Somebody would mention something about labels and it would all go to hell.

Quote from: Kaelin on April 08, 2010, 12:29:19 AM
I see a more substantial problem, and a couple/few people have indirectly addressed it already (except for Luna!, who is nailing it quite hard).

The answer to a (large) community of people that does not integrate TGs is not a community that does not integrate non-TGs.  You aren't going to kick SOs to the curb.  You aren't going to forbid "questioning" people, nor will you get rid of them out just because they determine they are not TG.  The standard for who is TG is not exactly clear-cut or permanent.  I don't think you want to separate yourself from non-TG open-minded friends.  There are even TGs who are anti-TG (or at least against some subset of TGs), so it is not as if keeping out the "outsiders" solves the problem of discrimination/intimidation/exclusion/etc.

I propose the idea of something that is both more ambitious and also simpler: Have a community where people across a broad spectrum of factors are accepted and integrated, whether they are a "minority" or not.  Race, ethnicity, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, hair color, height, etc, are not appropriate for discrimination/intimidation/exclusion/etc.  Corporations that do business here must also play by the rules we want (including insurance companies needing to provide SRS as appropriate -- unless we take the government-managed route).  Such a community in the US might only appeal to 20% of its population, and only 1-in-1000 may be willing to drop what they are doing to go there, but that's 60000 people.  It will probably be disproportionately loaded with "minorities" of several types, but that'll provide a little flavor that'll help TGs and others not feel so alone/isolated.

The whole idea is to have a community that makes sure its members are engaged in a fair and supportive way.  There are certain challenges, but it provides a reasonably integrated society and still provides the services you want.  And I imagine TGs would typically prefer living as their respective genders (as unique as that expression may be, and as bumpy of a road as it has been to get where they want) rather than as TGs.

We have a large society that can not agree on what is eligible nor ineligible. The sad part being that there will always be some who think themselves better for some reason and in so doing exclude others. We should not need laws to tell us that  women can vote or colored people deserve education or whoever deserves whatever. If all people were treated equally, then there would be no need for laws negating bad treatment of others. People as a society will always find a way to exclude some group of being for some arbitrary reason.


It is a good dream and would work in a perfect world, unfortunately that is not the world we live in.

You are right that a list isn't the answer.  It really boils down to merit and (in)security.  People with insecurity will have a tendency to use bogus criteria for merit in order to inflate their own standing (deliberately or subconsciously).  And some insecurity (probably) rests in just about every living person.

Still, it should be easier than a functional [insert group here] commune.

Quote from: Luna! on April 07, 2010, 11:30:52 PM
That's not quite what I was saying. There's nothing wrong with having insurance pay for these things; it's that the original idea was that of an insurance company that only insures transpeople. There are no 'other' people to get the money from in such a model. Such an organization would be paying out huge amounts of money to every single one of its policyholders, all the time. There's no possible way the company could make enough money to keep itself afloat.

I'm not disagreeing with ordinary insurance companies covering trans-related things; it would be really helpful if they did. That's not what the earlier post was about, though.

Oh yea, gotcha. That kind of insurance would not work!

I think Kaelin is on to it.  I have been following trends in Gay retirement communities.  Typically they are new so they attract a younger 55-62 clientele.  There are some specifically designed that way.  I have seen interviews with some of the residents who expressed the pleasure in being around similar people, and not having to worry about being ostracized by straights in a typical development.  I love the  idea of being in a safe environment, at least while at home.  Some place to recharge until the business battle tomorrow.  My thoughts would be 5-6 houses, communal pool, backyards open to each other with gardens, benches, places to talk, etc. Fencing at front sides of houses to reinforce idea of separateness.  A lot of estates are set up with central courtyard type configurations. The ideas are limited only by the mind and it's ability to break out of ingrained stereotypes.

I'd sign up...communities can be a great way to live.

Well if anybody wants to come to Cornwall to stay in a home with large garden, HD cinema, a private swiming pool and two old timers to guide you along a bit I'm sure you know who to PM! (holiday bookings also accepted from our overseas friends...)

I hope you're expecting thousands of house guests... LOL

This ol' gal could def. do with a couple of guides

Quote from: Virginia Marie on April 08, 2010, 05:56:10 PM
I hope you're expecting thousands of house guests... LOL

This ol' gal could def. do with a couple of guides

Well in all seriousness if you fancy a UK holiday the offer is there...

I would be among the ones that you would have to put up with.  Done be surprised if you get a call from Heathrow. 

Quote from: rejennyrated on April 08, 2010, 05:45:01 PM
Well if anybody wants to come to Cornwall to stay in a home with large garden, HD cinema, a private swiming pool and two old timers to guide you along a bit I'm sure you know who to PM! (holiday bookings also accepted from our overseas friends...)

Sounds tempting...I could do with escaping right now and I don't particularly fancy going to the mad house that is my parents. lol

Quote from: rejennyrated on April 08, 2010, 05:45:01 PM
Well if anybody wants to come to Cornwall to stay in a home with large garden, HD cinema, a private swiming pool and two old timers to guide you along a bit I'm sure you know who to PM! (holiday bookings also accepted from our overseas friends...)

... I might take you up on that...
could use a holiday...
still snow here...

snow kills my back...
-.-

Best time to come is May through Sept...

and if you time your visit right you might even spot the odd retired gender pschiatrist or two drinking a G&T around the pool - actually that is true!

The pool is horribly tempting..
I Love to swim but haven't been at the pool here in.. well.. a long while..

Should I be worried that my first thoughts of seeing that picture were "oooh, a vegetable garden!" rather than "wow! a swimming pool"? hehe

Not really Rock-chick.  I said the same thing.    I could spend days out there tending the garden.

Quote from: Rock_chick on April 09, 2010, 05:00:13 PM
Should I be worried that my first thoughts of seeing that picture were "oooh, a vegetable garden!" rather than "wow! a swimming pool"? hehe

The garden is what struck me first also... LOL

One of my fav. hobbies

I blame my ex...her parents had a huge vegetable garden...there's nothing quite like new potatoes fresh out of the ground.

mmmmmmm po-ta-toes

Funny, I went for the design of the house followed by the pool.

BUMP

anybody interested? I actually have a 6 acre farm but i can only house a few. There are places around the USA especially along appalachia where you can buy land cheap. Back east it rains during summer which is great for gardens. I hated watering out west. Been there done that. I much rather do back east and not to far south or too far north.. I am in central pa and there are good locations near me and i might (might not) sell mine to buy with others if people have a down and good credit.

Just thought i would bump this up again to see what ever happened to this idea not that you need me which you don't. I bought mine with 12k down and payments of 500 a month for 10 yrs..