This IDOLM@STER Character Is A Trap

@cynopt:

It's a bit of a tough call. True, Japan doesn't really treat gays as entities. That sucks in some ways, but the ironic result is that there is a lot less homophobia than, say, the US. Gays are seen as somewhat insulting stereotypes of annoying flamboyancy, but on the other hand, not as evil pedophile mind-washers.

bugbread

@Sisee: What if it's smaller? That's ok, right?

It's never a problem when a girl pretends to be a boy to obtain her goals.

Jonathan Chan

@Obey__: Ha! Violence against a minority! Hilarious!

@Deaf Mute: Well I see you as a cunt, cunt. Hey! I'm liking this already!

@GumbyX: Here is a question: Why would it matter if he did want to be a girl? Would that be so horrible?

Full disclosure: Celebrating my first week on estrogen.

@Shini: R.O.A.C.H.: So... yeah, all of the above then, except you, belthegor; for the most part well said. If you're screwing within your own gender, you are at least some significant percentage of gay, regardless of your taste in couture. My point here is that Japanese culture has this irritating need to keep homosexuality safely walled off behind a veneer of over-the-top stereotypes and total fucking fantasy; that's it.
Not that a little fantasy is automatically a bad thing, as Shini has rather eloquently pointed out; double standard or not, progress has to start somewhere.

Pull out!
/Ackbar voice

@ThirzaDelita: IT'S A TRAP!

Yes, calling us "traps" is an insult. Yours, A F2M TS.

ThirzaDelita

@manusdei: Anecdotally, people seem to view their small electronics as being more personal than things they cannot take with them. Having a character like this tucked into their DS could go a long way with some people as far as changing perspectives just because of the delivery method.

Of course, everything depends on how the developer handles it.

@SubhagaCading:

Hearts to you, my friend.

WoozyB

I'm actually going to play this game to see how the developers handled the treatment of this character. At only 15 years of age, Ryo is in a major developmental stage of life so I really hope they didn't make a big fat joke out of this.

I've actually known a high school student who approached me years later after becoming a newhalf. It wasn't an easy transition and it took a lot of courage so I hope this game doesn't discourage anyone thinking from doing the same. In fact, I hope it's actually encouraging.

vagrantscholar

@Xavior: Is the game fully voiced? I didn't expect that for a DS cartridge.

The graphics sadden me, though. I would've liked this on the PSP, but oh well.

I was wondering what iDOLM@STER DS was going to add to the franchise. I'm glad to see they're moving in an unexpected direction.

So far, we have a girl who is the daughter of a former idol turned teenage mother and a cross dresser. I wonder what the last girl's story will be?

It is insulting to us, yes. In fact, thanks for waiting for us to confirm that being called a threat to the fragile sexuality of straight men is as insulting as being called a faggot. Some people just jump the gun and assume that being called a derogatory slur is insulting, but you! You are a true jewel among gems.

UbertoCroakster

@beeporama (brian.j.parker): I'm with you on this one. I dated a few newhalfs when I lived in Japan and it makes me cringe whenever I heard the word trap nowadays.

The newhalfs I dated were so fun-loving, honest, and goodhearted that it's absolutely an insult to think that they deviously hunt and trap unsuspecting men. I've never met a newhalf who wasn't open about her lifestyle. Many of them are pretty big into gaming too, making them great companions.

vagrantscholar

@MorbidToaster:
Personally, I decided to use an umbrella policy concerning my use of gender-based pronouns. That is, they are gender-based. My pronoun choice when talking face-to-face is based on their gonosomes. As I cannot analyze their cells in a typical fashion I base this information on secondary sex characteristics.

When people insist on being called by a specific terminology, I am reminded of a quote from a recent South Park episode "Fishsticks"; "And if I had wheels, I would be a wagon". Reality doesn't go along with you, just because one says so. I am all for a day where people can change their geneology at will and really start muddying the waters of terminology. Until then "male" and "female" describe one's roll in reproductive pairing; not a state of mind.

Aprotosis

Crossdressers ARE a trap. When you pretend to be something you aren't, it's deception. Plain and simple. If you want to lie and pretend you are something you aren't that's your problem. However once you involve someone else in your deception, it ceases to be your problem and turns into their problem too. Therefore, crossdressers are traps.

