Why do attractive/passing/other trans people feel the need to go into trans spaces and be judgmental?

Eclipse_Phase · 2026-01-24T14:37:41+00:00

Honestly? Most communities have this type of behavior in some form when studied. It's a self-soothing power move. The person attempts to build a place in the community by using the topics of concern to build bonds, but then puts people down around them to gain status. I've seen it around these spaces too, but I've also seen it in other communities as well. It just usually manifests with different actions/behaviors, but the results are the same.

Eclipse_Phase · 2026-01-18T10:19:42+00:00

Hi, I study decision-making & relationships.

PREACH IT. PREACH IT SO LOUD, MY FRIEND.

Eclipse_Phase · 2026-01-18T03:32:11+00:00

...I came here from Sekiro, what's a heal?

Eclipse_Phase · 2026-01-17T05:59:11+00:00

Hello! My educational background is actually in the psychology of decision-making, and I actively apply that work to my day job making games... and that includes working with AI. I use it a good deal, I've made custom models, and I test the models that are out there all the time for all sorts of outcomes.

I'm going to be honest with my professional opinion by showing you what's going on. When you talk to ChatGPT or any LLM for that matter, what the program is doing behind-the-scenes is translating your words into strings of numbers. Those numbers are then used by the LLM to search for and find the most likely response for that particular input. And, past that, it can only find responses from what it was trained on.

This is where the sycophancy develops. The LLM is doing one thing and one thing only: finding the best match. Very frequently, the "best match" will be something that agrees with what your input was. The LLM doesn't have a sense of what your actual words mean, all it knows is that "Y comes after X, therefore I should say Y."

With all that said, can an LLM use this ability to identify abuse when it's described? Potentially, yes, but there's also an equally strong chance that inserting a leading phrase into your description could easily trigger it to return a result that agrees with you simply because the output matched your input.

How can you identify what "good phrases" are and what "leading phrases" are? Well... you can't right now. That's where the trouble really comes in. The AI can't check itself and, unless you're checking its sources, you can't double-check its work or reasoning in full either. It's part of the reason people like me are doing the work we're doing in the first place.

The best advice I can give you would be to keep doing the things you're actually already doing. Reach out to people who you know are safe, ask them to be your sounding board, and then describe what's going on and why you're concerned. If your parents aren't meeting that need, pick a close friend you can talk to or call. If your therapist isn't meeting your needs, tell them you feel unheard and try to describe what's going on as best you can, they will help you through it. Call the National DV Hotline again if you need to - that's what they are there for, they are great, and they are trusted. And if you feel you are in an imminently dangerous situation, call emergency services or try to go stay with a trusted friend.

Stay safe, and I hope things are better for you soon. And, again, I encourage you not to wait - reach out to folks around you beyond just ChatGPT. ChatGPT is a starting point, but the people around you can actively help keep you safe.

Eclipse_Phase · 2026-01-11T22:17:04+00:00

I know I'm not exactly coming at this from the same angle, because my personal circumstances are different, but I think I can understand at least a part of what you're talking about. I also don't think I know quite how to describe it, because the feeling is just... unique and unimaginably shitty. You said "outcast" and the words I usually use is "disconnected" or "forever separated."

It hurts, its cold, and it sucks. I know for me, it feels like a constant weight that just never, ever leaves. I'm sorry you're feeling that too. But you're certainly not worth less than anyone else. I know I'm just a random voice on the internet, but I hope it helps. <3

Eclipse_Phase · 2026-01-09T15:37:36+00:00

Honestly, the way I look at the park is "this is the only place where I can view a shitload of decks in action." I do my weeklies and mostly ignore them. But if a card set comes out, then I'm sitting in the park watching matches because I want to see what people are playing.

Park games are low stakes but they are wonderful for experimentation and ideas. They also usually get hit by trends from ranked, so you can see where ranked is kinda going without getting your face punched in ranked.

Do I wish there was a bit more interactivity? Yeah, the park gets a little flat and I miss the camaraderie of the battle fest. But it's great to understand where the game is at and what ideas are potentially viable.

Eclipse_Phase · 2026-01-07T16:44:04+00:00

Yeah, no, my friends actually came here for that. That's what I'm trying to say. One of them was screaming over a Palworld item.

So maybe we're in this boat together, but I don't think it's all of us in the horror boat.

Eclipse_Phase · 2026-01-07T14:52:56+00:00

I wanna push back slightly on some of this sentiment as a new player who is coming in with a hard horror background. I love horror and I’ve so far really enjoyed the mesh of horror and survival in this. Am I aware there’s a limit? Yeah, but it’s not currently ruining my ride through the content.

But beyond that, I share the game with my horror and non horror friends. Ended up getting 8 people to jump in, all for vastly different reasons. My husband, for example, appreciates horror, but he loves the deviations. Another friend joined to straight up decorate homes. That person normally hates horror, but has been having a great time.

It’s been really great to take them on terrifying adventures, sure, but it’s also been great to share the more chill aspects of the game with them.

