They are straw men because they do not represent any argument against self ID, Lets not forget we have not even started the consultation and GRA self ID is not in force, yet these things happened. Its a false equivalence to say they will happen more with GRA self ID, Self ID was not a defence for their actions. But this is verging into the debate on Self ID not the MN debating dynamics which is what this thread is about.
The discussion has come round to self-id because that's the big issue which divides radfems and trans allies. It's central to the question in the OP- why can't we work together? Because of a fundamental disagreement over self-id.
You say that the examples of predatory men can't be used to argue against self-id because they have happened before self-id has been brought in.
Well, firstly, in many many organisations self-id is already happening, in practice and/or policy. See the Labour Party, Girl Guides, many schools, many universities, the poster above who discuss allocating shares rooms. It has happened in places such as Target stores in America, where there have been examples of it being abused.
Secondly, I really do find it difficult to understand why you think self-id wouldn't make it easier for predatory men? Can you explain a little about how you think self-id will look? I am genuinely interested.
As far as I understand it, people will need to go through a fairly simple administrative process to change their gender on all their ID. They would then need to be treated as their new gender in every legal sense e.g.given access to the appropriate changing rooms, roles, facilities etc. They would have legal rights to not be discriminated against and this is what would enable say a male-born midwife to insist on being treated exactly the same as a female-born midwife. Such a midwife could therefore be presented to a woman who requested a female, as legally they must be treated the same. I do agree that the pregnant woman in such a situation could ask for someone else- and might be accommodated if it were possible. But that would then put the NHS in a difficult position because they'd be seen as enabling the woman's transphobia. In exactly the same way that currently a racist patient could request a white doctor, but it would be very difficult for the NHS to balance the needs of their patients and their employees.
The other thing is that self-id means there would be absolutely no need for any physical need to transition. Anyone could be a woman (or indeed a man) no matter what their appearance. So if you see someone in a toilet or changing room who is obviously male, they might have the right to be there. At the moment, if I walk into a toilet and see a male, I would most likely walk straight out again. But it may become more of a common sight. I won't know who has a right to be there and who doesn't. I wouldn't be able to ask as that would be transphobia (and anyway I'm not ever going to question someone who is stronger than me in what might be an isolated space). So most likely I'd still just walk out if I felt uncomfortable. Leaving me potentially without access to facilities.
Now I know that we can't say for sure how self-id will affect the type of person using 'single-sex' facilities. Perhaps all the predator men won't realise that they can now walk into women's toilets with impunity. But I'd like to be able to discuss that possibility without my worries being immediately dismissed and mocked.