• gender self-identification (was: Re: Pearls Before Swine: Word Of The Y

    From Phillip Helbig (undress to reply@21:1/5 to you on Sat Jan 1 19:53:45 2022
    XPost: rec.arts.sf.written

    From: AAAAAA::HELBIG "Phillip Helbig" 1-JAN-2022 20:50:12.48
    To: SMTP%"lispamateur@crommatograph.info"
    CC: HELBIG
    Subj: Re: Pearls Before Swine: Word Of The Year

    In article <d8wpzncqjs3h.dlg@mid.crommatograph.info>, you write:

    You're "team TERF"? All right, noted, and 10-foot pole put into business >>>> position.

    Calling someone with a another position a name intended to be derogatory >>> is usually a sign that you have no valid arguments.

    I'm not name-calling here, but quoting a self-characterization of
    Chappelle's from exactly the context that Lynn has expressed agreement
    to.

    I'm referring to the use of "team TERF".

    Yes. In case you missed it, Chappelle said "I'm team TERF".

    Who said:

    You're "team TERF"? All right, noted, and 10-foot pole put into business position.

    To which others commented, how would he feel if I said "I'm team KKK".

    In case you missed it, Chappelle is a comedian.

    The problem is that you use "woman" in two different senses. In this
    discussion, you use it to mean "person with the typical anatomy
    associated with XX chromosomes", but then, when you go out into the
    world, assuming you're a sensible and polite person, you'll extend the
    term to people with an appearance or demeanor that is considered
    "feminine" by society, and to at least most people who tell you they're
    women. So why not use a more accurate term in the first case, like
    "person with female anatomy" or, to the point, "person with a uterus"?

    Because it is stupid. Anyone who thinks that appearance and demeanor is what determines if one is a man or a woman, in any sense, apparently
    wants to go back to the gender stereotypes of the 1950s and earlier, throwing out all the progress, emancipation, and so on since then.

    I see where you're coming from, and I don't like it myself, but it's the
    only way I get people not to address me as "Sir". When I'm alone at
    home, I don't care what I wear, I know I don't fit in those silly boxes
    of "man" and "woman", but they are so deeply ingrained in society that
    we have to make concessions. Which is to say no, not that much progress
    has been made to *ignore* the difference, as in not categorize every
    person at first glance, as in not use "Sir" or "Ma'am", "Ms" and "Mr",
    "he" and "she" at all, or I would've been able to continue living as a
    "man who doesn't fit any of the stereotypes", but it became unbearable.
    Being addressed as "Ma'am" is not ideal to me, but it's a bit better.

    If being called "Sir" is your biggest problem, then congratulations.
    How about a button "don't call me `sir'"? If that is a problem, why is
    using THE SAME OUTDATED TRADITIONS to get people to call you "Ma'am" an improvement?

    Sure, you can have any demeanor or appearance you want, but what is
    gained by claiming to be something you are not as well?

    I am certainly not what "a man" is in society.

    A man, according to almost everyone on the planet, is a person with XY chromosomes and associated anatomy.

    Gender is real indeed,
    gender as opposed to sex, gender as a social category. As long as there
    is gender segregation, which I wish there wasn't, I simply fit in much
    better with the women (even though I don't claim that title, but the
    most important thing is that I'm not a man, anatomy be damned.) And I've
    been quite well received in many women circles, and I feel at ease,
    where in men's circles, I was so often on edge.

    I have more women friends than men friends. I feel more comfortable
    with them. But I am a straight "cis" man. Why should I have to
    identify as something else in order to spend my time with people I get
    along with?

    I remember when there were tom-boys who were also heterosexual girls
    (and very attractive to some heterosexual boys) and dandies who were
    neither gay nor trans. Why not just let people be people and not try to redefine words already in use and, in the process, re-inforce 1950s
    gender roles?

    If I put on a uniform and identify as a general, should I have access to the pentagon?

    That is very different. Who can show a certificate of having done all
    the courses, exams and internships to qualify as woman or man?

    That's the point. You can't.

    Not at all. Discrimination isn't done by penises, it's done by "the
    dicks attached to them" (as a gay guy once complained in a different context). It's a subset of men who behave in bad and gross ways that
    society has suggested to them ("boys will be boys") or at least allowed
    them to do as men. And there are even some trans men among them. And I
    can't stand being associated with them in any way.

    You are wrong. Where there is segregation, such as toilets, changing
    rooms, etc., it is done on the basis of biological men and women,
    regardless of how they behave.

    rapists identifying as women to be moved to women's prisons, etc.).

    But that can't be an argument to put all the real trans women in men's prisons, where they're predetermined to be victims of rape and violence.

    It works the other way as well. If you can't do the time, don't do the
    crime.

    In most cases it's not that difficult to see if such a
    self-identification is credible.

