7th Program | Video

[shslprogrammer]

[It's not often that Chihiro actually makes a feed with video. Usually he finds himself hiding behind text or some other thing, like work or his focus on getting stronger; which he has felt like he has made a lot of progress on. But this time he feels like he can feel confident enough to do this. So he takes a deep breath and clasps his hands together slightly.]

H-Hello. I'm Chihiro Fujisaki. People might not have seen me around as much, but I'm planning on changing that in due time. [He shakes his head slightly. It wasn't the reason that he did this in the first place. No there was another reason. Or a couple of reasons anyway.]

I am thinking of setting up a little business from my apartment. Basically if you have a programming problem or a device you have is broken then I would be able to fix it for a reasonable price. I also said before that I make programs as well so if you need a security program or a helper program then I can also help with that.

[He had slowly started to fidget now. He was nervous, but he took a deep breath for a moment before his head tilted away slightly. He couldn't look at the device as he says this.]

But... I want to know what people might think of something. I-It's just a wondering that's all. But say someone spent some of there life wearing clothes of the opposite gender because people saw them as weak and well... Not what they should be. What would people here think of someone like that?

[Honestly he was scared of what the answer might be. He was scared that honestly people won't like that and think he was lying, but he knew that if he was strong enough he could be open about who he is.]

As I said I'm just curious about what people think. B-But that is all I need to know really. [He looks back with a sweet smile on his face before switching off.]

Comments

[youfool]

Interesting response to an accusation of weakness...

[Ted wasn't given the logical connection between the action and the reaction, nor the sex, thus it was left to his poetical brain to make one up]

Hmm, well, my first instinct is to start with the man, for he I count myself amongst. So, a man is called weak, and in response he cross-dresses. Guessing at his motive, I must assume he had chosen the clothes of the "weaker sex" to more accurately reflect his disposition.

To which I would be, hypothetically speaking, moved to pity. A pretty vicious cycle, that. For it is weakness to budge to the insults of your fellows, and they are not likely to stop once such a drastic concession is made. It is as if once were accused of being an ass, and, having judged his accuser as being perfectly correct, resolved to reside in a barn and bray.

Simply put, whether the accuser is right or wrong, the proper response is much the same. If he is right, then this phantom man must repent and become strong. If his accuser is wrong, then merely remaining in strength will show him up for the fool he is.

For the reverse case; if a woman was accused of being weak, and resolved to wear the clothes of a stronger sex; man...why, I'm flabbergasted. There's a crude term coined for such a condition...I hesitate to say it. But it might as well be said. "Penis envy". For her, it is to learn the proper place of the sexes. There is no shame in being weaker than a man, but there is shame in improper mimicry.

Of course, I'm operating from the assumption of humanity, and what I assume is a general case for whatever his appearances in these many worlds. If there are other kinds where these truths don't hold, well...doubtless their representatives may be consulted. And, naturally I am not of that profession whose duty is to attend to sanity, and there may be yet more motives and subconscious enigma for whom only the professional may guess. Take this layman's thesis with a grain of salt.

[shslprogrammer]

[He was wondering how to reply to this, so he listened all the time his mind was wondering over various things in his mind. So he figured out what he meant was what he was trying to do. Or at least trying to do now anyway. He always felt like he was weak even when people called him as such. It wasn't that he had bowed down to what they thought him as. He had always felt that way as well.]

What you said makes sense, but sometimes a person might not cross dress because of other people. It could be because they feel like it would help, or it makes the bullies go away, which I guess is what you meant. But I could be very wrong. I guess in some cases it's really a confidence thing at the end of the day. But my thoughts were more on would one be judged for doing such a thing?

[youfool]

Oh, probably. It seems one can hardly think of anything at all without rendering judgment for or against. You'd be surprised how many have an opinion of your music should you play it loudly, and publicly enough. One might avoid it, I suppose, if they were either very apathetic or very subdued.

But if one masters subtlety, it's likely that they'd need no fear of judgment whatever. Except, of course, for God, whom we will all have to answer to.

[shslprogrammer]

God is real then?

[He didn't exactly believe in god really.]

But you did bring up a good point, people probably would judge... I just was curious to know so I was certain.

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[bisforbadass]

What the fuck do you mean?
Fuck what people think. Be true to yourself.
Strength's got nothing to do with gender.

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[shslprogrammer]

What... Do I mean? I guess I mean if someone believes themselves to be weak and so dressed as the opposite gender would people judge them for doing that because of those reasons?

But strength is something... Okay maybe not the case of gender, but the strength of ones self. I've been learning that since I first arrived here.

