[Spice3132]

Ladies, ever see a guy and think “Heeeeeey”? Guys, ever see a chick and think “She's hot”? Only to have those thoughts come to a sudden halt when you find out he/she is not who exactly you think they are. Hot girls are actually guys? Those guys are actually girls? Well those ladies and gents are what we call Traps.

This year at Acen, myself along with my fellow panelists would like to get all of you together to play a little game we care calling (for the moment, name might change) “Help! I've Been Caught In A Trap!”.

This game will be survival of the fittest. We'll pick 5 or 6 volunteers to play. One wrong answer and you're out. Last person standing wins. Depending on how long one game goes, there will be more than one game which means more than one winner.

I've started this topic on the forum because I want to hear what you guys think of this panel. Is it something that you guys would be interested in coming to? Is there something that you'd like to suggest? The game will not be limited to just Anime and Manga. We are planning on finding traps from different places and also having some soundbite traps. I'm planning on having the panel only 1 hour long. Hopefully it's enough time. We will keep this PG-13. No X-rated stuff. We want the teens to be able to come too. We're planning on making this panel as fun and funny as we can.

So think twice next time you think an Anime character is hot...

This post has been edited by Spice3132: 14 November 2011 - 12:46 PM

[Ashori]

This actually sounds like a lot of fun, to be honest. I probably wouldn't want to participate, since I don't really watch/read a lot of anime or manga with traps or reverse traps in them, but I'd love to watch just for the laugh factor involved. ^^

[Bloo09]

Don't forget there are some Japanese bands with members as well. I was once caught by one XD

[Spice3132]

Bloo09, on 21 September 2011 - 11:35 PM, said:

Don't forget there are some Japanese bands with members as well. I was once caught by one XD

Don't worry. I'm planning on finding J-Rock traps as well as K-Pop traps. I've already got some K-Pop traps.

[burns_241]

This sounds rediculously fun. I love panels that have some audience participation in them, though I rarely ever get picked to come up for them

[The Fujoshi]

You know this is the funniest panel idea I seen.

I would love to see the humor from this!

[Spice3132]

Great news guys. We have been approved!!!!! Can't wait to see you all there. ^^

[RezFIRE]

Awesome! This looks like a lot of fun. Plus, i've always been sort of good at knowing who's a trap or not. Okay so really i'm just guessing most of the time, but still...

[Gl1tt3r]

Well those ladies and gents are what we call Traps.

No, that is what you call transgender people.

This whole thing is really really really offensive. Anime conventions are supposed to be safe spaces for people of all gender and sexual identities. I get that it's a joke, but it's a joke that makes me feel like I'm a freak.

Insinuating someone who presents a certain way is trying to 'trap' people into liking them is one of the main reasons trans people get assaulted and murdered. I don't care if it's just anime/manga characters, because you are in a place where there are going to be people who get to dress as their gender for maybe the single time out of the year. And by having that panel, you are encouraging people to guess at their gender. The only person who knows what gender someone is is that person. This isn't even including the crossplayers, who also get made fun of for 'ruining' characters, and male crossplayers who already are demeaned by some of the outrageous drag costumes that make no effort to hide that they're making fun of men in dresses.

No one should have to worry about this at ACen of all places. This needs to be removed from programming.

Oh and I just noticed this:

So think twice next time you think an Anime character is hot...

Or don't, because if you're attracted to someone you're attracted to them, and what's between their legs doesn't change their outward appearance or personality. Again, I get that you're talking about characters and not people. But considering the whole convention is filled with people who look like characters, it's not much of a step for someone to apply this to a person. I've been viewed with revulsion from people who might find me otherwise attractive because of stuff like this.

This post has been edited by Gl1tt3r: 14 January 2012 - 04:10 AM

[Jinna H.]

Gl1tt3r, on 14 January 2012 - 04:02 AM, said:

Well those ladies and gents are what we call Traps.

No, that is what you call transgender people.

This whole thing is really really really offensive. Anime conventions are supposed to be safe spaces for people of all gender and sexual identities. I get that it's a joke, but it's a joke that makes me feel like I'm a freak.

Insinuating someone who presents a certain way is trying to 'trap' people into liking them is one of the main reasons trans people get assaulted and murdered. I don't care if it's just anime/manga characters, because you are in a place where there are going to be people who get to dress as their gender for maybe the single time out of the year. And by having that panel, you are encouraging people to guess at their gender. The only person who knows what gender someone is is that person. This isn't even including the crossplayers, who also get made fun of for 'ruining' characters, and male crossplayers who already are demeaned by some of the outrageous drag costumes that make no effort to hide that they're making fun of men in dresses.

No one should have to worry about this at ACen of all places. This needs to be removed from programming.

Oh and I just noticed this:

So think twice next time you think an Anime character is hot...

Or don't, because if you're attracted to someone you're attracted to them, and what's between their legs doesn't change their outward appearance or personality. Again, I get that you're talking about characters and not people. But considering the whole convention is filled with people who look like characters, it's not much of a step for someone to apply this to a person. I've been viewed with revulsion from people who might find me otherwise attractive because of stuff like this.

I have to agree completely. As a former staff member, it really upsets and sickens me that this panel is actually happening. There are plenty of trans* people that go to ACen, and probably a few on staff. The idea that some trans* people are "tricking" heterosexuals instead of simply expressing their gender how they see fit is disturbing. It promotes not only a heterosexist and homophobic agenda, but a cissexist one.

[Unka Josh]

Yeah, I agree. This needs to <i>not</i> happen.

