Back and out...

[cahab]

OK here's the thing...

I used to post here, and post stories here, some 7 years ago. It was during a period of my life when I was fairly happy, but a part of me was shut off and this was its only outlet. That is, I was a man, but I presented here and in my first person stories as a woman.

Some years on I am going through the first phases of what may eventually lead to full gender reassignmentand I decided, on a whim, to come on here and come out of the closet, as it were, as I am to all my friends in the real world.

At the time I thought of the people who used to frequent this board as my friends and felt a little guilty that I had to lie to some of them. I was concerned about a change in attitude to me and to my stories if I admitted my genetic identity.

I'm interested now in what, if anything, is people's reaction to this revalation, and how does it affect your reading of my work; if you are male and straight does it spoil it for you?

 

[The_Fool]

The author, to me, is immaterial. It is all about the story.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

What the Fool said...it's all about the story, the POV may matter but if done correctly no one should care what the authors orientation is.

 

[theravenfox]

It's my understanding that, as a pre-surgical transsexual, you identify as a woman. So why not be OUT in a relatively safe forum as Lit? It just makes sense. Unless you were trying to hit on the straight guys and get a real-life encounter without full disclosure, I truly think no harm, no foul.

As for your stories, I've written from a man's POV many times (well, not for my commissioned audios, but I COULD if it came up...lol.) That's part of the creative process and your work stands on its own.

Congratulations, by the way. I hope you are able to have a smooth transition.

 

[jomar]

What they said.

Welcome back.

 

[cahab]

It's my understanding that, as a pre-surgical transsexual, you identify as a woman. So why not be OUT in a relatively safe forum as Lit? It just makes sense. Unless you were trying to hit on the straight guys and get a real-life encounter without full disclosure, I truly think no harm, no foul.

As for your stories, I've written from a man's POV many times (well, not for my commissioned audios, but I COULD if it came up...lol.) That's part of the creative process and your work stands on its own.

Congratulations, by the way. I hope you are able to have a smooth transition.

At the time I didn't identify as TS, just as my stories had come out that way it made sense to follow it through in the forums. I've always been an occasional crossdresser, and knew I was at least bi, but the last bit that clicked into place and convinced me I was TS was only recent. At the time I was living with and engaged to a woman, and thought I was happy about it.

yeah, OK, hindsight is 20/20.

 

[TxRad]

Most of the people you knew here seven years ago are gone for the most part. You left just before I arrived so i got to know some of the same people you knew. I would like to think that they would have understood and most of them would have from my experience with them.

So welcome back and good luck with more writing.

ETA: Careful of the political threads. They ain't nowhere near as friendly as they used to be.

 

[driphoney]

Welcome.

Not everyone here is so friendly these days, but hold your own and find your new friends and you'll have a home.

I'm straight and female. I never judge a story by its writer. I usually have no idea who the writer is. I favor certain types of stories over others, but have often found myself spellbound by a well-written story portraying a genre/concept I never thought interesting.

I try to take people as I see them and remember everyone has a personal story, which I think The Fool alluded to, and no one gets a free ride through life. Most of us, myself more than others, put their foot in their mouth, but it's usually out of ignorance, so if you're patient with us, we will be with you. (Well, most of us. )

 

[Tio_Narratore]

Welcome Back, Cahab!

And long ago, when my father gave me "the Talk," he made it very clear that people's sexual identities were only relevant if you wanted to have sex with them.

I still think it was good advice.

 

[TxRad]

Welcome Back, Cahab!

And long ago, when my father gave me "the Talk," he made it very clear that people's sexual identities were only relevant if you wanted to have sex with them.

I still think it was good advice.

Smart fellow your dad.

My grandfather got the point across with a loaded question. "If it doesn't effect you and yours, what difference does someone else's sexual orientation have to do with anything?"

 

[cahab]

Welcome Back, Cahab!

And long ago, when my father gave me "the Talk," he made it very clear that people's sexual identities were only relevant if you wanted to have sex with them.

I still think it was good advice.

Thing is after reading my stories quite a lot of people wrote to me wanting to. Not that I would necessarily turn them down, I'm just not sure they would still want to.

 

[THROBBS]

Well bust my buttons!

Tryin' to recall.


hmmm...nope.. not very good at recollecting.

I DO recall your name....but details are fuzzy. I was some one else before... but in name only.
Welcome back.

 

[slyc_willie]

I don't think most readers make the effort to to find out who's who after they've read a story. I have written in first person from both a man's and woman's point of view, and have received emails through Lit from people thinking I'm both. Still, I'm sure that some readers would change how they feel about a story once they discover the author was not the sex they believed them to be. Alas, too bad. As Fool and others have pointed out, it's about the story, not the author.

Or, it should be, anyway.

Good for you for making the decisions you have. A lot of people take issue with gender reassignment (that sounds so clinical and dystopian, doesn't it? ), but too bad for them. As long as you know it's the right choice for you, then it's the only choice that makes sense.

 

[THROBBS]

I can compartmentalize to some degree...and read a story and enjoy it for what it is.
On the other hand, in this context (LIT) with an opportunity to "meet" the authors, there is that enhancement to the sexuality/eroticism... This is coming from THIS person... and WOW! cool! I like the way they think/fantasize.

So there CAN be a reader's fantasy about the author as well.

 

[Liar]

Hey ya, cahab, I remember you from back in the days.

I'll have to admit I don't think I ever read any of your stories though, so I can't say if the image you projected woud have affected it.

Every other person here is an androgynous sounding name behind an anonymous avatar (me included, I suppose), so there are a lot of people who I don't think of as either or. Can't say it really makes any difference.

But then I don't exactly fit rthe description of 'straight', so it might be different for those who are firmly in one team or the other.

 

[glynndah]

I just assume everyone looks just like their avatar. It works for me.

 

[cahab]

I just assume everyone looks just like their avatar. It works for me.

Well I do, now.

 

[bronzeage]

I just assume everyone looks just like their avatar. It works for me.

I don't recall the puffy sleeves.

Well I do, now.

What is most important is to be confident of your identity and sexuality.

I am confident enough in mine to say your av is cute.

 

[sr71plt]

I think that if you're not a pretty good writer, it can make a experiential difference in trying to write to another gender. That said, with your background, you should be able to write quite a few really interesting stories for Lit.

 

[The_Fool]

I just assume everyone looks just like their avatar. It works for me.

This struck me as funny. Considering my current AV in contrast to previous.

 

[glynndah]

I don't recall the puffy sleeves.

I was incognito when we met.

 

[cahab]

I think that if you're not a pretty good writer, it can make a experiential difference in trying to write to another gender. That said, with your background, you should be able to write quite a few really interesting stories for Lit.

I tried to write erotica from a male perspective, but for some odd reason I found all my fantasies were female... I have absolutely no gay fantasies, and indeed find the image slightly revolting, in common with most straight men. Gay porn does absolutely nothing for me. Well, a little, until the second guy comes in. Straight porn does, but it took me a long time to realise which part of the equation I was fantasising being.

As I gradually come out to people its clear that the major thing for them was wondering when the hell I would stop being dim and would work out what the hell I was, which was obvious to them already.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I was incognito when we met.

Yep I look just like mine...

 

[glynndah]

Yep I look just like mine...

Odd. I always pictured you with blue eyes.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Odd. I always pictured you with blue eyes.

I do have blue eyes...when that pic was taken I was wearing my green contacts.