Comments on: Would BIID By Any Other Name Smell As Sweet?

By: Brice

Brice — Wed, 06 May 2009 21:29:17 +0000

Yes I wish we could have done once and for all with the term “pretending.” I use mobility aids to treat my BIID. I don’t want them, I need them.

By: Cath

Cath — Wed, 06 May 2009 19:07:34 +0000

Someone reminded me about the expression ‘pretending’ today. That to me close to ‘wannabee’ in the inadequacy of its use - as though we ‘play’ at being disabled for fun. NO NO NO!

By: art5080

art5080 — Sun, 03 May 2009 17:14:55 +0000

Not really. I just HEAR too much. A disadvantage, I suppose, for a man my age with above average hearing.

/Art

By: Brice

Brice — Sun, 03 May 2009 11:20:47 +0000

Art knows too much. We have to kill him.

By: art5080

art5080 — Sun, 03 May 2009 03:05:01 +0000

Even those of us who are only an admitted \”devotee\” have been marginalized, sometimes by those who are normally quite sensitive to THEIR own descriptive labels or terminology. I often think that simply being a male devotee (admirer) and straight puts those of like
interest on the lower end of the pecking order. Just my humble opinion…but terms do get tossed about quite freely and often to intended targets of perceived lesser status.

A parallel might be noted in the amputee DWP community when those with \”other\” types of BIID are not seen as valid or entitled to a voice in the
(amputee-centric) BIID community. /Art

By: Chloe

Chloe — Sat, 02 May 2009 14:41:04 +0000

Yes, excellent! Not once have I ever used the word “wannabe” in any of my discussions with the 60 or so people I have told about my BIID. None of them has ever used it around me either. I’m guessing they don’t even know of it’s use in this context.

I definitely find the word derogatory. It would absolutely make me cringe if anybody described me that way, just as it has made me cringe when people have referred to me with a derogatory term for hermaphrodite (which word itself some people find derogatory).

“Philias” are just ridiculous in this context. How is it a philia when part of my BIID need is to have zero genital sensation?

Thank you for the well thought out post, Cath.

By: Claire

Claire — Sat, 02 May 2009 13:25:33 +0000

Excellent post, Cath! I *hate* the term “wannabe” and I would like to see this community lose the word. And at the same time, I find myself using it, or stopping myself just in time, quite often. “Wannabe”, while derogatory, also is concise and gets the point across. But still, I *do* stop myself (most of the time) and I *do* take the time and care to say that I have BIID.