And then buy us things

I’m not the only one who found that List of 100 Ways You Have to Grovel to the Trans Community grotesquely narcissistic and entitled. I’m seeing a lot of others on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/janeclarejones/status/1049724949492092929

Flowers, dinner, cash – a car, a house, a yacht – any little token will do.

https://twitter.com/emwijessie/status/1049790970198339585

https://twitter.com/HJJoyceEcon/status/1049734502635982849

But there’s a feedback loop going on. The dogmatism and narcissism attract people who like that kind of thing, so they compete with each other for who can be most dogmatic and narcissistic, which attracts even worse dogmatic narcissists, and on it goes.

Comments

17 responses to “And then buy us things”

  1. Acolyte of Sagan Avatar
    Acolyte of Sagan

    It’s the demand for unfettered access to women’s spaces and the ‘why are cis-women so afraid us just because we have penises’ that really irks me. If they really are women as they claim, they’d have no need to ask that question. For crying out loud, I’m a man with no pretentions to being a woman and even I know the answer to that one.

  2. Skeletor Avatar

    100. Find your own ways to disrupt the cis world. There are so many ways to do this.

    That seems counterproductive.

  3. Holms Avatar

    9. Don’t refer to us as a whole. Do not make sweeping generalisations about every trans person. We are all individual people with different opinions

    Oh wow, are they sort of acknowledging that there are different views of trans politics within the trans population? I wonder how long that will last…

    14. Do not enter queer or trans safe spaces without a queer person asking you to be there or without making sure that allies are welcome.

    15. When you are in queer spaces, repeat: “This is not my space, I will not fill it” and actually do what you say.

    Interesting. I wonder if they apply this logic consistently?

    31. Don’t buy gendered things for kids around you. This just pushes the ideas that boys must like blue and girls must like pink and only one of them can play football in their spare time. I don’t even particularly like either colours!

    Oh shit, looks like we have a gender critical feminist writing the list! But I thought that position was transphobic?

    32. Stop pretending only trans people experience name changes or surgery. …

    Who the fuck has ever pretended this??

    33. Share your platforms. … Ask us to talk, educate, share our stories, and pay us. This way you don’t get the credit for the lives we live.

    “Parrot our opinions as yours, while paying us for dictating them to you.” Jesus fucking christ.

    34. Support trans artists. Rock up to our exhibitions. Buy our books. Listen to our podcasts. Use your social platforms to share the incredible things we do despite the adversity we face.

    “Hell, just pay us for any old shit we do, and praise us for it.” Reminds me of the woeful art promoted by The Orbit, after ditching Surly Amy.

    35. Don’t expect trans folk to always congratulate you for being an ally. Sometimes you’re just being a good person. I don’t get a gold star for just being a good person.

    “This is a one way street. We reserve the right to scold you for expecting thanks after helping us.”

    44. If trans folk do have to explain something to you that may be uncomfortable, triggering, or upsetting for us, buy us a bunch of flowers, take us for dinner, drop something into our PayPal. No labor should be free.

    Crikeys. In addition to being the fifth or so to demand money, apparently explaining the reasoning behind your position is now paid work. Which reminds me; Ophelia, what rate are you giving us for our blog comments??

    45. Transphobia is a huge issue in the queer community. Do not let other people who identify as queer get away with things, because they can be by far the worst.

    Fucking really?? So they realise that there is not unanimity amongst the trans population on this issue, yet it is taken as granted that those that disagree are in the wrong and also trans(self?)phobic. Not even a hint of reflection or explanation, just a slap in the face for the Tiggerthewings of the trans world.

    So much for #9.

    70. Decolonise the way you think of gender. Remind yourself that these social constructs are postcolonial issues that the western world have pushed onto people.

    An excellent example of how to say nothing at all while appearing to say something.

    83. Step down. Take up less space. If you are asked to do or take about something that you think your trans friend, partner, or coworker is more qualified for. Give our names.

    “Be quiet and go away. Let us take your place.”

    89. Help to introduce gender neutral bathrooms. They should be way more common. Ask for them at work, cafes, bars, and venues.

    Hah! Of course this is on the list, it just took a little while. So, #14 and #15 were about not taking up queer spaces, but here we are with a demand to demolish women’s spaces. Men’s too for that matter, though there is far implied less threat from women in men’s toilets than the reverse.

    91. Pride is not for you to get drunk and smear glitter on your face. Respect that this is not your space.

    92. Trans-only groups are there for a reason. These are also not your spaces.

    Aaaaaand right back to not reciprocating. To recap: #14, #15: “Our spaces are ours alone!” #89: “destroy women’s spaces!” #91, #92: “our spaces are our spaces alone!”

    Ugh, clueless and self-absorbed are the only things I can think of for this pile of shit. And yet, “Bear in mind that this is only a start.”