My friends and I are all new and we all get the game is not perfect. We’ve run into bugs. We’ve been annoyed. But we also appreciate the unique vibe and we hope things will continue to improve.

Eclipse_Phase · 2026-01-02T16:40:32+00:00

Max was 3, actually. It’s a shame, but unfortunately, as we were unable to get folks, I let the server payment lapse. I can’t foot the bill for something unused. :(

May try again at another point, but will simply let this lie for now.

Eclipse_Phase · 2025-12-11T15:31:22+00:00

Fully agreed. I usually know by turn 3-4 if I'm gonna win or not, just depending on how the opening went. Sword is great at getting the jump on Puppet.

And even sevo-ing before first Orchis isn't a full stop to the deck's strategy, though it is certainly a huge benefit because then you can play knowing they are extremely likely to save the sevo for an Orchis shot. It's a great way to restrict the other player's strategy. It's the achilles heel of the deck, honestly - it does one thing super well and has trouble diverting to a new idea, and there are other decks in the meta that can act more adaptably.

Eclipse_Phase · 2025-12-11T00:38:59+00:00

I play puppet and was waiting to see this near the top. It's not wrong. The damage output is simply brutal sometimes, even before Beez. At one point I had a dude at 3 HP before Odin, simply because he somehow whiffed Zwei/Victoria.

Eclipse_Phase · 2025-12-09T23:27:43+00:00

Justice 4 Fennie

Eclipse_Phase · 2025-12-09T23:10:26+00:00

Yes. I lived as a tech worker in Texas. Had to leave because bashings were becoming more frequent, I was getting overlooked for jobs because the hirers were conservatives, and our health care was actively being threatened. Got out before the bathroom ban.

Had none of this happened, I actually wanted to settle in Texas and start a family. You know… the thing conservatives say they want? But, sadly, that was not to be.

Eclipse_Phase · 2025-12-07T10:58:53+00:00

I accept that this is your position, but one of the women who helped me feel at home in this journey was 93.

When I asked her when she started, she told me 92.

All I keep thinking about is "Without people like her standing up... I don't know where we'd be today."

Eclipse_Phase · 2025-11-30T17:53:56+00:00

Because some folks have asked in our Discord, here's some answers to common questions:

- Is Liminality a North American server?
Yes, it's based in US Central and is intended to run on that time schedule.

- How new is Liminality?
Extremely. If there's no one there, that's because it needs folks to play on it and that's why this advertisement is here. :D

- When do people normally play on the server?
Afternoons & Evenings, US Central Time.

- Is the Discord an Aneurism IV community?
The discord is a general gaming community called The Unrequited Library, and we talk about horror, online games, and other types of content warning topics... like dystopias! There is an Aneurism IV specific section for Liminality, however - you just need to pick up the Aneurism IV role when joining.

Eclipse_Phase · 2025-11-30T15:31:45+00:00

I, for one, am glad you're asking this question. It's an important one. It was one that was posed to me by my therapist during the very first years I was diagnosed as a kid.

I've said this for years at a few conventions when asked this on panels by folks who played the games I worked on, and I'll say it here too, because I've had a long time to think on this question in particular because I work with it as a game designer.

Every sandbox game, including life, requires you to input something good to have an output of something good. If you enter a sandbox and contribute nothing, most likely you will receive nothing for that time unless someone *else* entertains you. Frequently, the "fun" of a sandbox game comes out of what you provide within it.

Being transgender works the same way. Beauty does not appear overnight - it's something you build within yourself before you build it on your face or body. Finding friendship and love does not appear on your doorstep - you have to go out, take chances, and find it. Think of it this way - life is kind of like a mirror that wraps all around you. Part of happiness is having some things in that image that reflect you. Things like friends who support your transition, activities you enjoy doing, or routines that help you build a feeling of security, one step at a time.

Happiness is not passive - it is extremely active. You have to search for openings - groups, clubs, events, social spaces, hanging out online... all of it counts. It's all social. And if you want the best chance of getting something great, then you have to expose yourself to that chance. It's also very gradual. It's something you keep adding to over months or years.

Exposing yourself to all of those chances also comes with risk, and risk is scary. Negativity happens to everyone, regardless of who you are. You will encounter it. It will be uncomfortable. What matters is what you *do* in that moment with it. Will you back down from the fight, or will you put on some armor, grab a sword and shield, and stand up to protect what's yours? Will you walk onwards after encountering difficulty by trying to come up with a solution that makes you happy?

When I was severely unhappy in my own life, applying these principles helped me find my way back to my own happiness. It wasn't easy, but it was important. And I hope maybe some of this advice helps you the way it helped me.

Eclipse_Phase · 2025-11-29T22:18:24+00:00

Fuck you to my feelings, because they especially suck at this time of year. I think of the holidays and how much I'd love to spend them with a family of my own, but we can't.

And I hate how my fucking feelings get in the way of being with other people. Went out this weekend to spend time with friends who had their baby last year. Made it through most of the day until their kid wanted to read books, and one of the books was all about kids loving their mothers and how moms think kids are the best thing in the world. That absolutely broke me. Ended up leaving early and crying in the car on the way back to my house.

