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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Should they have told me they were trans?

178 replies

DuckDuckDiva · 18/02/2023 19:06

Or is it the same as not telling someone you have kids until after a week or so of messaging? I've been messaging a guy I met online last week. It's been 6 days of messaging. Was due to meet up tomorrow, but they've chosen to tell me now that they're trans but haven't had reassignment surgery yet. I haven't messaged back yet, and am unsure if my annoyance is justified or if I should just let it go? You'd never know by looking at them, facial hair, sounded male on the phone, big build etc (I know women can also have big builds). I'm not attracted to women, and the idea of being with someone with a vagina is not something I would consider. I'm not sure how to word my next message to them. AIBU to think they should have been clear on their profile, or told me off the bat?

For anyone who thinks I'm not genuine, I absolutely am, have been on mn for a while, but have name changed this evening. Am not here to cause a trans debate, just feel a bit duped.

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DdraigGoch · 08/03/2023 23:10

thirdfiddle · 08/03/2023 03:25

DdraigGoch, many consider it unwise to mention children on your profile up front as paedophiles may target single parents with the aim of grooming the family. You mention it quickly in messaging, it's not about hiding your kids, just not making it easy for abusers to search for single women with kids.

I see it mentioned a lot. Most are sensible enough to blur any photos that show the kids. Paedophiles manage to worm their way in even without the help of online dating, that's why a more effective approach is to ensure that one doesn't introduce a strange man to your kids (or even bring him home while they're present) until the relationship is well established (minimum 18 months). Those who move a new man into their family within a fortnight of meeting him are being extremely reckless.

thirdfiddle · 08/03/2023 03:25

DdraigGoch, many consider it unwise to mention children on your profile up front as paedophiles may target single parents with the aim of grooming the family. You mention it quickly in messaging, it's not about hiding your kids, just not making it easy for abusers to search for single women with kids.

DdraigGoch · 07/03/2023 18:26

EscapeRoomToTheSun · 18/02/2023 19:11

He has told you? Putting it in his profile would obviously leave him vulnerable. If you're no longer interested just say so and move on.

Vulnerable to what exactly? If someone swipes left because of something on your profile you will never know about it. It's a world of difference from the disappointment of making a match but losing it because you are fundamentally incompatible.

But it’s like having children or a disability. The instant you put that on your profile you open yourself up for all kinds of abuse.
Nonsense, I see mention of having children all the time on dating apps. Presumably on the basis that it people not prepared to be involved in blended families can self-exclude rather than things being strung out and someone ghosting/getting arsey when they find out. I've also seen profiles that mentioned being a wheelchair user, or profiles where the photos featured their guide dog.

It is quite normal for a person to keep something private, like the fact they have a stoma
I've seen this mentioned too. Also someone who mentioned a heart condition that can leave her very fatigued so she isn't very active (hiking and climbing are very popular around here). Again she did it because it's easier to let people see up front than to risk a ghosting or a abusive response when the truth gets out.

DdraigGoch · 07/03/2023 18:10

QueenHippolyta · 19/02/2023 08:10

That was exactly my situation @EndlessTea
I wanted to tell them it wasn't on and walk away...but I'm 157cm and 47k
Men are biologically bigger and intimidating.
It's a fact. How do I know who is a good male.
Do they wear signs?

The good ones generally aren't those forcing or deceiving their way into places they're not wanted.

SapphireSeptember · 05/03/2023 20:55

Ghostbuster2639 · 18/02/2023 19:12

I'm not attracted to women, and the idea of being with someone with a vagina is not something I would consider.

He doesn’t have a vagina.

id block personally.

She certainly does. It's a pre-op transman.

Manteiga · 24/02/2023 00:17

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

I'd assume the men are just after a shag. Not classy, but I'm not sure exactly how the women ('trans men') are being wronged: if for them 'gay men' means men who fancy someone who identifies as a man, then that's what they're getting. Works out for everyone - except perhaps the gay men whose clubs get filled up with straight people.

Beowulfa · 21/02/2023 10:39

Some years back I was online dating and met a man I'd been getting on with via messaging. He turned out to be in a wheelchair. Now I can understand why he'd been reluctant to mention this, but it didn't feel quite in the spirit somehow. I ended up having a nice evening but he was way too posh for me.

