Things that people took the wrong way

[which_chick]

When looking at communication the burden for clarity is on the person doing the talking or the writing or whatever. The person doing the talking or writing or whatever is the person with something to communicate, so it's their job to make the communication clear to the audience. This is not something I excel at doing. *sigh*



Item the first: If you refer to someone's use of HRT for addressing/alleviating the symptoms of menopause as gender affirming care, that will be taken as a hostile act even though HRT for menopause is exactly a person who does not feel comfortable in their factory-issue body due to a deficiency of sex hormones and who is therefore taking aftermarket hormones to make them feel more like themselves. I thought that sort of thing was squarely within the auspices of gender-affirming care. There were some very hurt and angry menopausal women around me after I said that, so... oof.

In the interests of full disclosure, I do intend to continue to call HRT for the menopausal woman gender affirming care because there are a lot of folks out there trying to stigmatize the phrase and I don't think that's an OK thing to do. Also, my overall position on this is that I think it's fine for folks to take storebought chemicals when they either can't or don't make those chemicals in their own bodies.

Item the second: when you post sarcastically about anything, you need to label it sarcasm. Even when you say things that are VERY CLEARLY sarcasm and OBVIOUSLY NOT TRUE, you need to tag for sarcasm. People are not good at sarcasm and might think you are being serious.

Isn't it possible that you were being too subtle and refined? Maybe not everyone is as smart as you. Probably it just went over their heads.

I don't think so. Here's what I wrote, regarding the annexation of Greenland:

The United States has existed since 1776 and in that time, we've been overrun and invaded time and time again, our cities laid waste and our countryside fertilized with the blood of our citizens. Over and over, massive armies have crossed the Atlantic and landed on our eastern coasts, fighting inland, swarming across the coastal states and leaving them in rubble. In particular, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut have suffered beyond comprehension under repeated land attacks from our alleged "neighbors" across the Atlantic with whom we are most certainly not involved in some sort of acronymmed treaty organization. It is with regret and sorrow that we have come to accept the fact that ONLY the annexation of Greenland will prevent these assaults which have been occurring with great regularity since the founding of our nation. Only with Greenland can we secure the existence of our people and a future for white children. Therefore, no matter the cost, it must be done.

Yeah. Massive strategic benefits. Definitely we need Greenland.

I didn't figure I had to tag that as sarcasm. I figured it would be obvious to everybody. It's got OBVIOUS LIES in there and neoNazi fire sirens (like dog whistles only louder) and stuff.

*sigh* It was not obvious to everybody.

Comments

[ranunculus]

While it is true that the speaker has a clear duty to do their best to be clear, there is also a duty on the part of the listener both to listen attentively and to ask questions.
Your comment was abundantly clear to me!

[adafrog]

I like the idea of calling HRT gender affirming care.

[mistressofmuses]

... While yes, communicating an intent clearly may be on the part of the one expressing the idea, there is sadly no amount of clarity that can fully account for people who just refuse to use (or lack entirely) any sorts of comprehension skills.

(I do not understand how that could be taken as anything other than sarcastic.)

Also in favor of referring to it as gender-affirming care. It is! Why do you (general you) think that's a dirty term to use? :)))

[rattfan]

I guess they somehow missed the massive invading armies? They were away those weekends?

[also sarcasm!]

Some people you can't please, no matter what you say. Some people are also really thick. Greenland/Denmark may have to actually say, "Fuck off," before certain folk get the hint. Oh, wait...

On the other point, maybe just say "hormone replacement therapy?" Or don't they like that either? [From somebody who takes it because he can't make his own!].