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Richard Dawkins takes a risk: Sex is binary

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Gotta hand it to him: This is pretty risky in the age of non-binary. Harry Potter author J. K Rowlings got cancelled for saying that being a woman matters: And so now:

The Sunday Times condensed my words into the headline that I have adopted for this piece: Race is a spectrum. Sex is pretty damn binary. Unlike my wombat conjecture, this point really is childishly obvious. When a female and a male mate, each offspring is either female or male, extremely seldom a hermaphrodite or intersex of any kind. [2] Arusha really was a cow, not a half-way bull. But her intermediate colouring made us suspect that this “pedigree Jersey” was actually half Ayrshire—an artificial insemination screw-up. When two people of different races mate, their offspring is of mixed race and this shows itself in many ways, including skin colour. After generations of intermarriage, beginning with the exploitation of enslaved women and girls, African Americans constitute a rich spectrum such that some individuals, when required to tick the “race or ethnicity” box on official forms, might justifiably feel free to “identify as” whatever they choose.

Meghan (née Markle), Duchess of Sussex

The Duchess of Sussex identifies as “mixed race” but is frequently referred to in the press as black. Barack Obama sees himself (and is commonly described) as black although, having one white parent, he might equally well tick the white box. The “one-drop rule,” once enshrined in the laws of some segregationist states, asserted that one drop of African “blood” was enough to make a person count as black—thus making blackness the cultural equivalent of a genetic dominant. It never worked in reverse, and it still exerts a powerful hold on American discourse—while “African Americans” actually run a smooth gamut from those of pure African descent to those with perhaps one African great great grandparent. Were race not a spectrum, Rachel Dolezal’s critics should have spotted that she wasn’t “really” black, simply by taking one look at her. It’s precisely because black Americans are a spectrum that it wasn’t obvious. With negligible exceptions, on the other hand, you can unwaveringly identify a person’s sex at a glance, especially if they remove their clothes. Sex is pretty damn binary.

Richard Dawkins, “Race Is a Spectrum. Sex Is Pretty Damn Binary.” at Areo Magazine (January 5, 2022)

Dawkins is walking a road here. He’s interfering with a scam. Where people get rights or don’t get them based on “race” or claims about non-binary sex. Better wish him luck.

