Elliot Page discussion thread (formerly Ellen Page)
#351
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Elliot Page discussion thread (formerly Ellen Page)
Who's trying to make a trans person feel like shit? I have read no insults or derogatory comments here (or anywhere else, for that matter).
#352
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Elliot Page discussion thread (formerly Ellen Page)
It wasn't ignored, I just didn't respond to it because I didn't want to pick a fight. It came across as a condescending lecture where he was talking down to me. Sorry, it honestly reads that way. If you can't see that then you're not looking objectively. (And I am 100% sure he didn't consciously mean it that way, but if you read the word choice, the phrases used, it's very much like someone talking down to the other party. He meant well, but subconsciously there was clearly a tone of being patronizing to someone lesser than him.)
#353
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Elliot Page discussion thread (formerly Ellen Page)
Believe it or don't, I don't really care.
Honestly, I wasn't sure if anyone would care about the pronoun or not. I just don't believe, "He," fits for Ellen/Elliott, so I used, "She," and, "Her." But I meant everything I said in that post. I didn't post that with the intent to piss people off.
Again, if people just accepted differences of opinions then we wouldn't even be having this discussion. I didn't jump in saying, "Calling Ellen/Elliot, 'He,' is wrong! You're an idiot for using that pronoun!" I didn't say anything like that. I didn't address the pronoun at all. I just used the one I felt was closest to being accurate.
Everyone else, yourself included, jumped to wild conclusions and read subtext where there was none.
The fact that you keep this sub-topic going when I've already clarified my point and said I don't care what pronoun YOU use (I'll use the one I think is most linguistically accurate, but won't encourage you to do the same - that's up to you).
I haven't criticized anyone's use of, "He." I haven't bashed anyone for their philosophical beliefs on this one. I've accepted those views as fair and perfectly fine for the people who hold them. The same has not been afforded to me.
Honestly, I wasn't sure if anyone would care about the pronoun or not. I just don't believe, "He," fits for Ellen/Elliott, so I used, "She," and, "Her." But I meant everything I said in that post. I didn't post that with the intent to piss people off.
Again, if people just accepted differences of opinions then we wouldn't even be having this discussion. I didn't jump in saying, "Calling Ellen/Elliot, 'He,' is wrong! You're an idiot for using that pronoun!" I didn't say anything like that. I didn't address the pronoun at all. I just used the one I felt was closest to being accurate.
Everyone else, yourself included, jumped to wild conclusions and read subtext where there was none.
The fact that you keep this sub-topic going when I've already clarified my point and said I don't care what pronoun YOU use (I'll use the one I think is most linguistically accurate, but won't encourage you to do the same - that's up to you).
I haven't criticized anyone's use of, "He." I haven't bashed anyone for their philosophical beliefs on this one. I've accepted those views as fair and perfectly fine for the people who hold them. The same has not been afforded to me.
I could be right as rain to call this person a jerk, but I wouldn't be free from the consequences, as setup by the rules of the forum, or negative comments/opinions from my peers on the forum. What's happening here is that you're approaching this situation in a way that many others find disrespectful, even if you can cling to a technicality or definition of a word. Society's opinions on trans people and their pronouns are shifting in one direction and you're being left behind. You're free to carry on as you have been, but folks are going to have strong opinions that disagree with your approach, and find your behavior to be disrespectful.
#354
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Elliot Page discussion thread (formerly Ellen Page)
I think it comes down to respect. It's hard for people to believe you have respect for trans people when you refuse to use their preferred pronoun. If someone on this forum chose MovieDude as their handle but I kept calling them MovieJerk instead, I'd face repercussions. Even if MovieDude is objectively a jerk and easily identifiable as such, I'd be suspended if I kept calling them MovieJerk. That's because it's against the rules, and those rules were made because society collectively decided that calling someone a jerk is disrespectful.
I could be right as rain to call this person a jerk, but I wouldn't be free from the consequences, as setup by the rules of the forum, or negative comments/opinions from my peers on the forum. What's happening here is that you're approaching this situation in a way that many others find disrespectful, even if you can cling to a technicality or definition of a word. Society's opinions on trans people and their pronouns are shifting in one direction and you're being left behind. You're free to carry on as you have been, but folks are going to have strong opinions that disagree with your approach, and find your behavior to be disrespectful.
I could be right as rain to call this person a jerk, but I wouldn't be free from the consequences, as setup by the rules of the forum, or negative comments/opinions from my peers on the forum. What's happening here is that you're approaching this situation in a way that many others find disrespectful, even if you can cling to a technicality or definition of a word. Society's opinions on trans people and their pronouns are shifting in one direction and you're being left behind. You're free to carry on as you have been, but folks are going to have strong opinions that disagree with your approach, and find your behavior to be disrespectful.
Changing a name is far different than attempting to change the definition of a word.
I have no problem with calling Elliott, Elliott. That's fine. But I'm not going to use a less accurate word just to make someone feel better.
I'm not insulting Elliott, just choosing to be as accurate as possible. This change that she and you want me to make would make that word meaningless, in my opinion. A woman is not a man. That's not a bad thing, but people here are acting like it is. That's the part that genuinely puzzles me.
