non binary - trans folks - androgyne forum?

[Deleted]

Thinking about the lack of newbies.

Some comments guests don't see. Private stuff we need help with specifically, our blogs.

But on internet hits, do they know what Nonbinary means?

Or is androgyne meaningful in the title.

Not to build a box.

But if they don't know what Nonbinary means, would this trigger curiosity to take a look at us?

Jayce and all, what cha think.

It's a wide open forum but our strength is in Nonbinary.
Trans. Google androgyne and many of us look like those pics. But do we come up here on that search?

Probably a hot debate.

The title is already inclusive, but do they understand it?

We don't exclude anyone here...

I'm just wondering about it.

How do we attract the young nonbinaries?

[Ativan Prescribed]

You attract them by looking at the sites they hang out on and learn the definitions and terms they use.
Genderqueer is one, look for the others.
They still, just like everyone does, try to find a label and definition.
There you see the scattered ideas and where it all falls apart like it did for us before.

So use the catch all phrases and words, and then further define them and show them that labels aren't needed, they are boxes.
It's the one thing that stands out to me, even though many are realizing this, that to label puts one in a box, the very thing they are defiant about.
All you people who frequent Reddit, Tumblr, Twitter and the younger groups on FB should be able to incorporate a lot of the language into this forum.
Isn't androgyne just too old of a word to be using? I don't really know, but it seems to be.
Even the breakdown of transgender into NB and TS and the rest seems to be more like the same old forum format that the younger generations find.
They see that and expect it is going to be the information that we older ones have used with success, but the outlook has changed for the younger.
What worked for us to get us here is irrelevant in a lot of ways because they have taken a different approach to society.

They are generating the new information and are looking for answers, but never find it in the same old formats.
So reformatting in the ways that work, applying the tried and true information that is relevant would seem to be a smarter way to go.
A lot of how we got here isn't useful information in society today, it's already a part of history.
While history is a good guide at times, it isn't necessarily the answers, but more of a springboard to find answers that are relevant, a way to look so to speak.
The younger generations aren't any different than when I was that age, I wasn't about to follow my parents way of doing things.

We created a different way to see and think about society and the roles we all play back in the sixties and early seventies, when I was that age.
Each generation has it's own way to see the world, let this be a place that they can safely be able to see that without being told it is wrong, just because our experiences were different.
So find the words, learn the terms and phrases and what they mean, apply a simple format that is flexible enough to follow the generation behind them as well.
We have a lot to say, but need to say in their language, the way they talk, in the ways they perceive the world, not try and push ours any longer.
But rather take theirs and give them the information, be the guides on their paths and not be the ones on ours, they are different, we need to recognize that.

I know there is a huge difference to the way I see the world than the way they see it, but they ask the questions anyways.
The answers they want are the ones that apply to their world, their future.
Just as I expected mine to be respected at that age, so do they and just like I deserved that, so do they.
Other forums are dying out because they refuse to change the formatting to fit a younger view.
Forums have their place in the dissemination of information in an organized way.

But it is not the only way in today's world, information flow is done differently, but a forum that is designed to work with that becomes relevant for what a forum is.
The problem is that they have abandoned the concept in favor of faster an more readily available information, the flow that is there.
It can be use in a forum format, but that format has to allow for faster flow and faster changes in that flow.
It is time relevant, not so much tried and true information that is from a time past.

A few words here and there in the name won't do much, but a radical overhaul in how a forum can still be used as a more organized source of information can work.
They ask questions, but I see them being repeated over and over and with varying answers that are dependent on the source.
Pull more and better sources together and keep topics going without flying to far off on tangents still works as a place to find answers.

The sources now read like gossip, what's the latest gossip about this and that, it has little structure after a short time as topics anywhere.
Pinned topics that reflect the most common questions, and others that are up and coming as questions.
Letting the old ones go, but keeping the information relevant to the questions still being asked.
If the question is the same but asked differently, then simply change the information to reflect the questions as they are now being asked.

Once those questions are now done being asked, retire that thread, that topic, always replacing with better and more current or timely questions.
It gives them a peer approved place to find more than just the gossip kinds of answers they are getting most of the time.
It's gonna take some work, and it's going to take them to do it.
Older and wiser can guide, but can't tell them how to do it any more than the older generations could tell me when I was that age.

[Deleted]

Personally I think the word nonbinary while descriptive kind of throws some people for a loop. Especially the ones that are just realizing what they may be that really have no knowledge of the terminology. They are still gonna' be seeing themselves in terms of being a male and feeling female or being a female and feeling male and trying so hard to fit in one or the other. So the younger ones just now realizing that something isn't just quite right are still gonna' have a better understanding of binary instead of non binary. Hell when I was young my understanding of binary was with stars.

But definitely what Ativan said.

Plus there are people that search the net looking for a place. They may not quite understand non binary and how that may pertain to them. But how to draw them I haven't the slightest idea other than everything Ativan said.