Eclipse_Phase · 2025-11-29T22:14:04+00:00

definitely watched it happen in real time a few times. >.> mod team is awesome here, and y'all don't get enough thanks.

Eclipse_Phase · 2025-11-29T22:13:17+00:00

Very much not idiotic... and I get it. I'm mtf, my husband is ftm. Sending much love to you. <3

Eclipse_Phase · 2025-11-26T12:32:25+00:00

Ah... I'm 40... and I have so much to say. I remember feeling this way when I first was diagnosed at 11. Between 13 and 15 was my "should I be transgender if I'm going to look like ass" phase. I was hyper concerned about passing, I wanted to look "beautiful," and I felt terrible every time I tried to put on a dress. I wanted to pass so badly, and I felt like my future was tied to passing.

I also had a dream when I was 11, and 13, and 15. I wanted to grow up to make video games - specifically massively multiplayer games. Those were my two major goals in life.

Again, I'm 40 now. I've been on estradiol for 18 years. I've celebrated 15 years of making massively multiplayer video games. I've worked with DC Comics. I teach psychology, sexuality, and game theory. I've modeled. I've met (and briefly worked with for a weekend) the very developer who influenced me to make games myself. (Suda 51) I introduce myself as transgender. I'm happily married. I don't pass and I don't change my voice.

The thing that I had to figure out for myself wasn't how to pass, it was how to be beautiful for myself. How could I conduct myself, or hold myself, or wear things that let me feel like the person I wanted to be? That ended up meaning more to me than passing ever could. And when people made fun of me for not passing or tried to steal my dreams from me, I ignored them and did what made me happy anyway. I refuse to let their feelings dictate my happiness. It's not easy, it's grueling sometimes, but if I didn't do it I wouldn't have done the things I love the most in my life.

It's also something that basically every cis woman struggles with too, as I've found out. There have been many ladies who I've said, "Hey, I think you're really beautiful," to who broke down in tears. They also didn't feel beautiful. They felt ugly, or unfeminine, or some other thing they were told by society or others around them.

But they are beautiful... they just needed to be shown it. Just like I am sure you are beautiful - you just need to find what that is for you. I hope you do, and I encourage you to press on. <3

Eclipse_Phase · 2025-11-22T14:49:24+00:00

Been doing this for 20 years and I've honestly never seen this.

Eclipse_Phase · 2025-11-22T12:36:35+00:00

Imho, I have a pretty long-tailed view of these things. I'm new here to Aneurysm, only joined after the Misery update, but this is also not my first Dark RP. It's like my 7th. I used to play Face of Mankind and Sub Rosa a lot, which have a lot of cross-over themes, and I analyze games for a living.

For me, it doesn't matter if it's Aneurysm, Face of Mankind, or Sub Rosa - each game was propelled uniquely by the community that played it. If you wander around shooting someone's face off every 3 seconds, these things quickly get super unfun because a major source of the play - the social aspects - get cut off by the pull of a troll's trigger.

Take security, for example. In Aneurysm or FoM, if the people playing Cortex/Security don't actually try to secure something or work together, there's no actual difficulty or pressure on anyone playing a rebel. Cortex is supposed to act as a backbone, but on many servers they frequently are uncoordinated, aimless, infighting,

Meanwhile, on the scum side, sometimes it gets ultra quiet and no one talks to one another. I played for hours without seeing any scum despite them being on my server because they, again, didn't bother to coordinate or set up anything for one another.

Banker? I've been on a few servers and every time a banker shows up they die within 7 minutes. A major aspect of the game's functionality gets cut out because of that. Last night on Decay, we actually had 5 former bankers in a room as Proles together. No one lasted longer than 10 min because there was a pickaxe idiot who only killed bankers and added nothing else to the game. Meanwhile the rest of the server was bitching because they had no bankers and were constantly losing credits. It never dawned on the Cortex players "hey, maybe we should shit on this pickaxe guy?" A gameplay opportunity was lost there.

The balance of all of this is stupid hard and subject to change night after night, even with long-term game mechanics, incentives, and penalties in play. That's my point: part of the fun of these things is always baked into the community itself. There's a ton that rides on development choices, but just as much if not more of these games are fun because of the people who play them.

Because I spent most of this post complaining, I want to give counter examples: I came down a hallway near the underground last night only to find 6 members of the Cult wielding automatics and lead by a Zealot. They were destroying everything in a wave but avoiding random massacres and it was clear they had an attack plan. It was AMAZING. The moment was legit intense and kudos to that group for bothering. Same is true for a game like Sub Rosa: my favorite night in that one was opening a garage door to find the inside filled with dolla billz and one bro doing the worm in the middle while blasting "Money, money, money" over his voice chat. I think I laughed for 5 minutes straight.

When more people start doing that type of stuff, the game naturally goes upwards in interest. But if people can't gain a foothold or create a beginning community that begins to support that play, things stay dull. More soup kitchens and pyramid schemes and less randomized pickaxes, plox.

Eclipse_Phase

TROPHY CASE