Comments
JS,
But if the pursuit of happiness is a God given right, then surly a transgendered person,...
Happiness there did not refer to a mere emotion, but rather to what we'd be more accurate in calling "self-determination" today. I.e., the right to choose where to live and what occupation to pursue, etc. The founders weren't thinking of fluffy things like having every emotional (perceived) need satisfied.EDTA
January 12, 2022
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Joe Schooner have you been molested as a child and/or did you molested children ?
Aren’t you also the idiot who said that if a person has nothing to forgive his father for that he must hate God? You obviously have no desire (or ability) to have an honest discussion.Joe Schooner
January 12, 2022
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Joe Schooner
They deny basic biology and believe that if a boy thinks that he is girl that would make him a girl . This is the definition of INSANITY.
Brain structure and activity is part of basic biology. And transgendered have brain structure and activity closer to that opposite their chromosomal sex.
They harm themselves/their families/society.
How?
They harm innocent children that could be influenced by this insanity.
Do you have proof or is this just another unsupported assertion?
This insanity doesn’t take place from a day to another but from choosing consciously to believe a wrong thing for years and years that create new brain patterns.
Do you have evidence for this?
Joe Schooner have you been molested as a child and/or did you molested children ? You can answer with sincerity because you are safe with us. We are your friends.Lieutenant Commander Data
January 12, 2022
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They deny basic biology and believe that if a boy thinks that he is girl that would make him a girl . This is the definition of INSANITY.
Brain structure and activity is part of basic biology. And transgendered have brain structure and activity closer to that opposite their chromosomal sex.
They harm themselves/their families/society.
How?
They harm innocent children that could be influenced by this insanity.
Do you have proof or is this just another unsupported assertion?
This insanity doesn’t take place from a day to another but from choosing consciously to believe a wrong thing for years and years that create new brain patterns.
Do you have evidence for this?Joe Schooner
January 12, 2022
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What harm do transgendered cause?
:)) They deny basic biology and believe that if a boy thinks that he is girl that would make him a girl . This is the definition of INSANITY. They harm themselves/their families/society. They harm innocent children that could be influenced by this insanity. PS: This insanity doesn't take place from a day to another but from choosing consciously to believe a wrong thing for years and years that create new brain patterns.Lieutenant Commander Data
January 12, 2022
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Criminals , pedo , terrorists have feelings too and if happiness is a right why are they punished? They shouldn’t be punished here or in hell because is their right to have whatever feelings they want , no matter what consequences . Or not?
As mentioned above, the pursuit of happiness is not a legal right. But all rights can be restricted if your actions do harm to others. What harm do transgendered cause?Joe Schooner
January 12, 2022
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ET Granting rights based on feelings is BS.
Actually feelings are very important, they confirm you that moral law is true and working . Unfortunatelly some not very smart people put feeling ahead of reason(that manage the moral law) and inevitable they make the reason the slave of feelings and of course that's the reason they seem insane because they try the gymnastics of adapting the morality to their feelings . They take their feelings that they consider are the highest value and then they try to put together some logic to fit to justify their feelings. :)) If you are a moral person then feelings are making you more moral because stimulate and energize you in doing moral acts. Feelings are sane. If you are an imoral person you already put your feelings as master of your reasoning process and your feelings became ill and after a while that you ignore the voice of reason your feelings are cemented (draw new brain structure ) and you will lose contact with reality and reason because you used reason as a prostitute to justify your feelings.
The pursuit of happiness is a right. Happiness is a feeling. They are claiming that this pursuit of a feeling is a right.
Criminals , pedo , terrorists have feelings too and if happiness is a right why are they punished? They shouldn't be punished here or in hell because is their right to have whatever feelings they want , no matter what consequences . Or not? :)Lieutenant Commander Data
January 12, 2022
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I’ll go with the US DOI that they come from our Creator,
I’m not going to argue this. But if the pursuit of happiness is a God given right, then surly a transgendered person, who’s brain is structured and acts like that of a person of the opposite biological sex, is attempting to pursue happiness.Joe Schooner
January 11, 2022
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I have to agree with ET that granting rights based on feelings is foolish. But if they come from government, then government can take them away, as any totalitarian system does. I'll go with the US DOI that they come from our Creator, and so when a totalitarian system yanks them away, they do so unjustly. (Our origin as intelligently-designed creatures matters.)EDTA
January 11, 2022
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JS: Don’t post this on any of KF’s threads. He will just delete it because his opinion is far too important for any distractions. KF: JS, in an Internet age where one may set up one’s own blog in a few minutes, commenting even more is a privilege on good behaviour.
OH KF. You deleted Ram’s comment, didn’t you. :) . Your self-righteousness is so damned predictable.Joe Schooner
January 11, 2022
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Correlation is not causation. Grow up.
And insult is not argument.
The Bill of Rights is what grants us, wait for it, rights.
No, government is what grants us rights, or takes them away. The bill of rights is just one example of rights approved by government. Based on your comment, you disagree with the following.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Joe Schooner
January 11, 2022
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ET @ 68 Actually, gender dysphoria (transgenderism) is a recognized syndrome in the DSM-5 and in the federal courts. Additionally, the Declaration of Independence does not confer any rights, only the US and state constitutions confer rights, along with various federal and state statutes. As amazing a document as the DOI is, it is simply a rhetorical announcement that the thirteen colonies unilaterally dissolve their political ties to England...chuckdarwin
January 11, 2022
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JS:
The fact that they have brain structure and activity closer to that of the opposite biological sex proves you wrong.
Correlation is not causation. Grow up.
The pursuit of happiness is a right. Happiness is a feeling. They are claiming that this pursuit of a feeling is a right.
The Bill of Rights is what grants us, wait for it, rights.ET
January 11, 2022
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Feelings. There still isn’t any scientific basis for transgender.
The fact that they have brain structure and activity closer to that of the opposite biological sex proves you wrong.
What an ignorant thing to say. I dare you to make your case that the DoI granted rights based on feelings.
The pursuit of happiness is a right. Happiness is a feeling. They are claiming that this pursuit of a feeling is a right.Joe Schooner
January 11, 2022
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Hi ram- I gain insight into the twisted minds and illogic of the anti-ID people.ET
January 11, 2022
