The tranniebondageBDSMtechnocomputer Matrix
February 28, 2006 – 1:36 pm
I received yesterday by mail the hard copy of Rolling Stone’s “The Mystery of Larry Wachowski: Could the co-creator of The Matrix real life truly be stranger than fiction?” (read the online version here.)
Is the title grammatically incorrect?
If that were only the worst of it. Plot spoiler here: The article charts Larry’s hook up with a famed dominatrix - the former wife of Buck Angel - and together they ditch their spouses, Hollywood, and the SM scene in LA for transsexual filled SF, where they can play BDSM games while Larry becomes…..MtF? A woman?
You decide!
The bits of incisive transsexual understanding will, no doubt, floor you, as they did me.
Buck Angel is labelled “a partial female-to-male transsexual.”
The author later writes:
She [Mistress Ilsa Strix] had been married since 1998 to Buck Angel, a female-to-male transsexual, a woman who had turned to surgeons to have her breasts removed and had her chest expanded, via testosterone injections, to the size of a muscular man’s.
And in case you were wondering…….
From below the waist, however, Buck remained female.
Buck describes seeing Larry in drag after a session with Ilsa. Our author then goes on to ask that very pertinent question: female to male transsexual or autogynephile?
At this point, our author quotes J. Michael Bailey of Northwestern Universityto bolster our author’s theory that Larry is an autogynephile (as opposed to an MtF?).
“Autogynephiles frequently mention having a longing to be a girl that begins in childhood,” says Bailey. “But the first outward manifestation of it usually crops up in early adolescence, when they discover that it turns them on to wear women’s clothing. What you do not see, despite frequent claims to the contrary, is evidence that these folks were notably feminine in childhood.”
You know, Larry’s life does not follow that hallowed transsexual trajectory of “from the moment I inhaled I knew I was a _____” So, of course, Larry is not transsexual. But then, again, maybe he is! Larry’s abiding interest in computers, science and technology apparently fulfills some stereotype - new to me - that MtFs have a jones for technology.
And some experts believe that men who want to be women also tend to be what Larry Wachowski appears to be: a guy with a jones for technology. In 1974, Donald Laub, a plastic surgeon, and Norman Fisk, a psychiatrist, conducted a study at the Stanford University School of Medicine of 769 patients considering sex reassignment. Of the male patients, Laub and Fisk discovered an interesting predisposition: “Observation of the male-to-female group showed them . . . to be interested in mathematics and computer sciences.”
1974. 32 years ago. Yes, indeedy.
The author raises, and seeks to answer, some of the most compelling questions at work in Western society today.
What is the future of the most successful and visionary moviemaking team in recent history? Where did they go? And what on earth happened to Larry Wachowski?
What on earth happened to this guy’s brain? And who cares about some second rate directors anyway? And who really cares about one of them shooting up hormones? Like what, she won’t care about computers and technology after estrogen injections? Maybe her artistic abilities will get better? God knows I’m not sure they could get worse. (I’m not a fan of the Matrix. Any of them.)
What with the mix of SM (anybody that calls it BDSM does not know what they are talking about), Hollywood money, transsexuals and lots of free time, things are bound to happen. All the nuances of hormones, transition, role-playing, lost in the author’s own anxiety about men with pussys and a nerd of a guy wearing panties and maybe becoming a chick.
Partial. Just very, very, very partial.
18 Responses to “The tranniebondageBDSMtechnocomputer Matrix”
Not that I’m disagreeing with you on the article– it was foul, and in addition I thought Buck was pretty foul for having contributed to it– but really, “anybody that calls it BDSM does not know what they are talking about”? The author doesn’t know what they’re talking about, I’ll grant you. But why would you make that assertion?
By kerrick on Feb 28, 2006
I’ve heard of this mtf stereotype before, that there are more transwomen in tech than there are elsewhere, and so far this seems to have some truth to it.
I’ve heard it mentioned in at least one book, have seen evidence for it in trans support groups out here on the west coast, and hey, I’m going to do my PhD in Engineering this fall.
