Its a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world

[raybear]

I need to come out about something. I really, really dislike the use of the word "tranny/trannie". I'm not even talking about that Project Runway dude. I'm talking about my friends and neighbors.

I'm more okay if its used to describe some sort of event/space/concept that is about being intentionally provocative, like "Trannyshack" in SF. I'm not okay with it being used a general noun or descriptor of a category of people, e.g. "you could come, its full of trannies!!" or even things like "tranny yoga class" or "tranny dance night." Even if this is supposedly being used as a positive selling point. If a trans person uses it self-referentially, I don't notice as much, since I respect any homos right to call themselves a fag, a dyke, a lesbian, a queer, etc. But non-trans people saying it really gives me the willies the most. Its like all the gross fetish buttons get lit up on my emotional switchboard.

So, I'm curious to know what others think.

[Poll #1226144]

Please don't be shy about checking any box, as all of them are things I've thought myself while pondering this question.

Comments

[trooper6.livejournal.com]

For better or worse the ego each person has inside them is a major factor. It means putting down someone else so you can feel better about yourself. It means withdrawing when publicly humiliated. And everything in between.

Please don't project your way of seeing the world onto other people. I do not feel better by putting other people down. Putting other people down makes me feel bad. Perhaps you make yourself feel better by putting other people down, but that's not how everybody works. I certainly don't work that way.

As a matter of fact, Adorno, in his book The Authoritarian Complex, made the distinction between nationalists and patriots. Nationalists feel good by putting others down. Patriots feel good about their ingroup without reference to an outgroup. We don't all do what you suggest.

The point is, the majority does rule, but we have to demonstrate when they are wrong and correct them in a way that doesn't hurt their pride.

Sorry, I can't go with you there. Some people will be hurt the minute you mention something they are doing is messed up. If minorities made as their rule of thumb not upsetting the people in power as their means to getting social change, we never would have gotten any social change. If all we worried about was hurting the majority's pride, MLK Jr would not have been a leader. He was all about shaming the majority and assailing their pride. He wasn't about being a step'n'fetchit hoping that the majority would, out of the kindness of their hearts and feeling oh so comfortable, just cede some of their power over to the minority they are oppressing.

Great social change happens when people stand up and say no more. And that always upsets the people in power.

[penpusher.livejournal.com]

I most certainly was not suggesting that EVERYONE feels better by putting other people down. However we know that some people do. Those were the people I was referencing there. I hope I've clarified that point.

[trooper6.livejournal.com]

Okay.

But if I come across a nasty piece of work, who gets off on putting other people down, and who is hateful and self-centered. I am not going to spend my time on that person. Life is too short and I have better uses of my time. I can work on the people who are at least somewhat open.

Like in politics. There are people who are far right wingers who think all gays are going to hell. I'm not going to spend a lot of energy on those folks. Maybe if I have extra time. But I'd rather spend time on the undecided folks in the middle. Once I get them, then I can go and handle those other people.