[Ayla]

Agree with many of the comments here Androgyne would be a retrograde step imo. Social media evolves rapidly. New formats attract subscribers, old formats fight to retain theirs. Younger folk like unstructured thought and multiple 'conversations' (1 way and 2 way); sometimes it is just thinking out loud or venting, other times it is hoping for a meaningful response and engagement. On some sites the responses range from irrelevant through uninformed and mere opinion, to more substantive and thoughtful. This is a random walk - it really is the luck of the draw in terms of who responds etc But this seems to work My kids have thousands of 'friends' on FB but spend more time on snap chat, boast hundreds of 'followers'' on Twitter, like instagram, jump on to Reddit, visit Tumblr, google search and strike up random conversations with anyone from best friends to casual acquaintances and random strangers. Sometimes novelty attracts, sometimes not, They are inquisitive and restless, always looking for the edge and the next big thing. It was the same for us, but today these shifts and moves happen in real time.

I am not sure that a site like ours can be all things to all folk, but we can be true to label, we can demonstrate our values, we can be supportive, thoughtful and available ... many paths have brought us here, it will be the same for others. We don't have the funds to promote the site, we could put up links on other hubs or webrings but more likely folk will get here by referral, google searches and relevant topics. They will come back, stay or even join and contribute if it works for them ... this happens less and less on social media. Individuals now determine their 'reading', their 'consumption' and their 'community' or 'tribe' - they are unlikely to stick (if in fact they ever do) with one forum until they seek a more substantive engagement .. our questions and issues are not unique and they may occur to them on their travels. On the other hand their journey is different, society is changing, perhaps they are finding more support, feel less inhibited and are not as constipated as we were.

However if the threads are well curated, they remain searchable so future travellers will find our thoughts long after we have become a mere artefact of history.

Safe travels

Aisla

[Deleted]

I'm cool with all these thoughts.

:-)

I think raising the question is good.

And what do they see, honestly?

Jayce has a wise and strong hand so although unmoderated, it's not out of control either.

Regardless, I have very strong feelings for this place and the people in here.

Trin.

[Ayla]

May 6, 2015 6:33:14 GMT 8 @dreadfaery said:

It's also not really a safe space as it's largely self moderated and a lot of the forum is open to everyone. This per say isn't a bad thing, but lack of clear moderation policy on racism, cissexism, trans misogyny, misogynoir, ableism and other stuff will put off a lot of people.

To be honest, if I just came across here randomly and read a few topics I probably wouldn't join.

Fair comment.  I feel the same way about other sites as well.  Joining implies support and sometimes agreement, it usually implies identification with or some form of alignment with existing members.  The trans experience is unlikely to be enough - culture, age and multiple other demographics play into this.


Need and context are important.  Some folk have a need or are merely curious.  The first may join if they feel it may be of benefit, others will not.   Culture is important - a self moderated forum can work, but bad behavior then needs to be called out by members or else it wont feel safe.  Anyways I think consistency is important, as are substantive conversations and engagement with the opportunity for more, if folk desire or are open to this.

Safe travels

Aisla

[EchelonHunt]

May 6, 2015 6:33:14 GMT 8 @dreadfaery said:

It's also not really a safe space as it's largely self moderated and a lot of the forum is open to everyone. This per say isn't a bad thing, but lack of clear moderation policy on racism, cissexism, trans misogyny, misogynoir, ableism and other stuff will put off a lot of people.

To be honest, if I just came across here randomly and read a few topics I probably wouldn't join.

The first rule at the end states that, "Discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated." I believe those terms you mmentioned fall under the scope of discrimination

Nothing much else to add to the topic... though it would be nice to put together more informative sources or FAQs regarding gender and such.

[Ativan Prescribed]

All fair enough and interesting comments.
Is there an approximate age where a person looks for more of a forum format?
Is there a better way to format it?
We're used to this, but I think it might be viewed as an older person hangout and that's what I think it should move away from.
I think we can deal well with a different format, but I have no idea as to just what.
I do know it is dominated by the older of us, myself included. I can see it being more dominated by much younger people than me.
I'm very open to changing it. It doesn't need to be eye candy so much as it could be seen as a good source of real information, as suggested.
I think if it becomes more information oriented in sections, and have more age related sections for BS'n and that, it would help.
Like give a section to an approximate age group, maybe several of them for general BS, along with informational sections?
There are sites that are more for fun, fast and winding around, is there a need for younger people to have a good source of information that is worded with the way they talk?
We have a certain cross section now, would it help to break that up into areas that are more age related?
With it small like this, it isn't a problem, but if it is to grow, is that more logical?
I'm out of my element on the answers and am just barely grabbing onto ideas here as it is...
But I see a need to open it up in that direction, to younger people. It can eventually move further once it's started in that direction.
Are there search words that we can put into it to at least get some hits, some attention and go from there?
I'm just throwing crap out there hoping it sticks to the wall.
After reading that topic in Reddit, it became almost painful, the awareness of what younger people thought in that.
I had been thinking about it, but that kinda pushed it to the edge to ask more about it and to see just what direction we are going in and if it is the right one.
Does seem to be a consensus on information being a strong suit we can handle, I think.