How many members are 'NOT' here for personal support ?

[Felix]

Vagina cake and penis prizes.

And cookies. I only mentioned two giggly body parts, so I guess I'll eat the cookies. OMNOMNOM. Thank you. 

[Mahsa Tezani]

Vagina cake and penis prizes.

And cookies. I only mentioned two giggly body parts, so I guess I'll eat the cookies. OMNOMNOM. Thank you. 

The holidays are coming up.

[umop ap!sdn]

Vagina cake and penis prizes.

I'll stand in line for those!

[VeryGnawty]

Are there any ebil cookies?  I really like the ebil cookies the best.

[Anatta]

Kia Ora,

So am I to take it, the cake, cookies, vagina, and penis, people are not here for any personal support ?

Metta Zenda

[Anatta]

As an old broad I came here to give support.
I have made friends here (enemies too, I guess)
I was glad to support people in the beginning of their journey, I remember how hard it can be once in a while.

Kia Ora Annette,

I take it you transitioned quite a while back...Were you part of any online support group or a real world support group when you transitioned ?

Metta Zenda

[Felix]

Kia Ora,

So am I to take it, the cake, cookies, vagina, and penis, people are not here for any personal support ?

Metta Zenda

Nope. Just cake and cookies and vagina and penis. And prizes.

We're all ascended masters and do not need support. We have attained perfection. We float. Some of us deign to share our wisdom occasionally.

[tekla]

It seems a rather limited notion of support that confines it to being a needy person, emotional basket-case without any other outlet or friends to listen, who just needs to 'get it all out' someplace before they explode and then need a roomfull of people to sit around, nod approvingly and say "Oh, it's just terrible to be you."

How come support can't be an evening out tripping the light fantastic.  Isn't most real-life support just a matter of being there? 

[Anatta]

Nope. Just cake and cookies and vagina and penis. And prizes.

We're all ascended masters and do not need support. We have attained perfection. We float. Some of us deign to share our wisdom occasionally.

Kia Ora Felix,

I realise it's humour on your part[which I most appreciate-laughter is the best medicine]....

But on a more serious note[yes I can put my serious hat on at times-but it don't stay on for long though  ] there are those of us who have been there and done that, have got the "T" shirt to prove it and are now living comfortably in the cisgender world...

In a sense it's showing others it can be done, we can lead 'normal' lives and yes we have 'suffered' just like some of you are suffering now-but the most important thing to remember is NOTHING IS PERMANENT ! not even one's suffering ...I'm trying to find out how many members here fall into this category...

I should also point out there's nothing elitist about someone coming to Susan's but not needing any support...And there's nothing wrong with those who do need the support that Susan's offers...No doubt some members have been brought back from the brink of suicide thanks to support sites like these...

Metta Zenda

[Anatta]

It seems a rather limited notion of support that confines it to being a needy person, emotional basket-case without any other outlet or friends to listen, who just needs to 'get it all out' someplace before they explode and then need a roomfull of people to sit around, nod approvingly and say "Oh, it's just terrible to be you."

How come support can't be an evening out tripping the light fantastic.  Isn't most real-life support just a matter of being there?

Kia Ora Tekla,

Interesting take on things as usual...but jumping the gun a bit don't you think....

Metta Zenda

[Jen61]

  Isn't most real-life support just a matter of being there?

No, unless the individual in question has lost his/her soul

Jen61

[Anatta]

Kia Ora,

Just for the record[before people start reading too much into it] there are all different kinds of support that  sites like these provide...One might just 'need' info on therapists, doctors, surgeons, etc, some might 'need' make up tips and the likes, others emotional support...So please don't think I'm calling those who need support 'weak and needy'.  "emotional basket-case" "Oh, it's just terrible to be you."  ......

Just thought I would add this before the 'flamethrowers' came out...Thanks but no thanks...It's coming onto summer here and I don't need any additional flame throwing to keep me warm 

Metta Zenda  

[tekla]

I totally believe that the greatest function of 'support' groups - the single thing they do that is more important than all the rest of what they do combined - is to inform people that they are not alone.  They are not 'the only one'.  That knowledge alone is life-saving, and life changing.

For that to happen it's necessary to have other people there so that the new person is not walking into an empty room.

After that point most of the rest is just information and advice and - best of all - just that casual interaction that makes you part of what's going on.  While the song title game might not seem like support, the fact that there are others like you, who enjoy similar things that are not 'site-specific' (i.e. anything on this board that is not directly and substantially trans-related, like 'the song title game' or what books are you reading, or music posts, etc. etc. etc.) expands your thinking from 'these are trans persons too' to 'these are people who just happen to also be trans.'  That's pretty liberating stuff.

