‘Woman’ missing in Southampton

I'd like to know why my post was deleted? Can't remember word for word but I wanted to know why @TransParentlyAnnoyed assumed that Samantha was a TW? The description said woman yet some people were mis-gendering Samantha.

So we're looking for a 38 year old blond woman of large build called Samantha?

I have to admit that not one of the photographs they've provided looks like a photograph of a woman to me. If I had heard a call to look out for a missing woman on the radio, I would never in a hundred years have thought to mention him if I did see him.

Well yes, he is recognisable. As a man.

Very true. Also if they are showing a photo of the woman on the train are people going to think she’s the one missing?

The Facebook comment I’ve seen most liked basically says well no wonder the police can’t find him if they’re looking for a woman.

Why don’t the police realise that this post will just lead to ridicule?

Problem is, if this person is under terrible strain or having a mental crisis then they may have temporarily forgotten this recent guise and would be more likely to respond to their real name Brian/Keith/Dave or whatever.

Facts are important tho aren't they? He's a man dressed as a woman. That's all they need to say. Many more people
will understand what to look out for. There's nothing wrong with this - its
a factual account and they matter at times like this (well always but ukwim)

I see you have seen all the photos @Canadanian

Can you not see how this is problematic for potential witnesses who have heard the missing person appeal on the radio and not seen any photos? They will be relying on the physical description of the person: their sex, size and age, as well as details about their hair, eye colour etc.

Have you seen the other photos though? Samantha looks very different in those photos.

This thread, and others, make it clear that some people only see what they want to see.

As many, if not more, people have suggested ‘transwoman’ or ‘person’, but as ever you seem to have selective eyesight.

You would be amazed at what people don't notice on public transport.

Its so important to be clear. You can sneer at clarity all you want.

And it's not just the person sitting next to them. It could be anyone anywhere on that train or platform. They might think "hmm I was on that train and I didn't see a tall woman". So the opportunity to gain valuable sightings is missed.

I don't get why people can't see this.

They’ve shared a number of different photos, reflecting that how someone presents might vary. I think if you sat next to someone on a train, I think it’s very likely they would be recognisable to you from one of those photos.

Trans woman would be ok; but people on this thread have also been suggesting man or trans identifying man…. Which does really show up their ‘I just want clarity’ pretense.

Assuming the police know what they’re doing may be your first mistake.

Samantha is a transwoman. That is very obvious. So obvious that one of the resident TRAs didn’t hesitate to identify Samantha as trans, despite the fact the police hadn’t mentioned it. The police could have said ‘missing person’. Saying woman and accompanying the notice with a picture of an obvious male person unleashed some quite unpleasant transphobia on other social media platforms - actual transphobia- and may have been avoided had they framed it differently.

In addition, the latest photos suggest Samantha was no longer presenting in a particularly ‘female’ way. As @GreyskySexRealistsky points out, it is highly likely that the person sitting next to Samantha on the train would think they were just sat next to a man. Why would they consider the search for a missing woman relevant to them?

I’m going to assume the police know more than you about the safest and most appropriate way forward in this specific case. You have absolutely no idea if seeing ‘trans identifying man’ plastered all over the press would have a detrimental effect to Samantha’s mental health or ANYTHING.

All of us can see that she is perfectly recognisable from the range of photos provided.

You’re an absolute ghoul.

Are you using the fact that someone is missing as an excuse to be a drama llama.

Photos aren't working so well on the radio news bulletins

Express concern = transphobic
Don't express concern = transphobic

Well quite a few of you post really horrible things. Like clockwork.

Samantha is missing, and people have come here with faux concern that calling her a woman will hinder the search (there’s a photo - that’s who people will look out for). But it just an opportunity do some more transphobia.