AIBU to be disappointed that not every ( active ) member of MN has not taken part in the Olympic committee's trans policy poll thread?

[SurferJet]

It would take two minutes & you have 3 choices - support, protest. abstain.

What's stopping everyone taking part?

I haven't voted. I see both sides of the argument. I don't feel passionately either way. I could vote to abstain on the thread but a) can't see the point, and b) feel like the thread will end up being used as a 'directory' of individual posters' views on the issue and be used as reference on other threads.

I'm also concerned that the data collected will be used to pressure MNHQ into campaigning on this and I don't consent to my contribution being used that way.

Mackrel, if you are worried that an abstain vote (or any vote, in fact) would be held against you in this evil-intentioned database, why are you sharing your view on this thread? you do know that the people who were counting votes can still read your opinion on here?

In fact, the poll thread is in chat and will be deleted in 90days, this one is in aibu and permenant. So all you have done by sharing your abstain here rather than on the chat thread is make your opinion available to search for even longer!

So it's happened, someone actually has made a spreadsheet on MN'ers !

BeyondBootcampsAgain - but that thread is pretty much just a list of usernames and votes, hence my 'directory' comment. I realise that anything written on MN could potentially be gathered on a spreadsheet. I don't actually mind my position (or lack thereof) being known, it's the ease and speed with which anyone can scroll down that thread and scan for anyone who doesn't protest and extrapolate based on that.

I never said anything about evil intentions. Not consenting to something doesn't mean you think it's evil...

I was joking based on the previous posts about it. Ah never mind, it clearly didnt come across well in writing

I have a sense of humour failure this year today, which probably didn't help.

I'd love to see Usaine Bolt come out as a Transwoman, compete and win, blow the women off the track. Hiim, silver and bronze - all transwomen on the podium. I'm thinking that's what it's going to take for people to take notice.

That's the whole point, though, isn't it, it's never going to happen. Which is why this isn't exactly the major issue that some want it to be.

It could happen, but he'd have to have had hormonal therapy for at least one year and his testosterone levels would have to stay below the magic 10. Then he wouldn't be able to return to the male competition for at least 4 years.
I've actually read the ruling since I last posted.

I suppose it could be appealing to a lesser male athlete, but only one who really wanted to be a woman or woman like.
Otoh, it's kind of good news for women with high testosterone levels, as they can compete, or compete in the male category.

I can see Rhonda Rousey (forgot the spelling) beating up a few men at MMA. (OK, not an Olympic sport)

Has anyone ever been suspected of trying to get into the paralympics rather than olympics? Is that a parallel to transitioning purely to compete against women?

Why are you so deeply invested in dismissing people's legitimate concerns about this, Veritat?

Venus, here's the thing about discussion. Expressing a view that is at variance with that of others involved in the discussion is what we call debate. It is not automatically being "deeply invested" in "dismissing" their concerns, whether legitimate or otherwise.

On the other hand, trying to suppress debate by seeking to attribute some odd or sinister motivation to the fact that someone doesn't share your opinions is really quite worrying, and tends to demonstrate the weakness of your arguments.

On the other hand, trying to suppress debate by seeking to attribute some odd or sinister motivation to the fact that someone doesn't share your opinions is really quite worrying, and tends to demonstrate the weakness of your arguments.

Did I do that? I rather thought I just asked a question. Very happy to debate it with you at length.

Which is why this isn't exactly the major issue that some want it to be.

Now who's speculating on others' motives?

You didn't "just ask a question", venus, you made a statement that I was "deeply invested" and asked why. Face it, no-one says that without pejorative intent.

Splendide as far as i'm aware (being a disabled person who is not elligible for the paralympics) the participants conditions are not self defined, they are all diagnosed by doctors, so no, i dont think anyone has tried to get in to cheat. Gender would be different though, especially as more countries move towards self-definition.

You didn't "just ask a question", venus, you made a statement that I was "deeply invested" and asked why.

Because you made your unfounded assumptions that people wanted there to be a major issue when they knew it wasn't, rather than that they merely had legitimate concerns that they wished to discuss (and which you see fit to dismiss out of hand).

Good to see that you're nitpicking on the word "invested" rather than "dismissed" though. Because you haven't really got a leg to stand on there.

I will never, ever understand why winning is so important to some people.

It is hard to understand that someone wants to be at the top at all costs, even when not on merit - by cheating or whatever. I guess the fame and prize money helps though.

That's what I meant. To want to win at all costs rather than do it on your own merits.

I have no interest in the Olympics and less in debating trans rights.

There are enough high profile doping cases to show that many athletes do want to win at every cost.