[Anatta]

I totally believe that the greatest function of 'support' groups - the single thing they do that is more important than all the rest of what they do combined - is to inform people that they are not alone. That's what support means  They are not 'the only one'. That's what support means That knowledge alone is life-saving, and life changing. True

For that to happen it's necessary to have other people there so that the new person is not walking into an empty room. A no brainer

After that point most of the rest is just information and advice and - best of all - just that casual interaction that makes you part of what's going on. Another truth  While the song title game might not seem like support, the fact that there are others like you, who enjoy similar things that are not 'site-specific' (i.e. anything on this board that is not directly and substantially trans-related, like 'the song title game' or what books are you reading, or music posts, etc. etc. etc.) expands your thinking from 'these are trans persons too' to 'these are people who just happen to also be trans.' Another obvious truth That's pretty liberating stuff. I couldn't agree more...

Metta Zenda

[Tippe]

there are those of us who have been there and done that, have got the "T" shirt to prove it and are now living comfortably in the cisgender world...

In a sense it's showing others it can be done, we can lead 'normal' lives and yes we have 'suffered' just like some of you are suffering now-but the most important thing to remember is NOTHING IS PERMANENT ! not even one's suffering ...I'm trying to find out how many members here fall into this category...

Metta Zenda

I find it a pitty that so many wonderful, exceptional and unique people aim to be only normal. Going through what you did takes such strong persons, you all have much to offer in inspiration. My dream is for a world, where everyone can be free and able to live authentic lives as just who they are. A world, where cis-acting and straight-acting are no longer necessary. A world, which appreciates diversity. In my experience, we are the ones able to create such a space for ourselves.

I also think that offering and giving support are two sides of the same coin. Two weeks ago I founded a support group and I was so happy to see how people who had never ever met another transgender person were touched and received strength by meeting others in similar situations. Providing help can be very rewarding.


Best wishes,
Tippe

[Anatta]

I find it a pitty that so many wonderful, exceptional and unique people aim to be only normal. Going through what you did takes such strong persons, you all have much to offer in inspiration. My dream is for a world, where everyone can be free and able to live authentic lives as just who they are. A world, where cis-acting and straight-acting are no longer necessary. A world, which appreciates diversity. In my experience, we are the ones able to create such a space for ourselves.

I also think that offering and giving support are two sides of the same coin. Two weeks ago I founded a support group and I was so happy to see how people who had never ever met another transgender person were touched and received strength by meeting others in similar situations. Providing help can be very rewarding.


Best wishes,
Tippe

Kia Ora Tippe,

For some of us the whole reason for 'transition' is so we can slot 'into' main stream society as our psycho-sexual 'affirmed' gender identities and not be seen as 'something' else, hence the 'normal' I'm referring to...

However it's a sad fact that not every one of us will be able to do this, so I understand the need for a more tolerant society where all gender diverse people are accepted, but with  this also comes a division, a separate identity male, female and 'trans'...

I should point out, I'm open to diversity, if a male bodied person with a full beard whose behaviour is male wants to wear a dress and be called Sue,[or the opposite for a female bodied person] I'm comfortable with this, even though they may not quite fit the norm-it's their life and I want others to find happiness and contentment in life...

What you speak of is ideal and no doubt some parts of the world this is already starting to happen in some small way...But I feel it will take many years for it to become the 'norm' world wide...But as Lao Tzi once supposedly said "A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step !" [Not that in ancient China they used miles for measuring long distances  ]  Perhaps he actually said "A thousand "strides"

Metta Zenda    

[Felix]

Kia Ora Felix,

I realise it's humour on your part[which I most appreciate-laughter is the best medicine]....

But on a more serious note[yes I can put my serious hat on at times-but it don't stay on for long though  ] there are those of us who have been there and done that, have got the "T" shirt to prove it and are now living comfortably in the cisgender world...

In a sense it's showing others it can be done, we can lead 'normal' lives and yes we have 'suffered' just like some of you are suffering now-but the most important thing to remember is NOTHING IS PERMANENT ! not even one's suffering ...I'm trying to find out how many members here fall into this category...

I should also point out there's nothing elitist about someone coming to Susan's but not needing any support...And there's nothing wrong with those who do need the support that Susan's offers...No doubt some members have been brought back from the brink of suicide thanks to support sites like these...

Metta Zenda

I know. I just don't have an answer to your original question.

[Anatta]

I know. I just don't have an answer to your original question.

Kia Ora Felix,

Humour's good...A genuine smile upon ones face=a happy mind[for most people that is-just in case Tekla begs to differ]

Metta Zenda

[MarinaM]

I'm here because I'm an intelligent high maintenance train wreck, off the track in search of some definitive sidelong glimpse into infinity.

I'm here for the lonely, the lost, the struggling, the confused. I'm here for certain people and I hope they notice I'm here for them too.

[rosetyler]

I'm here to educate myself and help where I can.  (I'm not trans*.)