Facebook adding new gender options

[Dave (imported)]

I really don't like facebook.

I use it to find markets for my short stories. Several publishers and editors place their "call for papers" there .That is useful. However the head-scratching nonsense that goes with that is abysmal.

I don't mind authors pushing their books or stories but I do mind seeing posts about your doggies and kitties, your 20 year old children's pictures, your travels with your husband on business, your renovation disasters, your dating disasters, you constant bitching about animal rights, and a whole mess of things that aren't writing.

I also thought it might be a place to read family things and gee, it wasn't. With one exception that was a disappointment. I don't care about head-banging death metal bands (Especially yours), I don't care that you lost a relative years ago (no, I am not heartless, just bored with daily weepy reminders). I'm grouchy and grumpy but not preoccupied with me, me, me.

I'm happy that Facebook has more than the binary choice of M/F.

Facebook usually does the opposite making life pablum and mundane.

FAcebook invites the narcissistic worst of people to expose themselves in the worst ways possible.

That's my morning bitch.

[~Tiamat~ (imported)]

I really don't like facebook.

I use it to find markets for my short stories. Several publishers and editors place their "call for papers" there .That is useful. However the head-scratching nonsense that goes with that is abysmal.

I don't mind authors pushing their books or stories but I do mind seeing posts about your doggies and kitties, your 20 year old children's pictures, your travels with your husband on business, your renovation disasters, your dating disasters, you constant bitching about animal rights, and a whole mess of things that aren't writing.

I also thought it might be a place to read family things and gee, it wasn't. With one exception that was a disappointment. I don't care about head-banging death metal bands (Especially yours), I don't care that you lost a relative years ago (no, I am not heartless, just bored with daily weepy reminders). I'm grouchy and grumpy but not preoccupied with me, me, me.

I'm happy that Facebook has more than the binary choice of M/F.

Facebook usually does the opposite making life pablum and mundane.

FAcebook invites the narcissistic worst of people to expose themselves in the worst ways possible.

That's my morning bitch.

I can't see how posting about your cat makes you the "worst of people", can we have some perspective here? Loneliness is rightfully not a crime, and discrimination is, although sadly the majority of the world seem to share your attitude. And I can't see how ticking an appropriate box if it's presented to you justifies discrimination even if anyone should be able to see it's inevitable.

My life hasn't been ruined over a facebook post or I might point out the hypocrisy in what you typed as it feels like flamebait to me. On top of that you're not trans, you're cis identified, so how do you know how important it is for us to tick the right box?

I agree with the bulk of what you're saying, that some people unnecessarily stick their heads above the parapet more than they need to. The vlogs and transition pics make me shudder when I think of the consequences. But I don't think it was the right way of saying it.

I'm not trying to get banned for arguing here, even if it seems like it, and even if that's the result of it. I just find your post to be blaming the victim. It's hard enough for us without this attitude on a pro-tg pro-gender variant board :/ I hope I've read your post wrong.

I'm with fhunter, the best thing to do is to add "undisclosed" or probably just to remove the gender option entirely. I guess after the first few lawsuits it will at least bring non-binary discrimination into the eyes of the public, although it's a pretty brutal way of doing it :/

If you reply Dave I'm not going to argue back, because I've posted too much on this thread as it is. So feel free to have the last word, if you want it. I do hope I've misinterpreted you, though x

Edit - I'm sorry, Dave. Looks like we both have sore paws. Sorry for jumping to conclusions. I'll delete this if you want xxx

[fhunter]

Facebook is bullshit. Soon as I enter a real career I'm moving someplace else where they take you more seriously and thats LinkED

NB: Not sure whether gender variation disclosure will lead to prosperity or further discrimination on behalf of the employer?

If I were an employer, why should I give a rat's ass about someones gender?

All I would care is if that person can perform their job well and on time

I have seen the review process for CVs in one company (pre interview). You will be judged, by many factors. Too many workers, and not so many jobs. The only exception is if you have some unique/specific qualifications. If the company searches social networks for your profile - you are at the hands of HR and their prejudices.

[Dave (imported)]

...

I'm not trying to get banned for arguing here, even if it seems like it, and even if that's the result of it. I just find your post to be blaming the victim. It's hard enough for us without this attitude on a pro-tg pro-gender variant board :/ I hope I've read your post wrong.

...

I apologize, it wasn't meant to be a statement on gender identity.

I was a bit grumpy this morning and that is how it shows up. I complain about things -- today was Facebook's turn. My Facebook experience is not inspiring or fruitful. It's a shame that some of its members treat it that way. I say that because after 4 years of detailed posts from a person about their pair of dogs (including irritable bowel problems) and watching two unambitious young men who are wasting their lives in sloth, I just went on a rant this morning. Facebook for the two most important things in my life - family and writing - has been a waste but I have to deal with the people there because there are a few good publishing houses out there. Publishers and "reasonable" editors are few and far between.

BTW - I met a M-F transsexual person and watched her transition over several years. Since then, I've met a few others trans people who are in various stages of being what they want. So I do have an understanding of the hardships and struggles of the person in transition. I would never complain about posts like that.

Again, sorry to have left that impression.

[cheetaking243 (imported)]

Jesus... am I the only one who thinks this is a welcome change?

As someone who isn't full-time in terms of gender transition yet, and therefore felt boxed in by the old limited "male" and "female" options, since really I'm not either right now (definitely not male anymore, but not really female yet either,) I feel like the option to select "trans* female" makes it that much easier to show that I'm female-identifying without worrying about people judging me.

[devi (imported)]

Since they don't have eunuch, castrato or hypogonadic, I'd say just leave it on female as in bag lady. I'd say most older eunuchs on the street are in fact bag ladies anyway and I'm probably not that far away from being one myself. So just leave it at "F" or else put it at "Other" I think. So eunuco destituto, castrata non grata. (I've been reading the novel "Cry to Heaven" again and sometimes I try to imagine the taunts they'd say in Italian even though I don't really speak it.)

[~Tiamat~ (imported)]

Sorry, Dave, you didn't deserve that and it was a completely stupid thing to post. I'll delete it if you want. I'm so sorry. Thanks for the apology, it wasn't needed, I'm just an idiot.

The "trans" options seem stupid enough (why would I want to advertise that on my facebook?) but I've noticed they've got "cis" options? So on top of the danger of exposure and all the unscrupilous things they will no doubt do with the data they are also creating unecessary division and treating us like second class members of our genders :/ I feel like they might as well hand out pink triangles. I'm not about to tick one of the various trans(*/s/g) options but I can never tick the cis, so effectively I'm being stigmatised without even using it. Thanks, Facebook. Only a handful of non binary options and the rest are various male/female genders with various trans labels!

Devi, they don't have a male-to-catlady option either. I'm going to write

[tugon (imported)]

I am thinking about using two-spirit since that would fit me.

[Dave (imported)]

Tiamet,

Everything is OK. Leave it as it is.

I was more surprised than anything else.

Facebook has such promise to it and such a lousy reality.

[fhunter]

Jesus... am I the only one who thinks this is a welcome change?

As someone who isn't full-time in terms of gender transition yet, and therefore felt boxed in by the old limited "male" and "female" options, since really I'm not either right now (definitely not male anymore, but not really female yet either,) I feel like the option to select "trans* female" makes it that much easier to show that I'm female-identifying without worrying about people judging me.

In a purrfect world, with perfect people - may be it is a welcome change (as a recognition, possibility).

But we do not live in a perfect world. A not perfect world with a cheap disk space. Do you want the information about your transition appearing somewhere after your transition? Anything you put in public server should be considered stored and available forever.

PS. Your gender is female. It is your body that is in process of changing...