SteelfireX

@MorbidToaster:
I think it's really a person-by-person basis. Pronouns are an awful thing to juggle sometimes. Some people prefer one, some prefer the other. Some people make it tougher by identifying as one pronoun in one set of clothes, and the other pronoun in a different set.

Still, who knows what the story is about this character. Maybe he identifies as female, maybe he doesn't. It's hard to pick a pronoun when you don't know the backstory.

Xagest

I don't think I'd select this character any way. Looks suspiciously masculine from the get go.

Also, I got a good chuckle from the headline. Keep up the good work, Bash.

Surprised that some people are upset about this (the cross-dresser and the article). All we know is that he wants to be an idol, and to do that, he decided to impersonate a girl. We don't know if this has nothing to do with gender confusion. You'd think a society that puts out movies like Mrs. Doubtfire would find it funny and/or cute and not read into it so much, especially when they don't know the entire story.

I don't think Bash-craft (if I can call him that; don't ban me!!) meant anything by this post. He just thought it was funny and decided to share it. Heck, he used the "Its a trap" meme we have all seen online for crying out loud.

@Omatic:

Alright, fag.

I'm sorry was that insulting?

@Jim Topoleski: It's pretty clear he took it to mean that the OP thought trannies are fake homosexuals, and is just trying to backpedal now that he's been shown to not just jump the gun, but frickin' vault it.

@Phonoi: um no.

the way he wrote it, he was saying that they fawn over FICTIONAL DEPICTIONS of homosexuals/transsexuals, while REAL LIVE people of those persuasions/sexual preferences are chastised and prevented from having rights.

In no way did he say transsexuals aren't gay AND in fact transsexuals often ARE NOT homosexuals. Just because you identify yourself as a male or woman while your outward appearance may be of the opposit sex doesnt mean you share in that preference. There are many male to females that continue to date females, or female to males who continue to date males.

Transsexualism is a VERY difficult subject with many shades of grey to it, and by making the statement you just did, you show your ignorance to the subject.

Jim Topoleski

A trap? Oh man. I'm so offended. *whimpers and cries*

Shut the fuck up, jeez. Why the hell are you all bleeding hearts over it. People don't mind being called weeaboos and otaku but when it gets to moe and traps, everyone starts crying and whining.

I hope you people die.

Pleaseendtheworld

@belthegor:

Was that truly necessary? See, now you just look like a douche instead of someone with a rational thought. Congratulations.

@spannu: I don't know how I've gone so long without (faving) you.

@--Core--: That's a classic re-use of that now-classic cartoon. It's probably even better because the NOS boy had a clearly labeled energy drink, whereas Ryo Akizuki is doing his level best to fool you.

Trap, indeed.

As a anime fan this is just all so funny to me happens all the time

I will buy this. Namco please bring Idolm@ster to America, any version is fine.

I'm transgender, and I can't say I find the word "trap" all that offensive. I mean, it's HOW things are said, and the meaning behind them when said, not always the exact words themselves. There are other words that I think can always be offensive, but as for trap? Hell, I use the word myself, so I guess if I were to find it offensive that would mean I'm offending myself. Personally, I see "trap" as being less about actual transgender/transsexual people/characters, and more about those wacky game or anime character designed purposely and specifically to confuse people. Bridget, for example, was never created to give a truthful or honest look at the life of a transgendered character... Bridget was created to be a god-damn trap.

SubhagaCading

@Desolation_Angel: This sounds like real world experience.

I think a lesson could be gleaned from this: don't hit on everything that is walking when it becomes apparent that you're having trouble separating "want" from "do not want".

This is so wrong. I wonder why developers do this. It messes with almost every gamer who plays this game. It would kinda make sense if Ryo Akizuki was an awesome hologram but she (he?) isn't.

uh its actually an internet meme, regarding linetrap a transsexual that frequented the 4chan forums. do a quick google search

OrsonAnaxo

@MorbidToaster: "all them as you see them is just fine, until that person asks you to call them otherwise. You should be nice enough to make them feel more comfortable, and call them as they wish to be called.

You don't need to recognize everyone that you meets GI, but if they specifically ASK you to, you should."

Calling a transgendered person one thing behind their back and another in front of their face is what I am against. I can recognize what their personal GI is, but I won't let them guilt me into viewing it. If they ask me personally to call them one gender, I decide to simply avoid pronouns as much as possible.

