Public acceptance

[BabyJohn]

I was in Walmart the other day and I saw a gentleman who was about 6'2" and dressed as a woman, he was quite obvously a man dressed in drag. People looked at him, shrugged and turned away and went about there shopping. It got me to thinking why is is if you are a guy dressed as a woman, you are accepted by the public, they may not like or agree awith it but they do accept it. If I went out in public dressed as a toddler in a onsie and shortalls or such, I think there is a very real possibilitty that someone would call the local police in and have me arrested. So basically my question is why can a man go out dressed as a woman and have no issues, but if he were dressed as a toddler he would be shunned and an outcast?
John

 

[Wegs]

Cross dressers are better known then ABs. Most people are at least familiar with the concept of a man dressed as a woman then a man dressed as a toddler. Also, a surprising number of people would believe ABs are pedos (A 48 year old man walking around in only a diaper? Does the guy have something for babies ?) and pedos will NEVER be accepted in society the way cross dressers, trans-gendered people, etc. are, if at all.

 

[Butterfly Mage]

I agree. Even though the overwhelming majority of ABs are NOT pedophiles, to the mainstream person, that is what they might think if they saw a grown man dressed like a toddler.

 

[soren456]

Cross dressers are better known then ABs. Most people are at least familiar with the concept of a man dressed as a woman then a man dressed as a toddler. Also, a surprising number of people would believe ABs are pedos (A 48 year old man walking around in only a diaper? Does the guy have something for babies ?) and pedos will NEVER be accepted in society the way cross dressers, trans-gendered people, etc. are, if at all.

I'd agree pretty much. But I'd add a couple things.

First, I'm sure that the "tolerance" for the cross-dresser was actually very thin. Had he tried to use the women's restroom, or wanted to try on a dress or some other thing beyond just being in the store, I think he'd have been stopped and probably escorted out.

Second, the OP (BabyJohn) is "sure" he would be arrested if he dressed as a toddler in public. I doubt it. I'm sure he'd be looked at, like the cross-dresser, but otherwise left alone. If he approached kids or some such thing, he might be cautioned--by cops or by those present. But I seriously doubt that he would be arrested just for dressing like a toddler. And there's no basis for an arrest anyway.

 

[Tsendo]

I'm going to raise the point that not all women who look like men are actually men. If the person in question is actually a woman it could create a very awkward situation if someone confronted her about her appearance.

 

[NEJay]

If I went out in public dressed as a toddler in a onsie and shortalls or such, I think there is a very real possibilitty that someone would call the local police in and have me arrested.

Not at all! :smile:

I've been out with a onesie and shortalls many times before (normally around something calling for the occasion, like Boston pride or Halloween, but other times as well), and have never encountered anything aside from girls saying it's "soooo cute!"... If anything at all. I wore this:

last fall down in FL to a store to get drinks before going to a party, and it was a riot! The dude behind the register couldn't stop laughing from the commotion we were making.

Unless you're taking the fetish into a realm that is a bit overboard (I'm thinking guys in frilly dresses and diapers, dom/sub type stuff, diaper exposure, etc.), I don't see the problem. If you're wearing shortalls/overalls in a public setting, you'll probably be looked at as a goof anyways... People remember them as something from the '80s, and not "OMG, that's a fetish sicko".

We will never get general "public acceptance" like the gay populace, for example, strives to do... The diaper thing is a fetish, and not a "way of life", and as such will be a counterculture just like other fetishes are; That is, interesting to only those that participate.

 

[Rissy]

If you wanna wear babyish clothes in public it's fine... People will look at you strangely for your choice of fashion, but they aren't necessarily going to care. It's when it's fetish-like that you're being a pervert. I think what matters is how much it flows on you, and how consistent you are. If you dress up babyishly, shave or wax or something. Hairyness is not babyish. And try to look cute. People call the police if you're creepy looking, not if you're just wearing something weird.

Besides... how do you know they were a crossdresser and not a transsexual?

 

[Calico]

I was in Walmart the other day and I saw a gentleman who was about 6'2" and dressed as a woman, he was quite obvously a man dressed in drag. People looked at him, shrugged and turned away and went about there shopping. It got me to thinking why is is if you are a guy dressed as a woman, you are accepted by the public, they may not like or agree awith it but they do accept it. If I went out in public dressed as a toddler in a onsie and shortalls or such, I think there is a very real possibilitty that someone would call the local police in and have me arrested. So basically my question is why can a man go out dressed as a woman and have no issues, but if he were dressed as a toddler he would be shunned and an outcast?
John

Because they are igorant and narrow and stupid. Most people think dressing up as a toddler means pedophile. Dressing up as a woman doesn't spell out pedophile to them because it's accepted to be sexually attracted to women. People who dress up as babies or kids think they are sexually attracted to them.

