I read an interesting idea. That once a concept becomes flesh, it then speeds up its effect. And the more preposterous it is, the more it demands magical thinking and rigorous adherence.
If it's allowed to get to this point, it absorbs energy and mutates.
Like a virus or meme. And then the damage is really done as it courses through organisations and indeed the culture at large, unbounded, with unstoppable energy.
And literally weakening people's resolve to say no, or ignore, or deflect.
The time to stop it is near the start, where the concept would still draw maximum criticism and sarcastic retort.
Look at Rachel Dolezal, a decade ago developing her "trans racial" grift. Outed.
And PoC, her colleagues, friends, non whites outside her circle...they all, to a man and woman, said that her grift was unacceptable and deeply racist and damaging. She was nipped in the bud, and ostracised from polite society. Ditto many whites since who've claimed they're black or indigenous, Elizabeth Warren comes to mind, Oli London etc.
What do we all think would have happened has the black community waved Dolezal thru? That she'd have been an exception?
No, trans racialism would have been a real thing, and years on the meme would have so mutated and infected society and the body politic, that anyone telling any white that IDing as black was wrong, immoral, would be the ones facing consequences, ostracism.
But the trans racial thing was put out of its misery at birth, now any new Dolezals are laughed out of the room.
Unfortunately with transgenderism, the same zero tolerance for poisonous views re women wasn't shown. Not enough women and gays spoke up, too many women and gays supported it, most men turned the channel to watch the footy instead, too few in the media, ethics etc decided it was an issue.
And over two decades, what could have been the kernel of a non mainstream view toxic to women and gays kept firmly in its place, was allowed, encouraged even, to flourish.
Now it's a self generating virus, a meme, coursing thru the bloodstream of society.
And critically, it has its own energy. Such that the vast majority of journalists, scientists, philosophers, politicians, artists, historians etc will all both not touch it, everyone inhibiting everyone else from free discussion and challenging and testing concepts.
Genies and bottles.
Where would Hislop and Cox start?
A press conference to say trans ideology is anti logic, anti science, anti Establishment?
That's it's child abuse, re teen medicalisation?
That's it's infantilising society?
That's it's setting back women a century?
That it's anti human and contrary to what the West is all about?
And critically, that they always thought this, but were unmotivated, or too scared to speak up?
Or that they've just come to this conclusion?
Just how would this go down, how would their futures be ripped to shreds, how many family, friends, colleagues would dump them there and then?
How many others would come out in support spurred by their example?
It really is easier to live the lie.