That's just basic science. (Vagina needs oxygen and light which it doesn't get with closed legs.)

[EmbarrassingAdmissions]

There are lots of conversations here about people's level of health literacy and what they understand by particular terms.

The tweeter's handle is redacted.*

I am always surprised by people's level of knowledge of their bodies and what it means for contemporary discussions and hot topics. The fact that this man felt confident enough to mansplain what is otherwise a beginner's understanding of photosynthesis as a scientific gotcha in a discussion of rape is remarkable.

No, women cannot get pregnant with legs closed. If your legs are closed then your vagina isn't gonna get enough oxygen to optimally function. Besides, you also need light, which you aren't gonna get with your legs closed.

That's just basic science.

I frequently mention that the best available estimate of average adult literacy in the UK is that of a 12 yr-old, and the numeracy is that of a 9 year-old. Health literacy is taken to be somewhere between the two but in context depends on the level of numeracy involved (e.g., medicine dosages).

This is an extreme example but I think about this in the context of the need for clear language and very basic principles in health communication.

*NB: The tweeter's handle is found easily but that's not my main point although this was a conversation about rape. He intruded into the conversation and there is Twitter coverage from people indicating that he has a profile similar to that of incels. He has negligible followers and he doesn't need the oxygen (no pun intended).

Solar powered?

@nauticant

Solar powered?

I wonder how he thinks the brain and other vital organs receive oxygen?

Or is he truly just so ensorcelled by the idea of men fertilising women he is truly convinced by the model for what seeds would need to flourish?

😂

No arguing with that is there?

"And that's why we call it a flower"

Surely Gwyneth Paltrow has some very reasonably priced vaginal oxygenators and sun lamps on her website?

There are some truly hilarious responses but I'm still shaking with mirth over the suggestion that he confused "vag" for "veg".

Does he think we are cress or broad beans?

..... A v v clever pal of mine, with teenaged children, was adament that you could not get pregnant if you had sex whilst on your period. I thought she was joking at first....

And did the inevitable Google search at which she looked panicked. I think that's her preferred method of birth control....

That's clearly a joke, no? "That's basic science" is a Twitter punchline

@nauticant

There are some truly hilarious responses but I'm still shaking with mirth over the suggestion that he confused "vag" for "veg".

Percy Grainger composed the strangely fallen into obscurity: Lady Vegetable Garden

There was a similar fate for Gertrude Jekyll's lecture series: Vegetables and their culture

Gertrude Jekyll's Lost Garden was a bold attempt to revive interest but the photographs of her actual garden ended up dominating the book.

@MonsignorMirth

That's clearly a joke, no? "That's basic science" is a Twitter punchline

No. He's doubling-down and it's clear from his interactions that he believes this.

I would be thrilled for this to be a parody but it seems not.

Organic vag box?

This level of ignorance is not uncommon, especially it seems amongst men. I have also seen posts saying that periods shouldn't be a problem / need free pads etc as women can just hold it in. Or with respect to the Texas abortion ban I have seen plenty of men incredulous that a woman wouldn't know she was pregnant at 6 weeks.

And TBH it's not funny. It's sad and scary that women are valued so little that people can't be arsed to understand the most basic of functions / ignore women when they go to the doctor because "womens problems"

This is my worry about erasing the work woman from woman heath campaigns and replacing it with people with a cervix/vulva. Women may not speak English as their first language and wasn't there a study saying many people had no idea about anatomy so may have no idea they have cervix.
Men's heath campaign seen still to be allowed to use the word Men so why not women.

What an immense fucking plonker

This patient needs Oxygen. ....No, not there. Put the mask on her face, please, medical student.

I actually met a woman who would’ve agreed with this guy. A week after giving birth I raised some issues with the Health Visitor. I had 3rd degree tears and was having great trouble tending the wounds. I suspected something was wrong and needed medical help.

She patted me on the hand and told me all I needed to do was give the area ‘lots of light and air’. I was too shocked to react!

I’d like to ask this guy too what he recommends women do to provide this much needed salve to their ladyparts. Is there a spa you can go to for it, or are we expected to just ventilate at will whenever we find a sunny spot and have a spare moment?

Or with respect to the Texas abortion ban I have seen plenty of men incredulous that a woman wouldn't know she was pregnant at 6 weeks.

Plenty of women are confused by this too. A quick trip to the pregnancy board shows how often women don't know this (and tbf, unless you've been actively trying to conceive, it's not really obvious information).

@EdgeOfACoin

Or with respect to the Texas abortion ban I have seen plenty of men incredulous that a woman wouldn't know she was pregnant at 6 weeks.

Plenty of women are confused by this too. A quick trip to the pregnancy board shows how often women don't know this (and tbf, unless you've been actively trying to conceive, it's not really obvious information).

It's one of the privacy concerns about bounty hunters asking Tech companies to release data from a woman's period tracker - as proof that 'she must have known'.

tbh, I hope I'm not being over-optimistic when I say that much as people might ask, I don't think the tech companies would but my concern is that other people might hack a woman's phone. $10,000 is a huge incentive.

An actual adult male wrote that? Good grief? That’s scary!

So he has no idea how a vagina or even how reproductive organs work in women. Instead of just shutting up he typed this out.

I weep for society.

I don’t mind a bit of ignorance but he’s clearly wielding his ignorance to be a dick.

It's one of the privacy concerns about bounty hunters asking Tech companies to release data from a woman's period tracker - as proof that 'she must have known'

Good grief.

I read a very confusing article in the Daily Mail recently about a trans identifying male getting a womb transplant. So far so clear. But it seemed to then suggest he would need to do ivf in order to become pregnant because his fallopian tubes weren't connected to the womb. It repeated it numerous times. How do you become a journalist at a major paper with that level of general knowledge?

@Beowulfa

Surely Gwyneth Paltrow has some very reasonably priced vaginal oxygenators and sun lamps on her website?

Lol @Beowulfa

oh joy. When and where exactly are we supposed to gain this light and air?

I hesitate to ask but has he mentioned how he ventilates and light exposes his dick? Because obviously the same must apply.