[AcidAlice]

I wouldn't mind seeing this happening. I always watched talk shows that have trans people and you have to guess if that is a woman or man. If the trans people are not embarrassed to be on tv or having the whole world watch the tv shows.

[nagicakes]

I would like to extend an apology on behalf of myself, Spice3132 and our fellow panelists, specifically to Gl1tt3r.

It was not our intention to offend, upset or otherwise single out anyone, transgender or otherwise. The panel was only intended to be a fun, lighthearted game show-esque panel. While I understand your concerns, we are most definitely not trying to incite more hatred, intolerance, etc. for anyone, regardless of their sexuality/gender. All of the people involved in this panel have several good friends that are gay or transgender and would never want to do anything that singled them out in any way, shape or form.

So please, try to understand that this was not meant to harm anyone. If you have any other concerns, we would appreciate it if you would PM us instead of posting on the thread.

Again, we apologize if we've offended or upset anyone.

Thank you.

[slytheringrl]

Please, it's called cross dressing, cosplay, gender bending and a number of other things. It's a common thing that has nothing to do with changing your sexual identity or even your sexual identity. I myself have cross dressed a number of times and am a straight female. I have transgender and gay friends, some of whom have NEVER cross dressed and even find my doing so odd. Taking this and making it about one group is ironically narrow minded, when the whole point to opposing this was that the panel itself is somehow narrowed minded.

May I also remind those that oppose this that it is a convention for anime/manga lovers in general, not just the transgendered, and as such the anime/manga community itself is not always accepting of this lifestyle. They make fun of it, they use it frequently and the term trap has been around LONG before this panel was created. I feel where you're coming from, Gl1tt3r, but you're taking this way out of context. The easiest solution to this is to not show up and enjoy the other things this convention has to offer, rather than trying to ruin it for other people who are only playing on a concept that is prevalent and consistent in this genre.

[Gl1tt3r]

nagicakes, on 15 January 2012 - 03:11 PM, said:

I would like to extend an apology on behalf of myself, Spice3132 and our fellow panelists, specifically to Gl1tt3r.

It was not our intention to offend, upset or otherwise single out anyone, transgender or otherwise. The panel was only intended to be a fun, lighthearted game show-esque panel. While I understand your concerns, we are most definitely not trying to incite more hatred, intolerance, etc. for anyone, regardless of their sexuality/gender. All of the people involved in this panel have several good friends that are gay or transgender and would never want to do anything that singled them out in any way, shape or form.

So please, try to understand that this was not meant to harm anyone. If you have any other concerns, we would appreciate it if you would PM us instead of posting on the thread.

Again, we apologize if we've offended or upset anyone.

Thank you.

Thank you! I understand it was not meant to offend, and of course that there are gender benders who enjoy being mistaken for the other gender, especially anime/manga characters. What's important to remember, especially as friends of trans folk, is that guessing at genders is a way of reinforcing harmful stereotypes and gender roles! It doesn't just hurt trans folks either, there's plenty of androgynous cisgender people who are very hurt when they're misgendered.
I appreciate your response.

slytheringrl, on 18 January 2012 - 12:23 PM, said:

Please, it's called cross dressing, cosplay, gender bending and a number of other things. It's a common thing that has nothing to do with changing your sexual identity or even your sexual identity. I myself have cross dressed a number of times and am a straight female. I have transgender and gay friends, some of whom have NEVER cross dressed and even find my doing so odd. Taking this and making it about one group is ironically narrow minded, when the whole point to opposing this was that the panel itself is somehow narrowed minded.

May I also remind those that oppose this that it is a convention for anime/manga lovers in general, not just the transgendered, and as such the anime/manga community itself is not always accepting of this lifestyle. They make fun of it, they use it frequently and the term trap has been around LONG before this panel was created. I feel where you're coming from, Gl1tt3r, but you're taking this way out of context. The easiest solution to this is to not show up and enjoy the other things this convention has to offer, rather than trying to ruin it for other people who are only playing on a concept that is prevalent and consistent in this genre.

Your gender identity isn't your sexual identity. Trans people aren't changing their gender identities. You have no idea what it feels like to dress as your gender and be called crossdressing. Or how painful it feels to only be found attractive as a gender someone assumes you are, rather than the gender you are. Or how dangerous it can be to dress as your gender, if the wrong person finds you attractive. You're right, people use the term trap offensively and that's exactly why it shouldn't be used.

No, it's not a convention just for transgender people (the term transgendered is offensive, btw), but I don't see how discouraging transphobia makes it a convention for trans people. It makes it a safer space for people who get raped and murdered from other people who think that they're being 'tricked'. Being 'tricked' is one of the primary excuses people make for murdering trans people.

What is the context? Androgynous or gender-stereotype defying characters are popular in anime, and in the j-rock scene as someone mentioned. Yes, some of the time in the manga the person's gender-bending is a sort of joking. This is also transphobia, just because it comes from Japan doesn't make it less insulting. But there's also lots of anime where no one in the anime makes fun of the characters' gender presentation, it's the fans who do it. Either way, to you the context is anime. To trans people, the context is life, where this happens every day.

AcidAlice, on 14 January 2012 - 07:14 PM, said:

I wouldn't mind seeing this happening. I always watched talk shows that have trans people and you have to guess if that is a woman or man. If the trans people are not embarrassed to be on tv or having the whole world watch the tv shows.

Those people are not indicative of all trans people. Or most trans people. This programming is transphobic and just because people participate it in doesn't mean it's ok. And the only show I've seen like this is Jerry Springer.

[Spice3132]

I'd like to inform everyone that our panel will be Saturday night at 9:15pm in the Hyatt in the Florence room. I hope to see you guys there and ready to play.