transward (imported) wrote: Mon Nov 19, 2012 10:39 pm "To be sane in a world of the insane would be insanity itself."

Transward

"Sanity is a valuable possession; I hoard it the way people once hoarded money. I save it, so I will have enough, when the time comes.”

― The Handmaid's Tale / Margaret Atwood

I found the article to be cynical and negative. Not at all like my life. I don't walk around with my head down waiting for the next bigot to insult me. In fact, I get treated great when I am out and about. I smile and talk to kids when they talk to me. I talk to all kinds of people and rarely do I get any negative feedback. I don't assume that because people are laughing, they are laughing at me. In fact, they are not, people laugh all the time. But if someone does laugh? I don't take it personal. It just means they are confused and don't understand. I don't feel like I need to educate everyone on how to treat others in public discourse. It's my belief that people experience exactly what they expect to experience.

Elizabeth

I really admire your optimism and courage Elizabeth!

I suppose before any of this we were asking people to judge us for who they thought we were which is hard enough! Now we're making a statement about who we think we are. I think that requires either a lot of guts or a lot of pain to force the issue, or both. And many have already experienced violence and aggression even before this for not being "man" enough. It's easy to see why people get paranoid.

I think the article was written with a heavy dose of humour and sarcasm But it IS hard. As you say yourself there are a lot of bigots about.

I'm so glad your experiences have been so much better than mine. From your picture you look great which I'm sure makes a massive difference!

I'm not disagreeing with you in the slightest and I absolutely love your attitude. My confidence has improved unbelievably since this and it's getting better every day. I hope one day I can see things as you do