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[bisforbadass]

There's plenty of reasons to dress like the opposite gender. Like if you're a performer,or you need a disguise or you just like it, or that's the gender you were raised as, whatever.

I ain't judging your lack of confidence, but it sounds like you're unfairly judging the opposite gender. Or the society you came from is.

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[shslprogrammer]

O-Oh, it has nothing to do with me. It's a friend of mine.

[He isn't admitting to such a thing as of yet.]

I don't judge, myself. I mean I can understand they lack confidence because people see them as one certain way or a way they should be.

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[bisforbadass]

Right. Sorry.

[ That denial is really suspicious]

Your friend then. Sounds like the artificial construct of gender roles in your friend's society is adding to whatever issues they got.

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[shslprogrammer]

M-Maybe, but I know they are planning on trying to do something about it. Just not right away.

[Well he was close to getting there. he felt a bit more confident never the less.]

[have_hat_will_travel]

[As Pidonus reads the post, she's curious. Security programs could be very useful in her line of work... Though she's not certain this young one would be up to helping with criminal misdeeds. Then comes a question.]

Hrm. This is a very interesting question. If I may, though: In your society, is it normal to view the opposite gender as 'weaker', somehow?

[Pidonus' society... Uh, very much wasn't that. If her mode of dress doesn't indicate as much.]

[shslprogrammer]

Where I come from, it was. [He wasn't manly enough so he chose to become this instead. He still saw himself as a man, but preferred not to be judged as a woman. But he was working on it.]

But I can't say the same elsewhere.

[have_hat_will_travel]

I would consider that a skew of perception, at the bare minimum.

[shslprogrammer]

Is it. I considered it to be a normal thing.

[have_hat_will_travel]

Does seeing a place where women can easily be stronger change your perceptions, if I might ask?

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[hashtagged]

That service sounds great!

As for the other thing, it's fine isn't it? Tiramie's bright pink and has a flower, but he's still as much of a man as anyone. Even if he's a #MegaPervert

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[shslprogrammer]

I was hoping that it will be, but I get the feeling it would be more popular in Nova City due to technology.

My friend was brought up in being weak as not manly. I don't think it had anything to do with how one dressed.

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[hashtagged]

I should clarify. Tiramie's a fairy, so that's just how he is. It's not that he dresses any way.

He's still manly even if he isn't as strong as Moffle, but my point is that just because something isn't traditionally manly doesn't mean it isn't. Your friend should just do what they want.

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[shslprogrammer]

Th-They are kind of cute.

But you do have a good point. A... very good point.

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[hashtagged]

He is, that's why he's the fairy of flowers at #AmaBuri.
I'm the fairy of fire, by the way, but I look more human.
If you don't get mad at your friend for it then they'll have support to do whatever they want already.

[Video, Private]

[goddessinthefog]

[Izanami was currently relaxing in what looked to be an old castle, judging from the surroundings. Chihiro had... intrigued her, so for now she was willing to return the favour.]

That depends. People show the world what it wishes to see -- they hide themselves behind masks, 'Personas' to be more accepted in society. Presenting as the opposite gender is simply another facet of that, although a more extreme one than most.

There was a girl I knew from my world who dressed as a boy, because she believed that was the only way she would be taken seriously by the men around her.

[Video, Private]

[shslprogrammer]

O-Oh, I never would have thought of it like that. [He mostly did it because honestly, it hide his weakness as a man and instead have society take him as a woman instead, the way people thought he was more like. So that was his persona... like she said.]

T-They must have felt like my friend does. I hope that they got stronger so that they would take them seriously.

[Video, Private]

[goddessinthefog]

If you look closely, all people have two facets to themselves. Their 'Personas', the side they show to the world around them, and 'Shadows', the parts of themselves they are ashamed of. So if presenting themselves as a woman is their Persona... then that shame, fear or weakness they feel would be their Shadow.

[She at least understood that much about how people worked.]

In the end, I believe she resolved to live and earn respect as a woman, rather than hide as a man.

[Video, Private]

[shslprogrammer]

[Chihiro looked rather amazed at the explanation and also kind of happy that that person was trying to ear respect as a woman. They were so brave in his mind and he wishes he could see them here some day.]

So... two sides to ones self. So there are two sides to me too?

But I am glad that person is trying her hardest to be respected as a woman. That must have taken her a lot of courage. I admire that.

[Video, Private]

[goddessinthefog]

Of course, all people do. You are no exception.

[Chihiro certainly did seem interested in hearing what she had to say. That was nice.]

Hm, she was a brave woman. Her and the others she worked with... they were more capable than I gave them credit for.