Janice Turners Times column today

[ErrolTheDragon]

Several themes that have been discussed in various ways recently - I'll put the link in second post for click ability

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/coronavirus-exposes-gulf-between-the-sexes-rsc69njkv?shareToken=f194e7faf4ff3011666661116493599a

I thought this was a good article. The comments when I read it accused her of appalling bad taste and overt misandry. I asked my Nigel to read and he was completely unoffended. In fact he read the article and said “excellent”. XX having some advantages isn’t an insult to people like him who are XY.

Powerful article, although not sure where she got the idea that one X chromosome fights the virus, while the other is busy doing something else... that’s not really how chromosomes work.

I think the salient point is that the differences between female and male cells and body systems means that accurate sex-based data recording and research is more vital at this time than ever before, not denied and glossed over to save the feelings of a minority.

It was a good article if you knew what the reasoning behind it was. It may have missed the mark looking at the comments.

Perhaps more could have been made toward the beginning of the fact that data collection seems to be based on gender feelz and not biological sex in some cases. (And why that is happening) And how that is reducing the accuracy of the data collected etc. She tied it in well with Dr Moalem’s work.

Making it clearer that the NHS has been captured to the point that people deliberately obscure their sex on medical forms etc might have piqued some additional readers interest. I think some of the readers are unaware. As it is, they seem to think Janice is indulging in misandry and writing about female superiority.

I was offended by this comment.

I'm shocked that this article refelects the disgraceful similar coverage seen on the BBC. It considers the impact on only 2 genders - what about the other 21 which are not even mentioned? Shame on you all.

This person is ignorant, there are over 100 genders and climbing. It's like they are stuck in the bad old days of 2017, when aerogender and novigender weren't recognised as just as valid as 'female' or 'male'.

Does aerogender mean identifying as a chocolate bar or an aircraft?

And could the above person be getting muddled with chromosome number (23 pairs?)

Depressing comments. I wonder how many didn’t read far enough down the piece to get to the kicker paragraph?

The comment from the twit about heroically soldiering on with flu, while women take time off for petty illnesses, like the menopause (paraphrasing), illustrates her point rather well.

AI that last paragraph is dynamite.

And the 'bring back Men's Hour' comment...Jesus wept. 🤨

I was wondering if anyone was going to comment on this article! Very interesting reading and I see there is another thread about whether men should be isolated for their protection. Highlights the fact that biologically there are indeed 2 genders - wonder if this will quiet the gender is a feeling mob?

The misunderstanding of basic biology Is upsetting- an minimum both Janice & her editor think “one X chromosome in a cell can spot the invading virus, while the other X works on killing cells that are infected already. ”

Otherwise of Janice’s usual high quality but the generally poor reporting of science is really highlighted just now

Janice is usually pretty good but that business about one X chromosome spotting the virus and the other one killing cells is just nonsense. It really frustrates me that so many journalists have such a poor grasp of science. I'm not a scientist but I have read enough popular science to know that's not how it works. The fact that so many humanities-educated journalists don't understand that displays an unwillingness to put in any effort at all. Where did she get that info from? Couldn't she have checked it with someone?

I’m not a scientist but I wouldn’t know that was incorrect. But I think Janice’s colleague Tom Whipple is a really good science writer. To be fair he could be making it all up and I wouldn’t know. All I’ve got is science o’ levels .

But wouldn’t the editors usually call on this sort of internal expertise if it’s getting a bit technical? I’ve also never worked on a newspaper as you can tell so I’ve no idea how it works.

Ooh! Is that why we are supposed to be good at multitasking?
One X does the cooking while the other X is doing the childcare? 😂

I normally love Janice but the science is just wrong and that really is not good enough during these times. I am really fed up with hacks just trying to wing it abouf the coronavirus.

Also Boris Johnson is not a bloody force of nature, he is an obese middle aged man who thinks that photo ops in jogging gear will keep him fit. The man from Cardiff may have done park runs but he was also a diabetic who had had a heart attack, it is mentioned elsewhere ask why does Janice omit important details?

Shockingly bad article.

Mangoes 🤣

I do have a science background so apologies if “basic” science was the wrong term to use - I suppose I meant basic in terms of easy to check rather than necessarily common knowledge. I am constantly appalled by how science is mis-reported to the extent that it genuinely makes me question reporting on other areas that I have less understanding of!

Agreed, Zanahoria, the detail about the man from Cardiff having diabetes and having had a heart attack is pretty crucial. It's well-established by now that people with diabetes and heart disease are at higher risk from CV.

In answer to Binterested, unfortunately, a columnist's work will usually just be checked by a subeditor, and it's all down to the quality of the sub and whether they have enough of a science education to spot nonsense or, if they're not science-educated, whether they have the inclination to go and check. Of course deadlines are sometimes very tight and it can be the case the sub doesn't have time to do a proper check.

Its great if someone comes back from a heart attack to do park runs but the ability to run 5k does not reverse the history. I have diabetes and it is only ever considered in remission. Getting facts right is important in these times. Apparently Boris Johnson is 5 foot nine and 16 and half stone, so that easily makes him obese. So we have two middle aged men who are not in the best of shape. I am not surprised covid 19 is hitting hard here, nor would I be surprised if it hit women in their fifties in similar condition.

Mangoes :)

Highlights the fact that biologically there are indeed 2 genders - wonder if this will quiet the gender is a feeling mob?

I’d like to see gender, with all its sexist connotations, vanish altogether & for people to just be defined by their sex.

🤦‍♀️ I've gone and done it conflating sex and gender... Should read Biologically there are two SEXES not genders.

dkl55, have a and a

The comment from the twit about heroically soldiering on with flu, while women take time off for petty illnesses, like the menopause (paraphrasing), illustrates her point rather well.

Jane Fae, is that you?

that last paragraph is dynamite.

i couldn't access the article. Apparently it was only free for a short time. Could you tell me what was in that paragraph, please?

Thanks!

Here is a new share token:

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/cb87d652-7b44-11ea-a9b3-a42d54022bdc?shareToken=80d72d7e5db5f624510521d55052837b