At a similar time a friend met up with a disabled guy who told her before they first met that he would always be in a wheelchair and he totally understood if she didn't want to pursue it. They are now happily married with two kids.

Interesting to compare the two approaches.

I agree with those who say the vastly reduced dating pool just isn't made clear enough to young people. Mammals reproduce sexually. Sexual attraction is blunt, primal and not at all subtle. Hence why I think all school children should visit farms to see just how gender fluid cattle are (and where their dinner comes from).

QueenHippolyta · 20/02/2023 18:34

BluebellBlueballs · 20/02/2023 18:10

Agree this is covered by EA but as mumsnet is neither your employer nor providing goods/ services to you I don't think this falls within the scope of the act

Ah very true, but they have advertisers who are very keen to sell me their goods and services.
So Mumsnet don't piss off the women who have Massive Buying Power,!

BluebellBlueballs · 20/02/2023 18:10

QueenHippolyta · 20/02/2023 15:25

I had no idea until the above why my posts kept being deleted. It's a protected philosophy under UK law. Haven't the mods read about Maya's case....

Agree this is covered by EA but as mumsnet is neither your employer nor providing goods/ services to you I don't think this falls within the scope of the act

QueenHippolyta · 20/02/2023 15:25

IcakethereforeIam · 20/02/2023 14:00

I've had posts deleted because of this but I've seen other posts, apparently, stay. So, I'd found it a bit confusing. I thought it was due to context or it was okay if it wasn't addressed at a particular individual, though I'm unlikely to target someone. We'll, nice to have some clarificationHmm

I had no idea until the above why my posts kept being deleted. It's a protected philosophy under UK law. Haven't the mods read about Maya's case....

SweetSenorita · 20/02/2023 15:24

NixieRose · 18/02/2023 20:29

As a trans woman, I feel I need to speak up. I don't advertise that I'm trans to just everyone. IF I find someone I'm comfortable with and think the relationship might go somewhere, then I would tell them, as it's only fair that they know. He obviously feels that there might be some chemistry starting to develop, so he's chosen to tell you. Feel privileged that he's trusted you with his secret. I get that you're not comfortable with him having the body of a woman, even if only part of it. And that's okay too. If you were comfortable with him before finding out, then maybe you might be able to work around that, but maybe not. It's not easy being trans. If you think that you would be okay if he had a penis, rather than a vagina, then ask if he's planning to make the change, and if he has a time frame for it. If the answers are ones you can accept, it might be worth waiting for.

A 'workaround' is something you might figure when one of you wants a curry and the other a pizza.

That woman will always be a woman. She'll never have a penis. And, as such, I wouldn't be interested either. Ever. At all.

FannyCann · 20/02/2023 14:40

A friend of mine thought it was overkill telling him to speak to work, as all that had happened at first was that they had told ds over text that they were trans.
*
He just didn’t know how to respond and given
his job, you never know the repercussions of how you word things.

He said he felt a bit daft approaching his boss at first, but he said he was put at ease immediately and told that it’s really common for officers to take advice on how to respond to personal situations which they felt uncomfortable with.

Anyway, when they found him again and started sending abusive messages, he was so glad he had taken my advice and work knew about it all from the offset.*
*
*
Interesting considering how totally captured by Stonewall many police forces are, with their rainbow squad cars and dancing along at pride marches.
Perhaps they are TWAW in the streets but not in the sheets as they say 🤔

Ofcourseshecan · 20/02/2023 14:34

EscapeRoomToTheSun · 18/02/2023 20:48

Misgendering

No. Winter was correctly gendering. You can talk as you please, but don’t try to force others to do the same.

IcakethereforeIam · 20/02/2023 14:00

EndlessTea · 20/02/2023 13:38

😱 Yikes! Check out the deletion message. I think these guidelines need revising post WORIADS

I've had posts deleted because of this but I've seen other posts, apparently, stay. So, I'd found it a bit confusing. I thought it was due to context or it was okay if it wasn't addressed at a particular individual, though I'm unlikely to target someone. We'll, nice to have some clarificationHmm

2bazookas · 20/02/2023 13:58

I'd reply "Not interested. Absolute integrity is a prime requirement, you failed."