There are all kinds of transwomen, but it does seem, sometimes, that a disproportionate number of us are tall and techies.
Why is this? Studies have suggested that lower levels of testosterone in male-bodied folks can lead to better spatial skills which may help them to do better in science.
I’ve also heard something about how male-bodied youth who have a delayed puberty can sometimes end up growing taller, which might explain that part of this stereotype.
By leslie on Mar 1, 2006
Kerrick,
In my experiences in the SM communities of Chicago and Detroit, BD and SM are not the same thing. Nor are they ever lumped together by folks within those communities. What I heard as a broad term to encompass both BD and SM is “leather.” Though folks into Victorian scenes sometimes took issue with the term, as did vegans.
So I said what I said because the only folks I ever hear using BDSM are:
1. Those who have no actual lived experience in SM/BD/leather communities
or
2. Folks who have had internet experiences and think they know about the scene.
The author’s repeated use of BDSM only underscored for me the deep well of cluelessness from which this article sprang.
By jay sennett on Mar 1, 2006
Leslie,
Thanks for your words. I guess I balk at studies that don’t include (and I’m guessing here) poor trans folks of all colors; those that don’t attend support groups or choose not to have surgeries, etc.
Just a distrust of blanket statements…which is sort of a blanket statement, right?
By jay sennett on Mar 1, 2006
>>In my experiences in the SM communities of Chicago and Detroit, BD and SM are not the same thing. Nor are they ever lumped together by folks within those communities. What I heard as a broad term to encompass both BD and SM is “leather.” Though folks into Victorian scenes sometimes took issue with the term, as did vegans.
So I said what I said because the only folks I ever hear using BDSM are:
1. Those who have no actual lived experience in SM/BD/leather communities
or
2. Folks who have had internet experiences and think they know about the scene.
The author’s repeated use of BDSM only underscored for me the deep well of cluelessness from which this article sprang.>>
That might be a regional thing, then. Because here in SF, we use “leather” and “BDSM” interchangeably. While I have heard D/s, S/M, and B/D used to describe proclivities more specifically, I have generally seen “BDSM” used to describe the community’s interests as a whole. I’m a practitioner myself, and I use “BDSM” to describe what I do, just like the people I do it with. “Leather” and “play” are becoming yet more common, though.
By piny on Mar 1, 2006
>>Why is this? Studies have suggested that lower levels of testosterone in male-bodied folks can lead to better spatial skills which may help them to do better in science.>>
That’s one possibility. Do tech jobs carry greater opportunities as to mobility and flexibility?
By piny on Mar 1, 2006
I did a bit in one of my routines one time about trans women being as prominent in programming as gay men are in flower arranging. IT WAS A JOKE! (and I’m allowed to tell it because I’m MtF and I’m a programmer.)
It’s one of those “common knowledge” things that often has an apparent basis in fact. However, my personal opinion is that techies seem to be more prominent in the trans world (esp. MtF) becuase they’re simply the ones with more money and less personal baggage. We’re all just nerds, you know.
As for the Rolling Stone article, I thought it just generally was shit. When they brought up Bailey and autogynephilia but didn’t quote anyone else, they lost me.
By Jami on Mar 1, 2006
guilty as charged - tall (5′11″), delayed puberty (didn’t need to shave until 25), and tech tendencies - well versed in computers and work in tech support for consumer products. of course, one would think to find m2f’s such as myself on a blog - those who are not computer literate are not going to find themselves here.
don’t know much about bdsm, other than what i read here and there.
and i agree with jami about the rolling stone article. you know, we really need to find our own marginally qualified shrink phd to publish an equally unscientific and controversial book just to counter the damage bailey has wrought.
By nexyjo on Mar 1, 2006
and i agree with jami about the rolling stone article. you know, we really need to find our own marginally qualified shrink phd to publish an equally unscientific and controversial book just to counter the damage bailey has wrought.
Heh. Yes, a pop-psych hack job about how all cisgendered people are either fakes and liars or, um, fakes and liars.