  4. Rob Avatar

    Holms…

    1. Until they realise the same could be said of ‘cis’ people.

    2. Hahahahahahaaaaaa.

    3. Stopped clock is right twice a day (this is the first).

    4. No one, ever.

    5. Yeah, right.

    6. Indeed.

    7. Well, you’re only cis after all.

    8. Snort. But yeah, Ophelia, Holms comment is worth at least a decent gelato* and I fancy a flat white.

    9. Facepalm.

    10. Yes.

    11. Hahahahahahaaaaaa. Again.

    12. Hmmmm, I’m going to squint and say that under some conditions with excellent design they may actually be right for the second time.

    13. Agreed.

    * I misspelled this and got the wiggly red line. The suggestion was both deeply wrong and contextually inappropriate.

  5. guest Avatar

    I wasn’t going to engage in this, since everyone else was doing so well…but this one specifically made me scratch my head:

    91. Pride is not for you to get drunk and smear glitter on your face. Respect that this is not your space.

    Who is this addressed to? ‘Cis’ people? What about gay ‘cis’ people, are Pride celebrations not for them?

  6. Holms Avatar

    Rob, you probably tried to spell it as gelati…? Gelato is singular, gelati is plural I believe. Naturally your imperialist-colonialist mindset blinded you to this nuance, you culture erasing, Italo-genocidal scum. etc

  7. Rob Avatar

    Guest – Yes, exactly what I wondered.

    Holms – I reject your assertion and demand you buy me flowers, a meal out or simply send me cash. Actually I have a “chattery” keyboard which resulted in two l’s. Microsoft rather interestingly suggested that Ophelia should be supplying you with a male who specialises in the provision of a particular kind of oral service. Frankly, I didn’t know Microsoft had it in them to make that kind of suggestion.

  8. Omar Avatar

    Holms @#3:

    An excellent example of how to say nothing at all while appearing to say something.

    That appearts to me to be only half the story. This pile might have been dumped with the deliberate intention of appearing to say nothing while saying… nothing.

    I confess to be leaving by the same door as in I came…..

  9. Omar Avatar

    Then again, perhaps I was a little hasty at #8. This is also an excellent example of saying something while appearing to say something else. Or vice versa. Some items selected from the original list provided by Kai Isaiah-Jamal.

    (NB: They are not in rising numerical order, because I do not wish to privilege ‘high’ numbers over ‘low’ ones, as integers or otherwise.)

    96. Do not deny your privilege. If you tell me that being a cis heterosexual white man doesn’t mean you haven’t ‘had it rough,’ I will tell you that you are wrong.

    97. I also am not playing Top Trumps with you. Don’t try to top my experience.

    I am still trying to reconcile these as a non-contradictory pair.

    89. Help to introduce gender neutral bathrooms. They should be way more common. Ask for them at work, cafes, bars, and venues.

    I am sick and tired of getting ordered out of womens’ lavatories by janitors, cleaners and officious police, and of blundering into a unisex one being while it is being used by a woman when the door lock is busted. So I’ll endorse that.

    70. Decolonise the way you think of gender. Remind yourself that these social constructs are postcolonial issues that the western world have pushed onto people.

    So back in Chaucer’s pre-colonialist day there were no genders? Pity nobody told him. Could have saved him a lot of posthumous embarrassment. As in the sex romp he called The Miller’s Tale.

    “64. This is not a ‘phase.’ Do not tell me it is one.”

    How can we or you possibly know for sure…Either way?

    54. Do anything you can to stop trans exclusionary radical feminists (TERFs) from leaving stickers, leaflets etc. Tear down everything you see associated with them.

    But how does that square off with #47, #45, and #31…? Now I’m really confused…!

    51. Do not make someone feel bad after dragging you for something you have done that is deemed transphobic. Your guilt is not my guilt to feel.

    Would that be classified as them ‘getting away with things?’ But how does that reconcile with #45…? Now I’m even more confused.

    47. Don’t question someone’s religious beliefs because they are trans and you think they go against what it says in a holy book. This isn’t your business, OK?

    Now I am really mixed up beyond even confused. What if I encounter a hypocrite who is NOT trans? Is that still not my business.?

    45. Transphobia is a huge issue in the queer community. Do not let other people who identify as queer get away with things, because they can be by far the worst.

    I’ll bear that in mind, but for any and all who try to get away with things. Thanks for the tip.

    31. Don’t buy gendered things for kids around you. This just pushes the ideas that boys must like blue and girls must like pink and only one of them can play football in their spare time. I don’t even particularly like either colours! [sic]

    And the world revolves around Kai Isaiah-Jamal. Noted.

    30. Support the generation below; speak to young kids. Make them aware that gender is a spectrum and they don’t have to commit to one gender for their whole life. Educate them on their freedom and choices.

    But make sure that they are the same age as you and vv. Otherwise ageism.

    28. Learn what Mx means.

    Also Mu, Mn, Mo, Mp…Mz. They are on the way, for sure. Best be prepared.

