I understand that transphobic people exist online.
We also need to recognize that being trans doesn’t mean that you’re incapable of being an asshole, engaging in cyberharassment or any other negative social behaviors that all people are capable of.
Much like OP, I’ve been attacked by these people for supporting trans people in a way that wasn’t popular (I.e. not brigading Twitch streamers and harassing children playing Legacy of Hogwarts). I saw a user banned for saying to donate to the Trevor Project instead of brigading and I spoke up in support of them.
I was banned for “transphobia”.
There are absolutely mods/admins using their power in trans social spaces to attack and purge people for no reason other than that they’re not fully aligned with whatever dogma the mod feels is correct.
I just don’t even try to interact anymore. There will always be some chronically online commenter or mod who wants to try to deconstruct your every word choice looking for an angle to accuse you of saying something outrageous.
Alienating allies and bullying people out of the community is toxic and wrong, regardless of your being a member of a minority group.
I have several trans friends these days and two of them were friends all the way back in highschool, in a different city. They’ve recently found themselves distant from one another because there is a clash in ideologies.
One lays lower, goes about their business, and goes to queer events and all that stuff, though they’re still out there visibly trans. The other is very much an activist and will straight up yell at people on the street, I hear, and protests they organize have had at least one physical clash, to my knowledge. I can’t blame either of them, really, for the caution in these volatile times or the aggression when they’re pretty much the only group of people reliably standing up for their rights. The specific issue that came up was a whole thing, but suffice it to say there was a disagreement on tactics similar to what you mentioned.
Ultimately I think the no interaction thing is not a bad play. Allies or no, we aren’t them and while some communication is good sometimes it’s important to be reminded that we’ve entered someone else’s space. Not only someone else’s space, but space belonging to people who are constantly harrassed and feeling cornered just by existing and who will understably defend what little they do have with a maybe…overzealous approach. By the stories here are they handling it well? God no, that sounds wild, but my point still stands.
It goes for any margainalized group, I suppose, that by nature of being pushed aside one lives in a world where they must speak multiple “languages” and learn about how to live in more than one way. They end up generally being better people for it, but that doesn’t at all mean that every single one is better. For all the supportive, kind, and otherwise chill trans people there are still a very small handful who do things like forget who their allies are or even who go way off the deep-end and support the GOP or whatever equalivalent in their country.
I understand why it exists in online spaces, at the same time it’s on every person to speak up against bad behavior.
I didn’t magically become transphobic because someone was an asshole to me and I can empathize with what caused the behavior.
These kinds of reactions are still wrong and is harmful on both the individual level and to the community writ large. Because of that, people should not feel pressured to accept bad behavior or blamed for not walking on egg shells.
We all have the right to be treated with respect and dignity.
I got called transphobe yesterday for pointing out that most mobile apps don’t show display names or profile pictures, meaning the person they replied to wouldn’t have had the same information they have.
They went a dozen comments deep with multiple users, screaming transphobe at every single person who disagreed with them.
Some people really need a bit of perspective on the situation.
I think I saw that exchange yesterday. Was it the person that absolutely freaked out over another user being called a male term? (I can’t remember exactly what it was, I want to say “son” but I don’t think that was it). I use Voyager and I don’t see profile pictures or even any descriptions on people’s profiles. I didn’t even know that existed until that person was freaking out and calling everyone transphobes for not knowing.
That’s the one.
Sometimes I just don’t understand human behavior.
See, that’s the thing. That’s not normal human behaviour. That’s disgusting antisocial trash. They’re exactly like the MAGA clowns just on the other end of the spectrum.
Spare yourself the trouble and just…
No tankies, no trans extremists, life is good over here 🤗
PS: I will obviously block any extremist right and conservative instances. I’ve just been fortunate enough to not encounter any of them so far.
Wow, this really emotionally affected you. Honestly, I would just turn off the computer and walk away, but being as this appears to be some mix of ego hurt and hurt feelings, I’m guessing I’m gonna be reading about this for a minute.
Honestly I wish you would just drop it and move on with your life. I wouldn’t want to be a part of a community that didn’t want me, and you are clearly unwanted.
Honestly I wish you would just drop it and move on with your life. I wouldn’t want to be a part of a community that didn’t want me, and you are clearly unwanted.
I’m literally not part of the community. I haven’t posted there in forever. I found the fact that they dogpiled and bullied a trans user for wrongthink on another instance entirely, calling them a transphobe and a fascist, revolting.
I’ll most likely be banned for this, but I guess they can support attack helicopters if they want. I just thought we were done with that joke over a decade ago, but it apparently only changed flavors.
The main admin and several users expressed support for that very canard.
Up until that user shared private messages with Ada in a post. Then involved their “friend” (or rather an alt account) to apologise.
It was such a bloody mess.
PugJesus hates being called out, sends downvote squads.
sends downvote squads
lmao
Imagine being this paranoid.