    The whole point is the credibility is no longer a criterion. Self-identification is the ONLY thing that is allowed to matter.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From J. Clarke@21:1/5 to All on Sat Jan 1 16:00:08 2022
    XPost: rec.arts.sf.written

    On Sat, 1 Jan 2022 19:53:45 -0000 (UTC),
    helbig@asclothestro.multivax.de (Phillip Helbig (undress to reply))
    wrote:

    From: AAAAAA::HELBIG "Phillip Helbig" 1-JAN-2022 20:50:12.48
    To: SMTP%"lispamateur@crommatograph.info"
    CC: HELBIG
    Subj: Re: Pearls Before Swine: Word Of The Year

    In article <d8wpzncqjs3h.dlg@mid.crommatograph.info>, you write:

    You're "team TERF"? All right, noted, and 10-foot pole put into business
    position.

    Calling someone with a another position a name intended to be derogatory >> >>> is usually a sign that you have no valid arguments.

    I'm not name-calling here, but quoting a self-characterization of
    Chappelle's from exactly the context that Lynn has expressed agreement
    to.

    I'm referring to the use of "team TERF".

    Yes. In case you missed it, Chappelle said "I'm team TERF".

    Who said:

    You're "team TERF"? All right, noted, and 10-foot pole put into business position.

    To which others commented, how would he feel if I said "I'm team KKK".

    In case you missed it, Chappelle is a comedian.

    The problem is that you use "woman" in two different senses. In this
    discussion, you use it to mean "person with the typical anatomy
    associated with XX chromosomes", but then, when you go out into the
    world, assuming you're a sensible and polite person, you'll extend the
    term to people with an appearance or demeanor that is considered
    "feminine" by society, and to at least most people who tell you they're >> >> women. So why not use a more accurate term in the first case, like
    "person with female anatomy" or, to the point, "person with a uterus"?

    Because it is stupid. Anyone who thinks that appearance and demeanor is >> > what determines if one is a man or a woman, in any sense, apparently
    wants to go back to the gender stereotypes of the 1950s and earlier,
    throwing out all the progress, emancipation, and so on since then.

    I see where you're coming from, and I don't like it myself, but it's the
    only way I get people not to address me as "Sir". When I'm alone at
    home, I don't care what I wear, I know I don't fit in those silly boxes
    of "man" and "woman", but they are so deeply ingrained in society that
    we have to make concessions. Which is to say no, not that much progress
    has been made to *ignore* the difference, as in not categorize every
    person at first glance, as in not use "Sir" or "Ma'am", "Ms" and "Mr",
    "he" and "she" at all, or I would've been able to continue living as a
    "man who doesn't fit any of the stereotypes", but it became unbearable.
    Being addressed as "Ma'am" is not ideal to me, but it's a bit better.

    If being called "Sir" is your biggest problem, then congratulations.
    How about a button "don't call me `sir'"? If that is a problem, why is
    using THE SAME OUTDATED TRADITIONS to get people to call you "Ma'am" an >improvement?

    Sure, you can have any demeanor or appearance you want, but what is
    gained by claiming to be something you are not as well?

    I am certainly not what "a man" is in society.

    A man, according to almost everyone on the planet, is a person with XY >chromosomes and associated anatomy.

    Gender is real indeed,
    gender as opposed to sex, gender as a social category. As long as there
    is gender segregation, which I wish there wasn't, I simply fit in much
    better with the women (even though I don't claim that title, but the
    most important thing is that I'm not a man, anatomy be damned.) And I've
    been quite well received in many women circles, and I feel at ease,
    where in men's circles, I was so often on edge.

    I have more women friends than men friends. I feel more comfortable
    with them. But I am a straight "cis" man. Why should I have to
    identify as something else in order to spend my time with people I get
    along with?

    I remember when there were tom-boys who were also heterosexual girls
    (and very attractive to some heterosexual boys)

    One of those currently appears to be making a very nice living as an
    influencer on Youtube (evidence of nice living--she owns a house, a
    separate shop, and a half a dozen cars one of which is a Ferrari and
    not because her daddy's rich; evidence of tomboyism--she can weld
    titanium and not because it's her job).

    and dandies who were
    neither gay nor trans. Why not just let people be people and not try to >redefine words already in use and, in the process, re-inforce 1950s
    gender roles?

    If I put on a uniform and identify as a general, should I have access to >> > the pentagon?

    That is very different. Who can show a certificate of having done all
    the courses, exams and internships to qualify as woman or man?

    That's the point. You can't.

    Not at all. Discrimination isn't done by penises, it's done by "the
    dicks attached to them" (as a gay guy once complained in a different
    context). It's a subset of men who behave in bad and gross ways that
    society has suggested to them ("boys will be boys") or at least allowed
    them to do as men. And there are even some trans men among them. And I
    can't stand being associated with them in any way.