#355
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Re: Elliot Page discussion thread (formerly Ellen Page)
You categorically reject that a trans man is a man or that a trans woman is a woman. That goes beyond a difference of opinion. If there's a way to meet in the middle, agree-to-disagree, or "can't you see things from my perspective about how you, a trans man, are not a man and do not necessarily deserve to be referred to as such?", I don't see it. I'm not trying to be abrasive or anything, and if it comes off that way, I apologize, but I think you're hoping for others in this thread to find a middle ground that does not and cannot exist.
And yeah, deliberately misgendering* a trans individual will invariably make them feel like shit, as it's a fundamental rejection of who they are.
To look at things a different way, do you inspect the genitals of everyone you refer to as man/woman/he/him/she/her? Do you reference their birth certificates beforehand?
If the answer is "no" (and I sure hope it is!), then man/woman isn't exactly being applied in a scientific sense. You're making assumptions about someone's gender based on how they present themselves. And if someone identifies as male or female, regardless of what is or isn't dangling between that person's legs, how different is that from your perspective at the end of the day? The same level of science is being applied whether you're making assumptions or honoring someone's preferences.
And yeah, deliberately misgendering* a trans individual will invariably make them feel like shit, as it's a fundamental rejection of who they are.
Spoiler:
If the answer is "no" (and I sure hope it is!), then man/woman isn't exactly being applied in a scientific sense. You're making assumptions about someone's gender based on how they present themselves. And if someone identifies as male or female, regardless of what is or isn't dangling between that person's legs, how different is that from your perspective at the end of the day? The same level of science is being applied whether you're making assumptions or honoring someone's preferences.
#356
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Re: Elliot Page discussion thread (formerly Ellen Page)
It's all about preventing words from becoming meaningless. Nothing else. He's not an asshole, he's a linguist!
#357
DVD Talk God
Re: Elliot Page discussion thread (formerly Ellen Page)
YouBasically everything you have said is derogatory. You can't see it so it is pointless to argue your "semantics" anymore.
#358
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Elliot Page discussion thread (formerly Ellen Page)
If it's a coworker, using their name but not their preferred pronouns will still leave you out of a job. You don't have to believe someone is another sex (I don't) but I don't see the issue here of just addressing people as they wish to be addressed. I'm not against a debate on it in private or a forum like this, but...just saying, you'll be unemployed pretty fast if you purposefully misuse pronouns in front of someone.
#359
Re: Elliot Page discussion thread (formerly Ellen Page)
It is a dumb argument.
#360
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Elliot Page discussion thread (formerly Ellen Page)
I'm seeing a lot of people looking at one detail ignoring the substance of what's been posted. People more interested in finger wagging and making insults than agreeing to disagree.
And this is why people think the PC culture has gone WAY too far. Total intolerance for other points of view. All other points of view are bad, m'kay?
Last edited by B5Erik; 12-05-20 at 06:34 PM.
#361
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Elliot Page discussion thread (formerly Ellen Page)
You don't have to believe someone is another sex (I don't) but I don't see the issue here of just addressing people as they wish to be addressed. I'm not against a debate on it in private or a forum like this, but...just saying, you'll be unemployed pretty fast if you purposefully misuse pronouns in front of someone.
People in real life don't always get to choose how they get addressed. For example, you don't get to be called, "Dr," if you haven't earned a PHD or a Medical degree. Some things that we would like, some things we want, just can't be because they aren't factually accurate.
If I call a very masculine looking woman, "Him," or, "He," or, "Sir," by mistake she'll be offended. It seems like it's a no-win scenario. Kobayashi Maru.
And I still don't know what's so offensive about a woman being called a woman. You don't have to be a man to be masculine. Women can be or do anything they want, including taking on masculine roles. That is the confusing part to me.
Last edited by B5Erik; 12-05-20 at 06:32 PM.
#362
DVD Talk Reviewer & TOAT Winner
Re: Elliot Page discussion thread (formerly Ellen Page)
Elliott’s name in “ET” is going to be changed to Ellen.
#364
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Elliot Page discussion thread (formerly Ellen Page)
I think Erik is getting stuck somewhat on the feminist issue, but what he's failing to remember is that there are also biological males who prefer to be called she. It's not meant to be one gender is bad; it's more about identity.
My cousin has been in relationships with two trans women. I hope that's correct. They were both biological males but identified as female. I believe both were on estrogen, but neither had any intentions of having the surgery.
That's what I really don't get is identifying as an opposite sex but not wanting to have the reassignment surgery. But it's not my journey. I don't get it, but then again, I'm a gay man and don't understand why all guys aren't open to fooling around with another guy. No, gay does not equal trans, but I think it's similar in the "this is just how I am" kind of way.