By piny on Mar 1, 2006
Ah. I see. I thought you meant that it should only ever be called SM, or something. I’m also in SF, and it seems like the B people, the D people, the BD people, and the SM people all play and hang out together, so BDSM has always seemed like a natural descriptor to me. And I think I know what I’m talking about.
Thanks for the clarification.
By kerrick on Mar 2, 2006
Ah. I see. I thought you meant that it should only ever be called SM, or something. I’m also in SF, and it seems like the B people, the D people, the BD people, and the SM people all play and hang out together, so BDSM has always seemed like a natural descriptor to me. And I think I know what I’m talking about.
Me, too. And it’s an in-community descriptor. “Screwup: BDSM for Trannies and Queers,” for example.
By piny on Mar 2, 2006
Yes, a pop-psych hack job about how all cisgendered people are either fakes and liars or, um, fakes and liars.
Nominations, anyone? Nominations?
By jay sennett on Mar 2, 2006
How much money do you think is in it? Maybe I could get one of those instant online degrees in psych and then crank out the text. Or maybe we could make it a joint online collaborative effort compiled as a blog with comments! Of course, I also know a few pshrinks - one of whom just happens to be a transman. Maybe I could convince him to put out … a book.
By Jami on Mar 2, 2006
Of course, I also know a few pshrinks - one of whom just happens to be a transman. Maybe I could convince him to put out … a book.
Won’t work! The shrink must appear to have _no_ agenda whatsoever. A trannie shrink claiming cisgendered folks are either fakes or liars, well, dammit! They have an agenda to push….
By jay sennett on Mar 2, 2006
i’m not sure about the agenda thing. isn’t bailey well known to be the quintessential closeted gay trannie chaser? i’m sure there’s a phd’ed closeted het cisgender chaser around here somewhere…
By nexyjo on Mar 2, 2006
HERE??
By Jami on Mar 3, 2006
guilty on two of three: tall (5′11″) delayed puberty (by my own hand of stolen Premarin tabs) but not a techie at all. I only use them, can’t figure out how they work. I am more of a motor head. Besides, tech and engineering degrees are easier to hide behind because there is less interpersonal relationships than a position like mine (I happen to be an assistant project manager for a construction safetly firm.) And the pay is significantly better allowing for faster transition time.
Not very much into the B/D or S/M scene, but I am familiar enough with those who are to realize that they are separate arts, though there is some, limited crossover.
The article just flat out sucked ass. Seriously, the author either did not know his stuff, did not do his homework or just plain out sensationalized the whole thing for the purient interest of the deparved reader. I persoanlly think the whole autogynephillia thing is a load of shit. “Yeah, I am spending countless thousands of dollars, risking everything I hold dear in terms of friends, family and livelyhood, just for a sexual thrill.” Bullshit
By shannon on Jun 10, 2006
I persoanlly think the whole autogynephillia thing is a load of shit. “Yeah, I am spending countless thousands of dollars, risking everything I hold dear in terms of friends, family and livelyhood, just for a sexual thrill.” Bullshit
Hate to burst your bubble, but your supposedly ludicrous quote there actually kind of does describe me and my motivations for messing with HRT. I don’t think that’s completely it, and I only support the vile Bailey, Blanchard et all as far as I can throw them, but being aroused at the prospect of being femimine is really a big factor for me. Time will tell if other issues emerge to take its place for me. I kind of hope that does happen, because I’ve wrestled with serious doubts as to the wisdom of this if it’s just indulging my long-held feminization fetish.
I absolutely do believe, however, that it’s okay to find this idea arousing and it does not preclude having more traditional, “serious” TG inclinations. The TG community simply represses the idea that this could be true to avoid lending any credence to the offensive work of BBL. A number of transitioned transwomen have admitted similar self-arousal feelings to me, as if it’s not some awful, dirty thing. Maybe it’s bad if that’s your only motivation, though.
Time will tell.
By boygirl on Oct 25, 2006