"Also, dishonest people? Seems like by asking them to lie about the way they feel about their personal gender is what makes them dishonest. To make yourself more comfortable, you ask them to make themselves uncomfortable by sticking to their birth gender."

I'm not asking them to behave like their birth gender, I know that's impossible. It's difficult to explain, but by dishonest I am referring to the differing gender views. As it is wrong for people to force them to act as their birth gender, it is wrong for them to dictate to people how to label them. It furthers the inherent deception and other less knowledgable parties will think that GI is their birth gender.

@Sticks Calhoun: Listen to Tone Loc's "Funky Cold Medina" Pretty much wraps up why it's a trap.

Wolfers

@Jim Topoleski:
Seriously? Not one of you understood what Belthegor was getting at? And just decided to jump their case like the pissy little bitches you make them out to be? Bravo.

Yes, it's always possible this is wrong. Maybe Belthegor can reply again and clarify if it's right. But did ANYONE ever think the wording of Cynopt's comment was a tad off?

I didn't care so much about it, my problem is the sheer lack of ability to understand people are presenting towards this specific section.

Here, since Belthegor didn't want to point it out I will.

"Nice to see Japan's bizarre double standard of fawning over fantastical transsexuals while still treating actual gays as non-entities is alive and well."

The way his comment is worded implies transsexuals aren't "actual" gays.

Phonoi

This song is what this crossdresser deserves!

Tye-The-Czar

This song is what this crossdresser deserves!

Tye-The-Czar

This thread is a trap. A creepy, vomit-inducing trap.

Thrillkiller

@Jim Topoleski:
I believe what he was getting it as that there seems to be a double standard, where there is acceptance in the manga form of characters who chose to either cross dress or who are transgendered, at the same time homosexuals are not accepted by society.

Of course you could just as easily argue that this is not a problem limited to Japan. In almost any country in the world it's fine to have someone different (whatever that difference may be) in the media but "you wouldn't want them in your neighborhood".

I'm of two minds on this particular article. Part of me feels that anything that mainstreams such choices is on the whole a good thing since it helps society come to grips with it better. That it's good to expose people to this. However I wonder if this particular video game is a suitable place for that? It's not exactly an M rated game; people have very strict ideas about what they feel is appropriate for their children to be exposed to. Or to the contrary is this the perfect place?

Either way it at least sparks a discussion which is a good thing.

manusdei

@Deaf Mute: ur all gay hth

belthegor

@Deaf Mute:
Call them as you see them is just fine, until that person asks you to call them otherwise. You should be nice enough to make them feel more comfortable, and call them as they wish to be called.

You don't need to recognize everyone that you meets GI, but if they specifically ASK you to, you should.

Also, dishonest people? Seems like by asking them to lie about the way they feel about their personal gender is what makes them dishonest. To make yourself more comfortable, you ask them to make themselves uncomfortable by sticking to their birth gender.

Oh, and that confusion you talk about has been there for a long time already, it's not just starting.

MorbidToaster

@Sticks Calhoun: That's kind of over thinking it...

@beeporama (brian.j.parker): I have to agree with you on that one.

MARl0

@spannu: Haha! Gotta fav you for that one! Bravo!

how is tranny offensive? if your a transexual then you would be a tranny since you are in a transition between 2 sexes...i dont quite uinderstand how using a shortened word for a generally accepted term is considered offensive. Also...what do you consider very young? I really dont get how you could be a member of the trans society before you are old enough to becoma a tran legally (surgery is usually reserved for those 18 and older). Are you a cross dresser or did some unscrupulous doctor operate on a child?

MargueriteGaloot

@FATDAN: This may come as a surprise to you, but "It's a joke" is not a shield that protects you from responsibility for making offensive comments.

@MorbidToaster: Respecting people and their preferences is fine and dandy, but there is a limit to how much you can tolerate.

Calling someone I identify as male may be insulting to them, but it just as insulting for them to force me to call them what I do not recognize them as. If a European person told me to call them Phillipinian, even when they have absolutely no relatives or ancestor from that area, should I call them that?

It's deceptive and what they really are aiming for is embedding into society their new definition for convenience and confusion.

If everyone starts labeling them based on their GI instead of how they recognize them, it would lead to a large amount of confusion regarding what is gender and how we label it and this entire farce where people personally recognize transgendered people as onething but publicly say otherwise.

You're calling for dishonest people to make everyone else dishonest.