I think that being a gay male - and one with a softer voice - has also given me a slightly different point of view that might in some ways be dismissive but also be supportive. While it doesn't happen as often as I've gotten older, I used to get called ma'am all the time on the phone or in the drive thru. It used to bother me so much! So much so that I went through a period that I'd avoid calling places just to not hear about it. But there was a certain point where I let go of choosing to be offended by people who were clearly not trying to be offensive. If it happens now, I just roll with it and rarely even correct the person. However, I'm also very aware that people will call me ma'am or girl derisively just because I'm gay, and in those cases, I do speak up, and yes, you know when someone is trying to be rude like that.
I think if you're truly polite and well meaning, then others should take things with a little grain of salt and not get all bothered, but if someone tells you I'm a he or I'm a she and you choose to ignore it, then you are indeed being an asshole.
Are trans people who don't do anything to actually alter their body/hormones common within that segment of people? Do people who do take those extra steps (like Caitlyn) view the others as "less of a trans" since the choice is by pronoun only?
Shows how ignorant I still am about all of this.
Shows how ignorant I still am about all of this.
That's what I really don't get is identifying as an opposite sex but not wanting to have the reassignment surgery. But it's not my journey. I don't get it, but then again, I'm a gay man and don't understand why all guys aren't open to fooling around with another guy. No, gay does not equal trans, but I think it's similar in the "this is just how I am" kind of way.
I think that being a gay male - and one with a softer voice - has also given me a slightly different point of view that might in some ways be dismissive but also be supportive. While it doesn't happen as often as I've gotten older, I used to get called ma'am all the time on the phone or in the drive thru. It used to bother me so much! So much so that I went through a period that I'd avoid calling places just to not hear about it. But there was a certain point where I let go of choosing to be offended by people who were clearly not trying to be offensive. If it happens now, I just roll with it and rarely even correct the person. However, I'm also very aware that people will call me ma'am or girl derisively just because I'm gay, and in those cases, I do speak up, and yes, you know when someone is trying to be rude like that.
I think if you're truly polite and well meaning, then others should take things with a little grain of salt and not get all bothered, but if someone tells you I'm a he or I'm a she and you choose to ignore it, then you are indeed being an asshole.
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#365
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Elliot Page discussion thread (formerly Ellen Page)
I'm pretty sure that the majority of trans people, something like 8 out of 10, are men that transition to/identify as women.
#366
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Elliot Page discussion thread (formerly Ellen Page)
Completely anecdotal, but yeah... I think we're 5 for 5 male to female transitions at my work. The HR "personal message" emails are pretty much met with a collective "ok". I probably take it for granted how inclusive we are as workplace, i'm just like "Hey, don't ask me I just work here."
#368
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Re: Elliot Page discussion thread (formerly Ellen Page)
My cousin has been in relationships with two trans women. I hope that's correct. They were both biological males but identified as female. I believe both were on estrogen, but neither had any intentions of having the surgery.
That's what I really don't get is identifying as an opposite sex but not wanting to have the reassignment surgery. But it's not my journey. I don't get it, but then again, I'm a gay man and don't understand why all guys aren't open to fooling around with another guy. No, gay does not equal trans, but I think it's similar in the "this is just how I am" kind of way.
That's what I really don't get is identifying as an opposite sex but not wanting to have the reassignment surgery. But it's not my journey. I don't get it, but then again, I'm a gay man and don't understand why all guys aren't open to fooling around with another guy. No, gay does not equal trans, but I think it's similar in the "this is just how I am" kind of way.
I think if you're truly polite and well meaning, then others should take things with a little grain of salt and not get all bothered, but if someone tells you I'm a he or I'm a she and you choose to ignore it, then you are indeed being an asshole.
On a related note, one of the things I read from a semi-famous transwoman was that she could go to a pub in the middle of some Red state, and people would "ma'am" her all night long without second thought (point being that randoms just accepted her for how she presented herself, as a woman).
But this is also why I asked about the man's photo I posted earlier. If any of us ran into that guy, not knowing who he is, we'd call him sir (if you're so inclined to Sir/Ma'am anyone, that is). Not because it's the right thing to do (it is), but also because it's natural. The unnatural bending-over-backwards response is to ask everyone for proof of their sex or gender before you use any kind of pronoun or gendered response to them. You go with your instinct, and if you get it wrong, they'll either roll their eyes or correct you. Generally, the videos you see of people getting angry is after they've been repeatedly provoked.
I haven't looked at the studies in awhile, but I think you're right. I recall one study having a thesis that the split was potentially a genetic/biological phenomenon.
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#370
Banned
Re: Elliot Page discussion thread (formerly Ellen Page)
Ellen Page was born a woman. Shes still Ellen Page. Period.
Same with Bruce Jenner that was born and raised as a male.
You were born a male, Bruce Jenner. Same with Ellen Page born as a female.
Same with Bruce Jenner that was born and raised as a male.
You were born a male, Bruce Jenner. Same with Ellen Page born as a female.
#371
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Re: Elliot Page discussion thread (formerly Ellen Page)
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#372
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Elliot Page discussion thread (formerly Ellen Page)
The only problem I have with the Time magazine piece is...
...what is up with the shitty clothing? Put on some nice clothing for a photoshoot
...what is up with the shitty clothing? Put on some nice clothing for a photoshoot
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#373
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#375
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