QueenHippolyta · 20/02/2023 13:53

I'm gender critical ; men cannot become women. It's a protected belief under British law.
I was tricked into arranging a coffee date with another Lesbian from an online dating site. A 6ft man showed up.
I being only 5"2 and 45kg felt unable to publically vent my anger.
I warned my Lesbian social group about this and from then on put "I'm a bio woman and only seeking bio women" in my profile.

TheWordWomanIsTaken · 20/02/2023 13:41

hmmm
I'm wondering if the transwoman who suggested that op might consider hanging around for the 'post-surgery penis' would be willing to accept a woman who has had phalloplasty surgery in their dating pool?

EndlessTea · 20/02/2023 13:38

😱 Yikes! Check out the deletion message. I think these guidelines need revising post WORIADS

Should they have told me they were trans?
Datun · 20/02/2023 13:32

Arthurflecksfacepaint · 20/02/2023 13:28

A friend of mine thought it was overkill telling him to speak to work, as all that had happened at first was that they had told ds over text that they were trans.

He just didn’t know how to respond and given
his job, you never know the repercussions of how you word things.

He said he felt a bit daft approaching his boss at first, but he said he was put at ease immediately and told that it’s really common for officers to take advice on how to respond to personal situations which they felt uncomfortable with.

Anyway, when they found him again and started sending abusive messages, he was so glad he had taken my advice and work knew about it all from the offset.

He said he felt a bit daft approaching his boss at first, but he said he was put at ease immediately and told that it’s really common for officers to take advice on how to respond to personal situations which they felt uncomfortable with.

yeah, I guess if you're public facing, you've got to make sure you're dotting the I's and crossing the T's.

Arthurflecksfacepaint · 20/02/2023 13:28

Datun · 20/02/2023 13:20

Arthurflecksfacepaint

Stroke of genius to run it past his bosses first, though. Well done for the advice.

Because no matter what nonsense this other person constructs, his bosses know it's fake.

It removes all the power. Well done.

A friend of mine thought it was overkill telling him to speak to work, as all that had happened at first was that they had told ds over text that they were trans.

He just didn’t know how to respond and given
his job, you never know the repercussions of how you word things.

He said he felt a bit daft approaching his boss at first, but he said he was put at ease immediately and told that it’s really common for officers to take advice on how to respond to personal situations which they felt uncomfortable with.

Anyway, when they found him again and started sending abusive messages, he was so glad he had taken my advice and work knew about it all from the offset.

Rainbowshit · 20/02/2023 13:26

And aside from sexual attraction a very high proportion went to have biological children with their partner. TRAs always like to gloss over that part.

Datun · 20/02/2023 13:20

Arthurflecksfacepaint

Stroke of genius to run it past his bosses first, though. Well done for the advice.

Because no matter what nonsense this other person constructs, his bosses know it's fake.

It removes all the power. Well done.

Arthurflecksfacepaint · 20/02/2023 13:15

CryptoFascistMadameCholet · 20/02/2023 11:53

Yes, sage advice from mum!

well done
@Arthurflecksfacepaint and fingers crossed by following directions from his boss your DS has avoided any work
place repercussions.
Sad that he is still dealing with abusive messages tho - perhaps the message-writer needs a visit from one of DS’s colleagues?

Ds worked so hard to get into the police, it’s all he ever wanted to do.

So there was no way we were going to let anything like this have the potential to mess it up for him. He knows from work how easy it is to have allegations thrown against you so he was just at a loss of what to say or do for the best.

It’s all logged with his work. He never replied to any of the messages so from his end, he’s done nothing wrong. There’s no law against blocking someone. In fact, they said ds should think about reporting them for the vile massages they sent after ds blocked them, but he just wanted it over.

I just wanted to make sure it was all above board with work as they new he was an officer and the force he’s with just incase. People can be vindictive.

FannyCann · 20/02/2023 11:53

Awful situation for your son @Arthurflecksfacepaint
Thank goodness he felt able to approach you for advice and that you were so savvy.

CryptoFascistMadameCholet · 20/02/2023 11:53

BluebellBlueballs · 20/02/2023 11:44

This is absolutely terrible.

Thank goodness you had the sense to ask him to tell his bosses first

Yes, sage advice from mum!

well done
@Arthurflecksfacepaint and fingers crossed by following directions from his boss your DS has avoided any work
place repercussions.
Sad that he is still dealing with abusive messages tho - perhaps the message-writer needs a visit from one of DS’s colleagues?