So maybe we should just stick it to "Call them as you see them?". Regardless of hurt feelings.

@Omatic: The fact that you consider "that phrasing isn't too far from the truth" is insulting in itself. The implication is that everyone in an inter-gendered situation goes through that transition with the sole purpose of sexual interest. The comment Sticks Calhoun made is pretty much on the money about this: They aren't out to get you, they're out to make themselves more comfortable in life - Which is hard to do when they're being painted as some kind of covert branch of immorality.

TetraNitroCubane

@beeporama (brian.j.parker):

#1, IT'S A TRAP! = IT'S A JOKE!
#2. The Crying Game. It was a trap.

@Deaf Mute:

Yay let's keep insulting the not 'traps' because 'a large number of them are'.

MorbidToaster

@belthegor: Hurt your brain?

@Sticks Calhoun: By pretending to be a gender you are not, it is indeed a trap. No matter what the reason, if they work to make themselves appear a different gender and then in turn attract people that they know would not accept their "gender identity" it is a trap.

Not all transexuals are ones of course, but so are a large number of them and the act is inherently deceptive.

@Sticks Calhoun: Total traps.

I'd just like to say that the way this article is written is quite insulting, to myself anyway.

I mean, I know it seems stupid to argue over the identity of an IDOLMASTER character, but it applies everywhere. This character seems to have chosen to be female, so how about we just respect her wishes and stick with female pronouns? Same goes with anyone you meet in your 'real life', respect someone's preferences.

MorbidToaster

@Omatic:

Hi, I'm confirming that it is insulting. I've been a member of the trans community since I was very young, and comments like trap, tranny, etc. have always been offensive.

Also, you have no idea how hard it is to tell someone you're in a relationship this information, luckily I finally found someone that had no problem with it whatsoever.

MorbidToaster

The video if anyone's interested.

@beeporama (brian.j.parker): Admiral Ackbar does not approve of your sentiments.

I think he was trying to point out the distinction between transsexuality and homosexuality.

YvetteHamjelly

Hey, someone run hacked PSP version and check it!

They ARE traps.
You're in a bar, chatting up some pretty thing, then BAM!
You're waking up next to someone with junk bigger than you.

Admiral Ackbar is never wrong. so there for ITS A TRAP

ZitaFazoole

@Omatic: Don't you think that trap sounds negative? Does anyone likes to be branded with a negative term? People have the right to be however they want it to be and they don't need to carry a sign telling it to the world.

Fernando Jorge

@Omatic: It seems insulting because it insinuates that all transexuals are OUT TO GET YOU!

Watch out! There are men who look like women and they could be talking to you RIGHT NOW! Quick! Before they strip you of your masculinity, kick them in the crotch to make sure they're the real deal! Yank on their hair and make it sure it's not a wig!

Transexuals are not traps, except only in the sense that they identify with a different gender than the body they're stuck in. There's nothing insidious about it. They're not out to get you. They are not traps.

@belthegor:
yeah now i'm confused. As if the article wasn't confusing enough. =/

_Ted_

@belthegor: How very helpful. e_e

Kia

For some reason, memories of Soapdish are going through my head right now. Great movie...you guys should all check it out. Probably one of the best comedies the 80s had to offer.

Sylar

I hate when I fall for crap like this.. I really do.

I am like that's the cutest girl I have ever seen.. oh fuck. My radar is off..

--Core--

@Jim Topoleski: WORDS

belthegor

Best part...I don't care. Why? Because for all the information we get dropped here on Kotaku and other news sites, I'll still never get my hands on this title in any form I can enjoy. So ladyboys or not...I cannot give a care about this title.

As much as I want to.
-Adam

ApocalypseVII

@belthegor: Well? What ARE you getting at?

cynopt explained that the Japanese have no issues with their media being fully of transsexual and homosexual characters while in the real world those individuals have 0 rights, and how hypocritical it is.

Then you chime in with being pissy about the word actual (def: existing in real life) which was proper, since most of Japans media portrayal of those sexual types is by non-homosexual/transsexuals or in the case of this, manga characters.

And then after being called on it, you get all pissy and saying nevermind.

So explain what you meant, or just dont post.

Jim Topoleski

@Brian Ashcraft: You deserve to be confused for this, Brian!

@TaylorEatWorld: Obvious trap is obviously a trap.

