He looks like a damn squirrel.
I really mean no offense, but I feel compelled to point out that using terms like “cisgender” without providing any definition is a little arrogant. That word is not in common usage.
From the Wikipedia entry on the word, it appears that it is not really used anywhere except for the insular bubble of academic gender-politics. Why throw it out on this forum and expect us to know exactly what you’re talking about?
I used to live in Filner’s district and got to meet him at a town hall in 2002. He’s a really nice guy in person and doesn’t look anywhere near as terrifying as he does in this picture.
While everyone might not know cisgender means, it’s not that uncommon to know that cis- is the opposite of trans-. And the context makes it perfectly clear anyways. It was used exactly how one is supposed to use an unfamiliar term.
I’ve attended graduate school and generally score in the 90+ percentile in the verbal section of every standardized test I’ve ever taken, and I did not know that.
Nonetheless, I can easily guess what words like “magick” and “womyn” are supposed to connotate, but I still regard people who casually drop such invented usage into an unrelated conversation as bubble-inhabiting dweebs.
Yes. It is. Name me some common words that begin with “cis” where it mean the opposite of “trans.” I can’t think of one. The only time I have *ever *heard that term is people talking about gender politics on online message boards.
To be perfectly honest, I do not know if she is cisgender, transgender or alien and I would have used the adams apple joke. I can remember it being used about Bella Abzug back in the day.
I meant no offense to transgender people.
I apologize for my unintended misrespect.
Really, I didn’t mean to be mean to anyone but (maybe) Ann Coulter.
ETA: Is she really transgender?
OK, not so common unless you paid attention during Apollo missions.
Cisalpine Gaul / Transalpine Gaul. (Not common, just where I learned it.)
Good thing this wasn’t at all unrelated, then, huh? The poster was specifically talking about trans rights and anti-trans bigotry. And let’s not forget that both of those terms you mention imply someone is a dweeb just as much because the class to which they belong are also considered less than socially aware. I don’t think that applies to a trans person, nor to someone who advocates for their rights.
I mean, it’s not as if someone who, say, uses sports terms is assumed to be a dweeb, since being a sports fanatic is socially acceptable.
Plus, there’s the simple fact that cisgender is a term any pro-LGBT person should be aware of, seeing as it serves the same function as heterosexual does amongst heterosexual people. It’s not a word used only by scientists studying the concept. When one says it’s used in gender studies, that includes the studying by trans people to understand themselves and how they differ from those around them. I wouldn’t expect any trans person not to use the term.
I think if the pro-LGBT side - which I consider myself part of - wants to win favor, they should not insist that people be familiar with all their pedantic academic genderspeak.
People, we need to get back to the important stuff here- like the fact that according to 18th-century German folklore, Rep. Filner wandered through the woods of Bavaria and ate the souls of children who disobeyed their parents.
Ugh. This is going to sound arrogant too, but I swear I don’t mean it that way.
This is a board dedicated (supposedly) to fighting ignorance. Using the correct word in a conversation, especially considering that virtually everyone reading can highlight and google the definition of a word in seconds, seems completely appropriate to me. Also, that word has been used several times on the board recently, and every time the definition was given. At this point I thought most people on here were familiar.
Finally, I do read a lot of gender studies, etc. and that word is completely familiar to me, and I honestly somewhat forget that other people don’t know it. I wasn’t trying to come across as an arrogant dweeb; as I said, it’s the correct word for what I am talking about so I used it. I didn’t mean to make anyone feel bad or stupid at any time. I just don’t like transphobic jokes, and I think most people wouldn’t tell them if they realized what they were saying. Like calling bad things “gay”; it’s only by pointing out the implications that we can make things more inclusive. I made offensive jokes until someone talked to me, I feel like I’m passing it on. 
What’s failing him is his photographers’ nearly universal inability to capture the whites of his eyes. The result is that his demonic eyes annihilate any generosity the viewer may have regarding his…large…smile and…um…ok, wow.
You think seeing the whites of this guy would make him look less demonic?!?
I seriously wonder if there’s a way to send this thread to Filner or someone at his office and if it would motivate them to get a new photo taken.
Got his email address?
Here’s his official photo, which is a few years older than the one on Wikipedia. Warning: it’s not as bad, but it’s still nightmare fuel. There’s just something about the guy’s face with that long nose, wide mouth and cold eyes that makes him look nightmarish when he smiles.
I’m sure Argent could spring for the price of a stamp or–if he feels really strongly about it–a telegram.