Article - 'The sadness of Sceptical Man' by Victoria Smith

[UtopiaPlanitia]

As usual, Smith writes an excellent examination of the behaviour of certain men when faced with women telling them they’re wrong about something that negatively affects women.

https://thecritic.co.uk/the-sadness-of-sceptical-man/

'As a topic, sex and gender causes particular problems for the man who views himself as a lofty, rational observer of other people’s madnesses. This is because in order to pass as occupying “the middle ground”, you still have to give a free pass to lots of insane things, as opposed to lots and lots of them. Instead of going full-on Long Chu — which would of course be too far! — you have to ignore plenty of stuff which, deep down, you know to be total bollocks. This probably makes you quite cross, only not with yourself. It’s the people who keep pointing it out who are the problem.'

It's about being on the "right side of history" TM. I heard someone say that Gary Lineker is not political at all, but he saw his position as a middle-aged white man under threat in the media and had to get political to make his job safe (to be protected from a political sacking).

These are all media people who need to say the same as the rest of the liberal media elite to keep their jobs.

I suppose for me, having trans people in my life does make me conform to preferred pronouns. There's no way that I'm going to try and hurt a young woman who has asked her circle to use the words 'he' and 'him' when referring to her* - nor am I going to risk her cutting me off. So yes, I support trans rights I guess, if Jon Ronson came to see us he would no doubt think me an ally on his terms.

But that doesn't stop me analysing what is going on - seeing a whole clutch of young women, often neurodivergent, often bullied or excluded by girls and women, deciding that if sex is a choice and this is what women are, they aren't women. I see it as a feminist failure tbh, as these are exactly the women who we should support. There should be more work and thought about girls and women who experience current female culture as alien and damaging. And I can analyse what is going on in terms of a huge wedge of commercial health care finding a market. If I could slap the surgeon who performed a bilateral mastectomy on my 20 year old cousin, I fucking would.

I believe I am a trans ally, but on my terms.

"Instead, you see them answering different questions from what was actually asked"

Indeed. This has happened on another thread this afternoon in fact.

I don't believe that people really fall for it though. It just confirms that those who do it are bad faith posters who have nothing really to contribute. Well... except to keep the threads bumped AND exposing the lack of evidence and those poorly formed arguments.

It does not actually help trans people to have posters like that say that they support trans people. Because if that is the level of dishonesty that is shown, then it is very counter productive for progressing the needs of trans people.

Brilliant. Though I disagree with her conclusion. These phoneys know full well their position is incoherent bollocks.

Mmm. That article was like a crisp, tingly glass of iced lemonade on a baking hot day. Clear, refreshing, enjoyable, and satisfying — maybe no components that are strictly new to me, but all put together in a way that works beautifully to deliver exactly what I needed right now. Thanks for posting and thanks to Victoria Smith for writing. It was delicious

That article and RoyalCorgi's comment upthread hit a fair few nails on the head.