@Yofu: *rolls eyes* that's not what i was getting at, but nevermind

belthegor

@belthegor: Actual as in real. This character is not a real person.

Why am I at all surprised by this? Japan is like the fucking Joker when it comes to this stuff. Japan has no rules to follow, no lines it refuses to cross.

@the7k: Actually, Ryo decided to become a male popstar (like a boyband?) since he kept being treated like a girl from the guys at his school, and wanted girls to be attracted to him, not guys.

But somewhere along the way, the forms and papers got messed up, and he landed a position as a member of a new girls unit.

So kinda like Oto-Boku.

@Herabek: It doesn't matter once your drunk....

I'm going to stop it right there.

Even if it is a trap, it's no Bridget (GGX) or Jun (Happiness!).

Neko_Tech

@cykeichan: I know a guy like that. One of the strangest people you could ever meet but still a nice guy.

Who remembers a certain game called True Love..?

I guess Namco decided that they wanted to take the chance that any Western country would get a localized version of this, and divide it by zero.

Omatic

@beeporama (brian.j.parker):

When you have confirmation on it being insulting to them, get back to us.

Also, that phrasing isn't too far from the truth - unless the person is up-front with people about being a transsexual or cross-dresser, other people will assume that isn't the case, and will pursue romantic and / or sexual interests accordingly, if applicable.

If interested person finds out late enough after becoming interested, that person will feel deceived. Deception is an integral part of a trap. Considering that romance / sex is one of the few areas in which being transexual or a cross-dresser makes a difference, I'd say the phrasing "it's a trap" is silly, yet not inappropriate.

Omatic

@cynopt: not sure why you felt the need to throw the word "actual" in there, but okay...

belthegor

LOCALISE THIS.

When this episode of the DS promotion was uploaded on Nico Nico, I stared at the screen, muttering "Jesus... Jesus F. Christ...", seeing how Ryo was becoming by favorite DS girl.

But after letting it sink in for 2 days, I'm OK with this, and decided to pre-order the game on Amazon anyway.

Guess you need a male idol this time, seeing how it's the first ever Im@s game where you play the idol.

There's also that one sailor moon series where all the guys turn into girls. (cough Sailor Stars) So this isn't really a new concept.

And "she" still has bigger breasts than Chihaya

Wargamer234

Can we please stop calling transsexuals and cross-dressers "a trap"? It seems really insulting to them.

@Xaevier:

Bill Kaulitz?

Nice to see Japan's bizarre double standard of fawning over fantastical transsexuals while still treating actual gays as non-entities is alive and well.

@Alienation: A friend who was heavily into Hello! Project fandom a few years ago, and one who used to go to weekend Morning Musume/Goto Maki Fan DJ Nights, said that a surprising number of guys who loved that music were actually gay. Most of the fans were usually thought of as perverted guys who liked underage girls, but among this gay sector, most truly loved the music, the costumes, and the girls' dances.

Maybe Namco is just taking this to the next level... :) Yet either way, that doesn't explain the guy I saw today at the train station wearing pink sunglasses, a pink dress, and holding hands with his girlfriend. It *was* a nice dress, but still...

@TaylorEatWorld: I can't spot the differences! You forgot to photoshop the penis in!

Best of BOTH Worlds!!

Somaed

HAWT!!!!

Somaed

This is kinda old news to me, not that I would know this character is a trap for any particular reason.

@Desolation_Angel: Perhaps I should have said:

Have some of Column A,
Try all of Column B!
I'm in the mood to help you dude;
You ain't never had a friend like me!

Can your friends do this?
Can your friends do that?
Can your friends pull this out their little hat?
Can your friends go poof?

...I'll leave you and she-male Genie to yourselves now.

spannu

@Shinra1003: Sir, I would nominate you for a star if I could, that picture is win.

FISSIONMAILEDGF

@bobtheduck:I did what you said.
Google newhalf...
Daniel Radcliffe?!?!

Esper mind tricks

@Alienation: Perhaps he's doing it to get close to the gals? I've seen plenty of stories where guys crossdress as girls to get close to girls in situations where only girls are allowed. (Girls-Only Schools and Dorms being the most popular choices)

@spannu:Its the fact that "she" has a column thats fucking up our world. A...B...they're both hard to notice when you're drunk and horrifyingly obvious when rubbed up against your leg.

@Herabek: I am so confused. :/

@spannu: Comment of the week and it's barely Monday.

MrMister

@TaylorEatWorld: Double the penis, double the fun? That's the statement in our comments with double-dick puns.

spannu

@Knoxximus ver. 5.66: Haha, only this time it's a popstar!!/begging for a STAR or nomination!

FISSIONMAILEDGF

@Herabek: A little of column A and a little of column B.

spannu

I'll just leave this here...

Shinra1003

@Knoxximus ver. 5.66: At least Bridget was 'forced' to become female, whereas this particular Idol looks like it was voluntary. I know this is Idolmaster and Namco Bandai can fabricate any story to justify that character, but hypothetically speaking, if he goes to great lengths to enter the idol industry, does this imply that he is a homosexual?

Alienation

@bobtheduck: Thailand also has a special type of trap, called 'Lady Boys'. Yeah... those dudes are hot.

@bobtheduck: Just don't do it with the SafeSearch off... *Cringes*

@Xaevier: :0 (EDIT: for some weird reason it keeps double posting the image)

TaylorEatWorld

@Herabek: With all the he/she's that Brian is slinging around I'm sure it's just a typo :P

TaylorEatWorld

Wait... your post makes it confusing. Is Ryo a trap or a reverse trap?

Judging by your title I think this line should be 15 year-old Ryo Akizuki reveals that she is a he. Otherwise that makes it look like a reverse trap.

Mercsenary

"In DS title THE iDOLM@STER DearlyStars, 15 year-old Ryo Akizuki reveals that he is a she."

So it is a girl? Or what? You've confused me Brian!

All I have to say is I am so very glad that it is so hard for White men to look like women.

Xaevier

@Knoxximus ver. 5.66: You think that's bad? Japan's traps are REAL... No joke. Look up "newhalf" on google images... Some of them look like men, but some of them... You wouldn't be able to tell if you weren't told. Apparantly there's been advancements in surgery on Adam's apples.

It's a trap I'd probably spring on purpose.
Newhalves FTW!
Hime Tsukino <3

@Knoxximus ver. 5.66: Give bridget a break, he was trying to be a man amongst men through bounty hunting, though I have mixed feelings about him playing dress up with Dizzy, but yeah.

@Karlott: Erm.. ever heard of "Loli"?

TaylorEatWorld

Ryo Akizuk < Line Trap

Mmmm, I feel weird saying it already. Am I getting a boner? Fuck.

TaylorEatWorld

This is getting sexy. It's getting hot up in here.

The Swearing Gramps

@Relenus: With a blunt object

Obey__

What do you call it if you like it either way?

Obey__

Lord namco bandai really want to satisfy the "fans" this time

You can tell it's a boy because it's from Japan, it's animated, and the cup size is less than D.

I'd hit it regardless.

Dammit, it's Bridget all over again. *shudders*

@beeporama (brian.j.parker):

I really like you, we should be friends. >.<

MorbidToaster

@Xagest:

Just a small note, I completely agree that is a very person-to-person basis, and yes, some people have alot of trouble juggling pronouns (understandably), but effort is usually appreciated.

MorbidToaster

@Aprotosis:
The only thing I'm really arguing for here is for people to have enough respect for their friends (I assume these trans people are your friends) to call them as they wish to be called. The trans people I know (including myself) have bad reactions to people that they've informed of their preferences, calling them otherwise. I actually know one person that gets very ANGRY if you mess up (although, it's so hard to, he's obviously male).

Ignorance is a perfect excuse in this situation as far as this situation goes. I tend to avoid pronouns completely until I learn someone's preference.

MorbidToaster

@MargueriteGaloot:

Tranny is an offensive word because that how it's used by most people. Transexual is shortened to Trans by most of the people in the LGBT community I know. Trans person is what I hear most. I can't vouch for everyone that uses the word Tranny, but whenever I hear it, it's always used to insult someone, and all of the trans people I know take major offense to being called a tranny.

Also, you're a member of 'trans society' when you feel that your gender identity doesn't fit your assigned birth gender (or feel that you lack gender definition completely). Most of the people (counselors, therapists, etc.) that I speak to say that once a child starts to understand the line between 'boys' and 'girls', they start to form there own Gender Identity. So...you can be a member of 'Trans Society' very early. You don't have to have a sex change to be involved in the trans world.

Oh, and you don't become a legal 'Tran', you become a LEGAL, whatever gender you transitioned to.

MorbidToaster

@Deaf Mute: if they work to make themselves appear a different gender and then in turn attract people that they know would not accept their "gender identity" it is a trap.

Did you consider the implications of this statement? Now people have to take responsibility for looking attractive? That's a step away from "she said 'no', Your Honor, but she was asking for it with the way she was dressed." Perhaps women (and men?!?) should never dress attractively if they aren't actively seeming a sexual partner. Otherwise, they're a trap: a tease, a waste of your time at the bar. What's the difference?

I may complain a lot about Kotaku, but largely I think they're doing a good job, and that's why I keep coming back. But this kind of thing crosses a line, using slurs to demean an entire group of people; that it is coming from Ashcraft, who seems like an otherwise hip and intelligent guy (like all the Kotaku editors), really blows my mind. They're better than this!

@Shini: R.O.A.C.H.: True, but that's also why institutional protections for civil rights are important for people stuck in the unenlightened here and now. Prejudice takes generations to erase, non-discrimination policies take a year or two.

I love traps. Yay traps!

@cynopt: Societies never change because the government tells them to, only when the people decide to. If someone has it in their head to change some minds, a video game is probably a good place to start.

@bugbread: It's certainly not as virulent as the stuff the religious right cooks up, but the reality is it's still damned hard to be gay outside the big cities in Japan ( rather like the US). The basic fact of the matter is, once you leave the city limits, there are no protections for the civil rights of gay people at a national level: you can still be denied housing, you can still be fired from your job, and while the odds of being beaten to death with axe handles are considerably lower, your still going to catch quite a lot of shit for just trying to live your life outside the closet. Don't get me wrong: Japan is still miles ahead of China and most of their other neighbors, butfor a country with such a pronounced and public fascination with both American culture and at least the abstract idea of homosexuality, they've got a long way to go yet.

@MorbidToaster: I hope everyone else will notice I do NOT assume you are trying to "trap" me with your feminine wiles.

@Chestnut Bowl:

It's so adorable, I would like it on PSP as well, but I'll take it on anything.

woo more bridget is better

zorsmobile

@MorbidToaster:Gender is actually not something you get to have a preference for. You are a human, who is male or female. I can't just want to be a dog and force everyone to refer to me like wise. I am short ,but would like to be tall......huh? I seem to still be short. I think denying biology is ludicrous. I understand people want the freedom to be who they wish to be ,but we as a society have the right to not play a long with their make believe. Life is not some big role playing party, where I'm a a kick ass ninja. If you are a male who wants to be a girl I think you should realize one thing. Girls have it pretty tough out in the real world and I think it's rude, selfish, and ignorant to believe that you now share some sort of relation with their struggle and deserve all that they have worked for. Real men keep there perversions in there homes where they can video tape them for later.

tonicmole

@Minister of Fun: Yes, it would be. Having a physical abnormality is one thing, but people do not have to accept everything someone feels compelled to do. You should be polite ,but you can still think ewwwww. It's the same for a guy that masturbates 75 times a day. It's not hurting anyone, but it's still abby normal. A man dressing like a woman is abby normal also, because it's not just fashion. Lots of men may dress feminine like the scottish, but to be a full on cross dresser is odd, and probably relates to some sort of brain malformation like kids that eat glue or canadians.

tonicmole

although it has been said many times before, it's worth saying again: trap is an offensive term. the implication that comes along with it is that transwomen are deceivers, who intentionally change their appearance to try and 'trap' straight males. the reality is far, far from this, and i think it's pretty awful that people assume that it's okay to refer to transpeople as "traps" and "reverse traps".



as far as pronouns go, brian, you should keep in mind that if there is a maab (male assigned at birth) person who presents as female, like ryo does, then the respectful thing is to call them by female pronouns.

@cynopt: "If you're screwing within your own gender, you are at least some significant percentage of gay, regardless of your taste in couture."

and your credibility just went out the window.

belthegor

@MorbidToaster: If you have a dong, you're a he.

hurpdurp

@Aprotosis: "Gonosomes: The homologous chromosomes that are dissimilar in the heterogametic sex." WHOA DUDE YOU CAN SCAN PEOPLE'S CHROMOSOMES WITH YOUR MIND??!? HOLY SHIT!!

belthegor

@tonicmole: you are a "real" douche. look up GID. you think you know better than the professionals? go back in your hole.

belthegor