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JS:
“Brain activity and structure in transgender adolescents more closely resembles the typical activation patterns of their desired gender…”
The brain governs feelings. And rational thought overcomes feelings.
So, being transgendered appears to be part of their biology.
Feelings. There still isn't any scientific basis for transgender.
Then you argument is with the authors of the Declaration of Independence.
What an ignorant thing to say. I dare you to make your case that the DoI granted rights based on feelings.ET
January 11, 2022
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JS, in an Internet age where one may set up one's own blog in a few minutes, commenting even more is a privilege on good behaviour. Distractive, side tracking, caricaturing, personalities and more are disruptive behaviours that too often degenerate into trollish conduct. There is no right to side track. KFkairosfocus
January 11, 2022
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Poll: what do you hope to gain by your participation on this site?
Don’t post this on any of KF’s threads. He will just delete it because his opinion is far too important for any distractions.Joe Schooner
January 11, 2022
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Poll: what do you hope to gain by your participation on this site? Thanks --Ramram
January 11, 2022
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And? Do those feelings make people want to change who they are, biologically? No.
"Brain activity and structure in transgender adolescents more closely resembles the typical activation patterns of their desired gender..." https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/05/180524112351.htm So, being transgendered appears to be part of their biology.
Granting rights based on feelings is BS.
Then you argument is with the authors of the Declaration of Independence.Joe Schooner
January 10, 2022
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Granting rights based on feelings is BS.ET
January 10, 2022
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JS:
And being sexually attracted to someone relies solely on feelings.
And? Do those feelings make people want to change who they are, biologically? No.ET
January 10, 2022
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But in the case of heterosexual marriage, I think it is clear that it is suffering from numerous assaults, and children among others suffer as a result.
How is heterosexual marriage suffering? When inter-racial marriage was legalized did within-race marriage suffer? And how does granting rights to transgendered affect marriage?
As far as bathrooms, do what protects the most vulnerable first. If that means making a tiny minority emotionally uncomfortable, then so be it.
Fully agreed. But let’s examine who is the most vulnerable. There is no empirical evidence that allowing transgendered to use the bathroom of their outward appearance has increased the risk to anyone. (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13178-018-0335-z). Conversely, the risk to transgendered forced to use bathrooms consistent with their biological sex are at a significant higher risk of sexual assault ( https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/transgender-teens-restricted-bathroom-access-sexual-assault/). So, if the priority is to do what protects the most vulnerable, the choice is obvious.Joe Schooner
January 9, 2022
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ET:
Being transgender relies solely on feelings. That alone says it all, really.
Excellent summary. JS:
How would you define “negatively impacts”? To accommodate many other “disorders” or minority races, religions and lifestyles, there is often some level of inconvenience to others. And I assume that by negatively impact you are not referring to someone’s discomfort at having to see or provide services to the transgendered.
Defining "negatively impacts" is also a debate that will never end. Yes, it's more than emotional discomfort. But in the case of heterosexual marriage, I think it is clear that it is suffering from numerous assaults, and children among others suffer as a result. It should be shored up first, and only then should we devote time to debating what to do for those whose feelings lead them to want alternatives. As far as bathrooms, do what protects the most vulnerable first. If that means making a tiny minority emotionally uncomfortable, then so be it. Take the most care of the majority, for the benefit of society as a whole.EDTA
January 9, 2022
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Being transgender relies solely on feelings. That alone says it all, really.
And being sexually attracted to someone relies solely on feelings. Yet it is a very strong feeling that much of our society takes into account in establishing our social expectations of behavior.Joe Schooner
January 9, 2022
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Bathrooms are not about making people feel better about themselves. They serve the purpose of relief and nothing more.
The only incidents of assaults involving transgendered are in cases where they have had to use the bathroom of their biological sex. And the transgendered is always the victim, not the perp.
A small, less than 1% of the population should be made comfortable by making 99%
And how, exactly, does it make them feel uncomfortable when they don’t know if the person in the next stall is transgendered. By your logic, you want to force people who by all appearance are male (muscular, beard, etc) to use the women’s bathroom.Joe Schooner
January 9, 2022
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Being transgender relies solely on feelings. That alone says it all, really.ET
January 9, 2022
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Bathrooms are not about making people feel better about themselves. They serve the purpose of relief and nothing more. A small, less than 1% of the population should be made comfortable by making 99% uncomfortable. Bathroom use should reflect outward sexual organs. Just because a person suffers from a serious delusion that should never be encouraged, which is what the belief of being born into the wrong body is, does not mean they are incapable of using the proper bathroom.BobRyan
January 9, 2022
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To a point, yes. I’d say that point should be where it starts negatively impacting the future for the whole of us. And of course that debate also continues with no end in sight.
Well, this OP was about the transgender issue, this discussion appears to be on side. How would you define “negatively impacts”? To accommodate many other “disorders” or minority races, religions and lifestyles, there is often some level of inconvenience to others. And I assume that by negatively impact you are not referring to someone’s discomfort at having to see or provide services to the transgendered. Not allowing transgendered to play in competitive women’s sport is a reasonable limitation on their “rights”. Not allowing them to use the bathroom of their outwardly displayed gender is a more difficult one to argue for restrictions.Joe Schooner
January 8, 2022
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EDTA “We in the West are so comfortable that we have slouched to the point of complete hedonism, and emotions are paramount in a hedonistic world. Therefore, we can supposedly afford to focus on something as ephemeral and fleeting as emotions, to the neglect of the real fundamentals of a strong society” My son calls this advanced first world problems. While we are focused on things like should biological males be allowed into biological womens bathrooms, or whether biological males who think they are women should be allowed in girls locker rooms China is kicking our ass in science and military prowess. America is a lost cause. We are a tree that looks good from the outside but is rotten to the core on the inside. The first strong wind will blow it down. When you see the head of our military come off a plane with a mask and full face shield it tells me all I need to know about how we would fare taking on China , Russia, and probably Iran. Vividvividbleau
January 8, 2022
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