I hope you enjoyed your time in Adelaide. I was sorry to have missed the conference. Thank you so much for autographing a copy of the programme for me. And thank you for making your keynote available to your subscribers. I have also used the Tooth Fairy when teaching the Methodology of Science. “What is the mechanism?”, can be asked about all forms of pseudoscience, like astrology and homeopathy, but also the claim that so called trans kids have been born in the wrong body. I want to know what it is that has been somehow inserted in the body of a foetus in the womb and how this insertion has occurred. Asking that makes me a scientist or a transphobe depending on your belief in the Gender Fairy.
'... Well, the people working in gender medicine are performing the rituals of medicine:... ' as happens with 'cargo cults' - religious and social movements, mainly in Pacific Island societies post-World War II, involving 'rituals' that mimic Western behaviours, like building airstrips out of bamboo, to attract material goods ("cargo").
Helen I am looking forward to reading the rest. What I like so far is the drilling down into the essence of what is driving this gender delusion. The conversation about the fact of the delusion is important but the why of the delusion needs to be exposed. It is helpful for those needing to combat this to understand it’s essence but also for those proponents to be faced with the reality of their decisions and choices. This goes beyond rhetoric which is sorely needed. Keep going Helen! You are the right woman at the right time.
The term "queer", as used today, really frosts my cookies. Back in the 80s, when I was coming of age, that was a slur for gay people. I understand that usages change, but I still blink when I hear that word.
Also, it's supremely irritating that both a "polyamorous" man and I are both defined as queer. I'm attracted to men, dated men, and married a man, but a guy with two girlfriends is somehow *less* heterosexual?
Some days I wish that "queer" were STILL a slur. I'd rather just be insulted openly.
I agree wholeheartedly with the tooth fairy hypothesis. It’s a framing error.
If you start with the hypothesis that these men have:
A drive to hide their sex by compulsively imitating the opposite sex
It provides a wonderfully rational explanation for everything from the word “gender” (hiding sex), to grooming, language, delusion, and violence.
It is all 100% in service of hiding their sex, including the higher levels of organization of inducing cooperative sex masking in medicine, law, language, and social systems.
Why? Because in doing so they avoid male aggression and gain access to female enclaves.
Where did this behavior come from?
Humans evolved in ways which made the behavior quite easy. The behavior is present in many animals, and studied in different biological sciences.
It’s called sex mimicry.
Studying tooth fairy optimization fails when you don’t grasp its about the parent.
Studying “transgender” fails if you don’t grasp it’s only about hiding actual sex. Being the opposite sex is an impossibility, as is the existence of a tooth fairy.
Gender is as fictitious as humours, pixies, and aether.
I look forward, as do others, to parts 2 and 3. I hope the lecture is posted YouTube -- I enjoy your speaking cadence, your warm and sensible voice.
Always, too, a new argument, another approach to the seemingly trivial yet vexingly important notion of gender and "gender medicine". Trivial because we want to focus on real and urgent questions of medicine but important because it's so wrong, hurtful, and pervasive. The melding of Judith Butler' over-rated notions onto "gender medicine" and its quicksand foundations is suitable..
Harriet Hall: and Tooth Fairy science -- just so. You've mentioned her before and I believe I've commented on this maybe a different venue but -- Oh! How she is missed! I sought her writing she was with Science Based Medicine. If the ever was an example of -- Gender Breaks Everything -- it was the censorship of her views by colleagues on that site. That really bummed me out, as we say in the PacN-West. Science Based Medicine has been an invaluable resource in the struggle against cranks and quacks (credentialed or not) for many years. But, in these critical times, credibility damaged by trans ideology.
By the way, I think there's typo: "...only ever had girlfriends and ever boyfriends,..." I think it might read: "...never boyfriends,..." (what, only one typo?)
