Comments (8)

By Rebecca, August 22, 2011 3:26 pm

While wandering around Indianapolis (and not updating this blog; sorry) I’ve been talking with a lot of people. As I did in Kansas City, and will in Chicago, I’m handing out tons of postcards and trying to attract audiences to my show. With three shows and about 100 audience members so far, I feel pretty successful on that regard.

What has been amusing is the response to my trans-ness. Following the opening night preview party, where I did a 2 minute bit, I had a lot of people – mostly older women – come up to me to compliment me on the piece. That was lovely, but they all inevitably followed with “I never would have known!” I appreciate that in the spirit with which it’s said, “You’re beautiful,” but much prefer what another Fringe performer told me last night when describing my show and my firing: “That’s ridiculous. You’re all woman.”

One person pushed the awkwardness even further by saying “You coulda fooled me!” Again, I understand she was intended to compliment me, but she very much failed.

I’ve been able to take those comments in good humor, though. What really did bother me – and sort of ruined my night – was a woman I talked with last night. She’s a Fringe volunteer and we talked about both being lesbians in Indy. We were talking some more last night and she joked, while referring to me, “I told a friend of mine it’s a shame the hottest lesbian at Fringe is a tranny.”

Wow.

Continue reading 'Awkward “compliments”'»

Comments (2)

By Rebecca, June 11, 2009 12:39 am

The definition of Troll from Urban Dictionary:

One who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument.

Someone decided to grace a few of my posts with some comments that I would consider on the edge of trolling. That is, I think she believes what she’s saying and I’m not convinced she’s trying to cause “maximum disruption and argument,” but she’s definitely being rude and disruptive. Rather than approve her comments, or even just simply ignore them, I’m going to focus some posts on them and try to respond to what they’re saying as best I can. The goal of this is more to get my thoughts in order – and to hear from the peanut gallery – than to engage her in a discussion which her tone has indicate she isn’t willing to have.

First up, Anonymous posted a comment to Are You Undergoing a Transgender Experience:

I’m sorry, but it’s not rude to ask those kinds of questions– grow some thicker skin.  You decided to do this, become a woman, and so– figure it the fuck out and stop crying about it.

And if you don’t pass, then figure that out too.  You’re the one who wants this .

Continue reading 'On the Edge of Trolling, Pt 1'»