    25. Take us off your mood boards. Book us, pay us, and celebrate us.

    A hard one. My mood board has splinters sticking out all over it. Must get a new one. But one which would not fit Kai Isaiah-Jamal on any which way. Hard.

    But bugger it. Before getting sidetracked into commentary on this rant by Kai Isaiah-Jamal, I was going to do something important tonight. Now I can’t even remember what it was.

    Bugger again.

  10. Acolyte of Sagan Avatar
    Acolyte of Sagan

    5. Trans women are women. This is not up for debate – so don’t try to.

    So why don’t you understand why women don’t want bepenised people in women-only safe spaces?

    8. Understand and be vocal that transphobia is never “funny,” “in jest,” or “banter.”

    Depends what you define as transphobic. We’re not laughing because you’re trans, we’re laughing at your self-centred, infantile demands.

    11. NEVER ask anything about our genitalia or body. “So… do you still have everything down there” as a puzzled hand flutters near our privates is not ever going to be OK. That is final.

    Fine. But when that guy you’ve picked up finds out in bed that you’re packing a little extra, don’t complain if he seems a little mad. That is final.

    13. Try to refrain from using language that is heavily influenced or derived from queer culture if this is not your community.

    So you’re OK with us not self-describing as cis, I take it?

    16. Be aware of your hands. Do not touch people without consent in all spaces – and especially queer spaces – and especially avoid touching trans people who often are triggered by physical contact involving parts of their body.

    Hey, precious, plenty of non-trans people don’t appreciate being touched, either. What makes you so fecking fragile. And physical contact with anybody involves parts of the body; how else does one make physical contact. Idiot.

    17. If you are called out for being offensive, do not argue. This is not a debate. Apologise. Take a moment to reflect. If necessary, leave or give the space over to those you have offended or upset.

    18. Never try to argue with a trans person that something isn’t transphobic

    Bullshit. If you think I’m being offensive and I don’t agree, it’s down to you to educate me. If I disagree I will say so. Your hyper-sensitivity is your problem, not mine, and you don’t get to stamp your feet and expect me to leave anywhere because I might disagree with you. I am never deliberately rude or insulting except in like-for-like retaliation, so if you think I’ve said something wrong it will be either my mistake or your over-reaction. Talk to me, don’t sulk.

    19. Remind us that being trans isn’t a burden or a bad thing!

    Never said it was! A tad revealing, that one.

    25. Take us off your mood boards. Book us, pay us, and celebrate us.

    What the fuck is a mood board? Book and pay you for what? I don’t celebrate myself, why expect me to ccelebrate you?

    26. Do not fetishise trans folk. We are not your sexual experimentations,

    Yet you’re the ones who say that if I refuse to consider taking a bepenised transwoman as a sexual partner, I’m transphobic. Make your minds up.

    40. Do not tell us we “are playing the victim,” WE ARE THE FUCKING VICTIM.

    Victim of what?

    48. Trans issues are not for profit. That’s it.

    BUT GIVE US MONEY FOR TELLING YOU SO!

    52. Don’t ask what gender dysphoria feels like because it’s a stupid question and there’s no way you can try to understand it.

    >Why do I get the feeling that you can’t explain it without making it sound like a psychological issue?

    55. Do not engage in question-based conversations with TERFs. You have nothing to learn from them.

    Do not tell me who I can and cannot speak to. I’ve learned more about trans issues by speaking to traditional feminists than by listening to you with your ‘none of your business, I’m not telling you’ attitude.

    61. You are not a true ally if you allow your partner to use transphobic language.

    Yeah, right. If you want to tell my wife what she can and cannot say then you’re a braver man than I. And I can’t face any more; my brain’s melting.

    Christ, it’s 100 flavours of self-absorbed.

  11. iknklast Avatar

    Remind yourself that these social constructs are postcolonial issues that the western world have pushed onto people

    There seems to be a segment of society that says “social constructs” and “postcolonial issues” as a euphemism for “shut up”. They throw those words out, and feel they don’t have to explain, because that would be post-colonial (implying, of course, imperialist). So they wish me to believe that gender was not a thing prior to western colonialism, they (or is that thxy?) need to provide some evidence of this rather extraordinary claim.

  12. Sackbut Avatar

    30. Support the generation below; speak to young kids. Make them aware that gender is a spectrum and they don’t have to commit to one gender for their whole life. Educate them on their freedom and choices.

    “Gender” may change as you go through life, but you should totally maim your body and make yourself infertile at a young age to be in the “correct” body.

  13. iknklast Avatar

    totally maim your body and make yourself infertile at a young age

    But if you are a woman in her late 20s and have 5 children, don’t even think about making yourself infertile, because you are too young. But then, that person is obviously cis, and evil anyway.

  14. Lady Mondegreen Avatar
    Lady Mondegreen

    Wxnkxr.

  15. Omar Avatar

    Good one, Lady M.

    ;-)

  16. Lady Mondegreen Avatar
    Lady Mondegreen

    Omar, I stole it from some Twitter genius. ;)