I hope you enjoyed your time in Adelaide. I was sorry to have missed the conference. Thank you so much for autographing a copy of the programme for me. And thank you for making your keynote available to your subscribers. I have also used the Tooth Fairy when teaching the Methodology of Science. “What is the mechanism?”, can be asked about all forms of pseudoscience, like astrology and homeopathy, but also the claim that so called trans kids have been born in the wrong body. I want to know what it is that has been somehow inserted in the body of a foetus in the womb and how this insertion has occurred. Asking that makes me a scientist or a transphobe depending on your belief in the Gender Fairy.
Excellent paper, Helen. New and insightful thoughts, as ever!
The logic here is impeccable. I have restacked, and I look forward immensely to parts 2 and 3.
'... Well, the people working in gender medicine are performing the rituals of medicine:... ' as happens with 'cargo cults' - religious and social movements, mainly in Pacific Island societies post-World War II, involving 'rituals' that mimic Western behaviours, like building airstrips out of bamboo, to attract material goods ("cargo").
Helen I am looking forward to reading the rest. What I like so far is the drilling down into the essence of what is driving this gender delusion. The conversation about the fact of the delusion is important but the why of the delusion needs to be exposed. It is helpful for those needing to combat this to understand it’s essence but also for those proponents to be faced with the reality of their decisions and choices. This goes beyond rhetoric which is sorely needed. Keep going Helen! You are the right woman at the right time.
Jane
This is great, thanks, and totally on-point.
The term "queer", as used today, really frosts my cookies. Back in the 80s, when I was coming of age, that was a slur for gay people. I understand that usages change, but I still blink when I hear that word.
Also, it's supremely irritating that both a "polyamorous" man and I are both defined as queer. I'm attracted to men, dated men, and married a man, but a guy with two girlfriends is somehow *less* heterosexual?
Some days I wish that "queer" were STILL a slur. I'd rather just be insulted openly.
I agree wholeheartedly with the tooth fairy hypothesis. It’s a framing error.
If you start with the hypothesis that these men have:
A drive to hide their sex by compulsively imitating the opposite sex
It provides a wonderfully rational explanation for everything from the word “gender” (hiding sex), to grooming, language, delusion, and violence.
It is all 100% in service of hiding their sex, including the higher levels of organization of inducing cooperative sex masking in medicine, law, language, and social systems.
Why? Because in doing so they avoid male aggression and gain access to female enclaves.
Where did this behavior come from?
Humans evolved in ways which made the behavior quite easy. The behavior is present in many animals, and studied in different biological sciences.
It’s called sex mimicry.
Studying tooth fairy optimization fails when you don’t grasp its about the parent.
Studying “transgender” fails if you don’t grasp it’s only about hiding actual sex. Being the opposite sex is an impossibility, as is the existence of a tooth fairy.
Gender is as fictitious as humours, pixies, and aether.
I look forward, as do others, to parts 2 and 3. I hope the lecture is posted YouTube -- I enjoy your speaking cadence, your warm and sensible voice.
Always, too, a new argument, another approach to the seemingly trivial yet vexingly important notion of gender and "gender medicine". Trivial because we want to focus on real and urgent questions of medicine but important because it's so wrong, hurtful, and pervasive. The melding of Judith Butler' over-rated notions onto "gender medicine" and its quicksand foundations is suitable..
Harriet Hall: and Tooth Fairy science -- just so. You've mentioned her before and I believe I've commented on this maybe a different venue but -- Oh! How she is missed! I sought her writing she was with Science Based Medicine. If the ever was an example of -- Gender Breaks Everything -- it was the censorship of her views by colleagues on that site. That really bummed me out, as we say in the PacN-West. Science Based Medicine has been an invaluable resource in the struggle against cranks and quacks (credentialed or not) for many years. But, in these critical times, credibility damaged by trans ideology.
By the way, I think there's typo: "...only ever had girlfriends and ever boyfriends,..." I think it might read: "...never boyfriends,..." (what, only one typo?)
Really great take down of the pseudo-science , thanks, Helen.
Wish I could have been there!!!!!!! Instead I was at the Battle of Ideas 😊
Have cross posted
https://dustymasterson.substack.com/p/chinatown-maybe-you-even-get-close
Dusty