writing... but only if it's script and not printed lol. Apparently if you write in all caps, you're hiding something. Last time I saw her she was talking to someone else about it, then abruptly turned to me, shook her head and went "You write in caps! What in the world are you hiding!"

I shrugged. "Nothing," I deadpanned. Nothing, of course, except... for the fact that I'm a closeted trans dude, a heavy sadomasochist, an objectum sexual, non-monogamous, a hard collapsenik, a...

:P

I have heard from teachers that their students put together much more cohesive essays when they've asked them to hand write them instead of type, too.

Fascinating stuff.
Title: Re: Handwriting
Post by: Kylo on January 07, 2018, 03:18:19 AM
I'm an artist by trade, typically I write in a way that pleases me aesthetically. I'm not someone with "scruffy writing", but that also backfired when I developed a cursive style that felt nice to write but took longer to read than a bunch of capitals. When I stopped needing to write for school, where they teach fast cursive, I spent another 12 years on and off in some form of academia so I needed to write fast for note taking, and ended up using my own shorthand... but the issue with my shorthand for me is if I spend any time away from it it becomes harder to read when you go back to it. If I go back to my old notes now it looks like Arabic to me.

Caps have been better since being an artist and not needing to spend so much time writing by hand. A bad thing, tbh. Going back to writing now after years with a keyboard makes me feel like I've lost some aptitude for it. I hate becoming worse at anything.

Most mens' writing I see looks tiny, spidery and/or half legible. Most women's writing I see is too big and takes up too much space and ink.   
Title: Re: Handwriting
Post by: KathyLauren on January 07, 2018, 06:38:37 AM
Quote from: BT04 on January 07, 2018, 01:24:27 AM
Interesting! My grandmother has been a hobbyist handwriting analyst for probably a decade now; she believes you can see the details of someone's personality through their writing... but only if it's script and not printed lol.
I think there's a lot of truth to that.  Years ago, CBC had a show called "Beyond Reason", where a bunch of experts in various fields would try to guess the identity of a mystery guest, based on clues appropriate to their specialty.  The astrologer never even came close.  The palmist didn't do too well either.  Same for various other specialties, except the handwriting analyst.  She might not always get the guest's name, but she usually did identify a lot of accurate information about the person from their handwriting.
Title: Re: Handwriting
Post by: amydane on January 07, 2018, 07:30:58 AM
Quote from: BT04 on January 07, 2018, 01:24:27 AM
Interesting! My grandmother has been a hobbyist handwriting analyst for probably a decade now; she believes you can see the details of someone's personality through their writing... but only if it's script and not printed lol. Apparently if you write in all caps, you're hiding something. Last time I saw her she was talking to someone else about it, then abruptly turned to me, shook her head and went "You write in caps! What in the world are you hiding!"

I shrugged. "Nothing," I deadpanned. Nothing, of course, except... for the fact that I'm a closeted trans dude, a heavy sadomasochist, an objectum sexual, non-monogamous, a hard collapsenik, a...

[emoji14]

I have heard from teachers that their students put together much more cohesive essays when they've asked them to hand write them instead of type, too.

Fascinating stuff.
Lol! Your Grandma nailed it. I've heard of handwriting analysts. I wonder how accurate they might be. I also used to write in all Caps.

I bet most people are hiding something though, maybe not as big as gender issues, but I bet there's usually something.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Handwriting
Post by: amydane on January 07, 2018, 07:46:26 AM
Quote from: BT04 on January 06, 2018, 03:08:46 PM
As an artist and a writer, longhand writing is really important to my creative process. I've noticed that if I spend too much time typing everything, my thinking gets sloppier. There's something that happens to the brain when you use word processors to the detriment of longhand - basically, you confuse the writing and editing processes and this creates subtle friction between the hemispheres as they both try to do their job at the same time. This often leads to writers' block, crummy sentence structure, poorer logic (if you're writing something persuasive rather than purely creative), and muddier, weaker writing all around. When I found that out, I made sure to start taking pen to paper more... and I've noticed a marked difference after a while.

To that end, I'll probably have to give up my all-caps print script. Cursive is way more efficient! And for those of you who hate writing by hand because the writing utensils are terrible, I got two words for you: fountain pens. They are an absolute JOY to work with, and I can't imagine going back to ballpoint pens or even pencils after using something as buttery and tactilely pleasurable as a Kaweco pen.
I will have to try writing more with pen and less with computer to see if that helps with the creative process and sentence structure.

One of my New Year's resolutions is to hand write genuine thank you notes, or gratitude notes to family and friends. I guess it will be my way of showing that I love them. There has always been something more special when I've received a handwritten note.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Handwriting
Post by: Ryuichi13 on January 07, 2018, 12:30:15 PM
Quote from: BT04 on January 06, 2018, 03:08:46 PM
*snip*

And for those of you who hate writing by hand because the writing utensils are terrible, I got two words for you: fountain pens. They are an absolute JOY to work with, and I can't imagine going back to ballpoint pens or even pencils after using something as buttery and tactilely pleasurable as a Kaweco pen.

Glad to see I'm not the only one here that uses fountain pens!

My everyday handwriting is craptastic, always has been.  Even I have difficulty reading it at times nowadays.  But when I was working, I became really proficient at writing legibally  while in the back of a moving ambulance  (I'm a disabled Paramedic.)  When I try, my handwriting looks the same sitting at a table or bumping down the road at 60mph with a patient in the back of my squad.

My cursive has loops and swirls, but since the only thing I write in cursive anymore is my signature, it doesn't matter.  From what I've been told, many men have similar loops and swirls in their signatures.  Its supposed to mean self-confidence or something along those lines.

I'm still getting used to signing my new legal name, even after more than a year. [emoji17]

Ryuichi

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk