(09-08-2015, 12:02 AM)Glioca Sargonnai Wrote: I play an Au Ra who is intersexed. She actually has a pretty hard hate for the state of her body, and wishes she was fully female. She identifies as female, and the state of her body only comes up if someone shows interest in her and things lead to a bedroom situation, or if someone happens to get on top of her for some fashion, and suddenly gets confused by the extra parts. It's a constant underlying thread of her existence, because it does happen to be part of her body, but it isn't the core focus of any RP for her.Â
As for using the term hermaphrodite (leaving out the sociopolitical aspect of things), consider the time period that is represented in the game. Especially in certain areas (Ishgard), they may not even have the term used, as it has a mythological root (greek gods), and is technically a more scientific term. That said, I tend to go with more spiritual-esque terms. Zehra refers to herself as 'twin-souled', but 'dual-sexed', or 'dual-bodied' also works. It depends on the feeling you want to give your writing. There are all sorts of terms out there, but the one I use is meant to reference the fact that she is intersexed.
I see nothing wrong with playing a character who is one or the other, or a mixture of both sexes, as people so see fit. Approach the character as a serious character, and you'll be fine. Include it as a singular part of the whole of the character, and people shouldn't have a problem. Approach it as a fetishist representation of something in a strictly ERP context, and people will likely get upset or draw away from you because that isn't what they 'want to be associated with', as if that aspect of RP is somehow dirty or wrong (psst, it isn't).
I haven't yet worked on Zehra's wiki, but I will, and when I do, I'll reference it, probably in part of her backstory, as well as in her physical appearance. But it's just another fact of who and what she is, and that's how it should be treated.
I'll let other people tell you the reason not to use certain terms. I've never cared about being specifically politically correct, so I won't jump on that bandwagon. As far as 'snow-flaky', that's like walking up to an actual intersexed individual and telling them, 'you're a snowflake because your body is different, you should change it'. This is meant to be a part of your character that has serious and lasting impacts on everything from their mental well being to the way they might be treated by partners with who they want to become intimate.
Just like with any other character trait that is 'different from the norm', you have to put more thought and effort into it. Unfortunately, you have to find a better way to justify it to the community or they look at it as if you're doing it strictly for attention, even if it's just a unique challenge you want to approach in your writing. If you want to make your character that way, do it, and enjoy the challenge. If you feel like you're not up to it, then don't. But don't do or not do it because of how someone 'says' it might be perceived. That is one persons perception, and people have many different ones.
You're completely missing my point entirely.
It has nothing to do with being 'politically correct', a poor excuse to begin with. Sensitivity towards people who actually deal with awkward and uncomfortable gender identity issues on a day-to-day basis is important. Like, really important. They get enough shit in real-life; no reason to carry it over into their chosen escape.
I don't have a problem with ERP, either, but as a transwoman, I do not and will never appreciate anyone turning my situation into a vehicle for their fetishes while employing the usage of disrespectful terminology (tranny, shemale, etc.), virtual or not. It's disrespectful and above all, incredibly demeaning.
Now I know for a fact Chiyo would have no intention of doing any of this, but for the sake of discussion, I feel it incredibly important to bring the subject up before feelings are incidentally hurt.
Is that really so bad?
(09-08-2015, 12:38 AM)Calliope Cloverbloom Wrote: Dated, yes.
Distasteful, no (it's a medical term, albeit a dated one, as you mentioned).
Is intersex the more generally used term in clinical discussion in 2015? Yes.
Is intersex the more generally used term in pop culture and media in 2015? Not yet.
Is nitpicking which medical term is used in a forum thread productive? Not really.
Yeah, no, please read the above. It's not nitpicking in the slightest.
