Need a Little Help

Comment by Dal Maxwell on November 1, 2012 at 9:15am

Sorry on this one, Becky.  I only speak for myself and never let anyone else (mis)represent me.  And I never allow myself to become engaged in something I can't defend.

Comment by Becky Kent on November 1, 2012 at 9:25am

Thank you.  Sadly, when we refuse to participate in research, we not only handicap the efforts of the researcher, but we increase the chances that the results of the research will be skewed.  The reason that I as a researcher offer anonymity is to allow the inclusion of as many points of view without the obligation of the participants to defend their position.

My work is intended to be a legitimate piece of research to be published in response the prevalence of misinformation that is out there about us.

I appreciate your response but regret you refusal to participate and have your viewpoint represented.

Comment by Dal Maxwell on November 1, 2012 at 9:56am

Apparently, you put yourself into a position where you have to defend something that you are ill-equipped to do.  I'm not being smarmy here, Becky, but while I do have very strong opinions on a variety of topics, don't always feel compelled to expound them.

My feeling is that you are not looking for research so much as back-up.  There are some circumstances where my principles will require that I do so, such as when one of my friends/former team are in serious trouble.  But I see no good outcome in this and I certainly don't envision you changing any minds.  Quite the reverse, you are now adding unfamiliar fuel to the fire by introducing biographical, un-identified, people that could just as well be made up.  Not that I am advocating that.

My experiences in the trans population and with trans people are a rich brocade, woven of many diverse situations and conclusions; not all of which ended well.  But they don't always translate into a telling manifesto designed to offset trans phobia and trans misogyny. 

You can only speak of yourself, Becky.  That is my opinion of situations like this.  Research on the clinical aspects won't sway haters and I don't suspect that heartfelt stories will do much to change their own hurtful sentiments.  I'd walk away while you are not consumed by this.

Comment by Becky Kent on November 1, 2012 at 10:20am

I thank you for your input and opinions.  I'm not sure what it is that you do, but I am an academic and research and writing are what I do.

I am not fighting any great fight or trying to win any wars.  What I am doing, very informally, is merely adding to the volume of positive literature about trans people.  Just like any research, it will be added to the huge pile of what has already been written.  It may or may not influence any one person, but if people had only sought knowledge and written about it when they were sure that others would agree with them, the world's libraries would be empty.

I am not trying to force anyone to participate and I respect your belief that my efforts are futile.  I also would not be true to myself or my mission in life, if I were to see an opportunity to add to the knowledge base in a manner that may benefit a group of which I am part and not try to pursue it.

Comment by Becky Kent on November 1, 2012 at 3:45pm

Thank you LindaMarie for your input.  

You must not have read my responses to Dal.  This is a research project, not a social media war.  I am not a child and I do not play Facebook war.  While the results of my research will be offered to the blogger who originally planted the idea, I have decided to make this much more.  My vocation is research and writing.  My area of expertise is the sociology of peace and reconciliation in the post-conflict societies in the Balkans.  I have experience at producing quality research.

This project is basically being done as a hobby project.  As such it will not include the type of in-depth research that I do in my field, but I can still approach it from a researcher's point of view, and solicit the experiences of others to enhance my writing.  I'm doing this because I feel that there is still a need for more positive, intelligent writing to be done about transgender people, and who better to do it than one of us.

Assuming that the product of this is up to my standards, I will be offering it for publication in appropriate journals and other outlets which are likely to be interested.

My project poses no threat to you and could possibly do good down the road.  Please accept it as such and trust that I have a significant lifetime of experience on which to base my decisions.

Comment by Kathy Murdock on November 2, 2012 at 8:19am

Becky I would be happy to contribute.  Give me a few days I'm backed up with trying to make a living kind of stuff.

Comment by Becky Kent on November 2, 2012 at 9:18pm

Kathy,

Thank you for participating.  This project will take a couple weeks toput together, so please take you time.  I will be delighted to have as much input as possible.

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