 

[MissMimi]

If you wanna wear babyish clothes in public it's fine... People will look at you strangely for your choice of fashion, but they aren't necessarily going to care. It's when it's fetish-like that you're being a pervert. I think what matters is how much it flows on you, and how consistent you are. If you dress up babyishly, shave or wax or something. Hairyness is not babyish. And try to look cute. People call the police if you're creepy looking, not if you're just wearing something weird.

Besides... how do you know they were a crossdresser and not a transsexual?

What exactly is a transsexual? I've been told it's different than crossdressing, but I don't understand what it is yet.

 

[aj1983]

What exactly is a transsexual? I've been told it's different than crossdressing, but I don't understand what it is yet.

A transsexual would be someone who wants to be the opposite sex, whereas a crossdresser would just be someone who likes to wear the opposite sex's clothes but not wanting to become that sex. (at least i think thats how it goes, i'm sure some will be along with a better explanation soon) :smile1:

Edit: just thought i'd add the links to the wikipedia pages about transgendered and transexuals cause i really didnt know what the differences were either :smile1:

 

[Wegs]

A transsexual would be someone who wants to be the opposite sex, whereas a crossdresser would just be someone who likes to wear the opposite sex's clothes but not wanting to become that sex. (at least i think thats how it goes, i'm sure some will be along with a better explanation soon) :smile1:

I believe that is correct.

I see toad flu has spread once more thanks to your avatar
All hail Hypnotoad.

 

[Mesmerale]

I believe that is correct.

I see toad flu has spread once more thanks to your avatar
All hail Hypnotoad.

I will second the correctness of that statement. It sounded pretty good to me.

All hail Hypnotoad! Ruler of rulers! King of kings! Toad of toads!

 

[dangermouse]

Second, the OP (BabyJohn) is "sure" he would be arrested if he dressed as a toddler in public. I doubt it. I'm sure he'd be looked at, like the cross-dresser, but otherwise left alone. If he approached kids or some such thing, he might be cautioned--by cops or by those present. But I seriously doubt that he would be arrested just for dressing like a toddler. And there's no basis for an arrest anyway.

Don't know about US, but in Britain if he was just wearing a nappy/diaper and nothing else that would likely be grounds for indecent exposure, an arrestable offence.

And the way things are here, if it's not a crime, it soon will be if the moral crusaders get their way (which they usually do). It's virtually a crime for an adult to be in the presence of a child. Give it a few years and I'm sure it will be! (okay slight tongue in cheek there, but the point is things are getting that bad here).

Anyway, here someone dressed as a toddler would likely get some very bad attention from members of the public, and possible abuse. A cross dresser would just get curious looks and nothing more.

 

[Butterfly Mage]

I'm pretty sure that running around in just a diaper would be considered indecent exposure. Going outside wearing adult-sized toddler clothing would only get you weird looks.

 

[Rissy]

Wearing adult-sized toddler clothing will get you about the same attention as cross-dressing. People report creepy people, not people dressing weirdly, unless they're acting suspicious.

I guess you just need to be in touch with reality. Then you'll look like someone with a weird fashion sense, not some creepy sex offender/mental patient.

 

[wwetbed]

even myspace seems prejudiced against the ab/dl community:

note: diapers and wearing diapers aint illegal anywhere that i know of...

seems drunk driving is more condoned in this "society"...

 

[Fire2box]

even myspace seems prejudiced against the ab/dl community:

note: diapers and wearing diapers aint illegal anywhere that i know of...

seems drunk driving is more condoned in this "society"...

I highly doubt that it is. People just don't know about us and what they do know from show's like CSI and Jerry Springer is bad things. Even Tara Bank's most likely had a negative impact even if they discussed it maturely. It's just that they don't understand it from our point of view. They just see people wanting to sit in pissed filled diapers, us on the other hand might just want to go back to a easier time and it's not like we are drinking to end the day.

Yes I bought a bottle of rum and it's nearly half way gone in under a week, I still haven't got really drunk of it. I mainly got it just because I could.