    You are wrong. Where there is segregation, such as toilets, changing
    rooms, etc., it is done on the basis of biological men and women,
    regardless of how they behave.

    Not necessarily. I understand that Thailand handles it as "Men",
    "Women", and "Other". In the very woke company where I work, you're
    whatever you say you are for that purpose. Personally I think the
    bathroom labeling should be changed from "Men" and "Women" to
    "Penises" and "non-penises" or words to that effect.

    rapists identifying as women to be moved to women's prisons, etc.).

    But that can't be an argument to put all the real trans women in men's
    prisons, where they're predetermined to be victims of rape and violence.

    It works the other way as well. If you can't do the time, don't do the >crime.

    Yep. If you want to be treated as male don't complain when you get
    locked up with a bunch of convicted rapists.

    In most cases it's not that difficult to see if such a
    self-identification is credible.

    The whole point is the credibility is no longer a criterion. >Self-identification is the ONLY thing that is allowed to matter.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Phillip Helbig (undress to reply@21:1/5 to jclarke.873638@gmail.com on Sat Jan 1 21:53:46 2022
    XPost: rec.arts.sf.written

    In article <cjf1tgdknpadpduecpu69v3dj42339s3ru@4ax.com>, J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> writes:

    Not necessarily. I understand that Thailand handles it as "Men",
    "Women", and "Other".

    I wouldn't mind that. But the "transwomen are women" crowd (there
    doesn't seem to be a similar "transmen are men" crowd) would want to be
    in the "women" category, not the "other category".

    Personally I think the
    bathroom labeling should be changed from "Men" and "Women" to
    "Penises" and "non-penises" or words to that effect.

    What would that accomplish? The "transwomen are women" crowd would not
    accept it.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From J. Clarke@21:1/5 to All on Sat Jan 1 22:48:25 2022
    XPost: rec.arts.sf.written

    On Sat, 1 Jan 2022 21:53:46 -0000 (UTC),
    helbig@asclothestro.multivax.de (Phillip Helbig (undress to reply))
    wrote:

    In article <cjf1tgdknpadpduecpu69v3dj42339s3ru@4ax.com>, J. Clarke ><jclarke.873638@gmail.com> writes:

    Not necessarily. I understand that Thailand handles it as "Men",
    "Women", and "Other".

    I wouldn't mind that. But the "transwomen are women" crowd (there
    doesn't seem to be a similar "transmen are men" crowd) would want to be
    in the "women" category, not the "other category".

    The Thais don't give them a choice.

    Personally I think the
    bathroom labeling should be changed from "Men" and "Women" to
    "Penises" and "non-penises" or words to that effect.

    What would that accomplish? The "transwomen are women" crowd would not >accept it.

    It changes the issue from gender to anatomy.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Your Name@21:1/5 to J. Clarke on Sun Jan 2 19:25:47 2022
    XPost: rec.arts.sf.written

    On 2022-01-02 03:48:25 +0000, J. Clarke said:
    On Sat, 1 Jan 2022 21:53:46 -0000 (UTC),
    helbig@asclothestro.multivax.de (Phillip Helbig (undress to reply))
    wrote:
    In article <cjf1tgdknpadpduecpu69v3dj42339s3ru@4ax.com>, J. Clarke
    <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> writes:

    Not necessarily. I understand that Thailand handles it as "Men",
    "Women", and "Other".

    I wouldn't mind that. But the "transwomen are women" crowd (there
    doesn't seem to be a similar "transmen are men" crowd) would want to be
    in the "women" category, not the "other category".

    The Thais don't give them a choice.

    Personally I think the bathroom labeling should be changed from "Men"
    and "Women" to "Penises" and "non-penises" or words to that effect.

    What would that accomplish? The "transwomen are women" crowd would not
    accept it.

    It changes the issue from gender to anatomy.

    Gender *is* anatomy, always has been always will be. People can believe whatever they want in their heads, but with a few very rare exceptions,
    babies are born either male or female, and it simply is not possible to
    change that ... short of full head transplant surgery.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Paul S Person@21:1/5 to jclarke.873638@gmail.com on Sun Jan 2 10:03:35 2022
    XPost: rec.arts.sf.written

    On Sat, 01 Jan 2022 16:00:08 -0500, J. Clarke
    <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> wrote:

    <snippo>

    Not necessarily. I understand that Thailand handles it as "Men",
    "Women", and "Other". In the very woke company where I work, you're
    whatever you say you are for that purpose. Personally I think the
    bathroom labeling should be changed from "Men" and "Women" to
    "Penises" and "non-penises" or words to that effect.

    How about the lables in Donald E. Westlake's Dortmunder novels for a
    bar the gang meets in:

    Setters
    Pointers
    --
    "I begin to envy Petronius."
    "I have envied him long since."

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)