The chilling effect detailed in this piece can't be overstated. When a relatively small group of zealots and self-appointed moral gatekeepers is empowered by every major cultural institution, they can compel or emotionally blackmail people into remaining silent/asserting something they don't believe to be true.
A message is being sent to the public, and people are quietly conditioned into subscribing to acceptable norms/behaviors. Self-censorship is a dangerous thing. If you say something enough times, or you refrain from saying something for long enough, you'll gradually come to adopt an opinion or belief that's completely antithetical to what your heart tells you is right or wrong.
It all starts with allowing the activists to control the language. Even the author, who clearly knows better, is using, "she" and "her" to describe Lia (erstwhile Will) Thomas. Well, he's NOT a she, regardless of what he calls himself, any more than my calling myself an aardvark makes me one. He's a hormonally-manipulated man, and if you want independent confirmation, simply get a cheek swab and look at his DNA. Every nucleated cell in his body contains the same DNA; his "swimmer's body" was built according to that blueprint. His fast-twitch muscle fibers, ditto. His dense bones, his muscular power - all according to that DNA, and that athletic advantage doesn't go away with a few hormone shots.
When I see the activists vehemently asserting that men menstruate, that they can have babies, that "gender" is "assigned at birth" - and ordinary people capitulate so that they not be thought transphobic or bigoted or anti- something or other, I think to myself, "What will generations to come think of this time and place?" I don't know, but it won't be flattering.
It's OK to offend people; in fact it is critically important that one not give up the Constitutionally-guaranteed right to speak one's mind. Simply stand up and say the truth. It's really not that hard. When the aggressive crazies call you names or try to cancel you, the best response is to laugh at them, for there is no defense against ridicule - and they ARE ridiculous. I see that Canada just arrested one of the Freedom Convoy organizers for holding "unacceptable views." Think that can't happen here? Think again.
My daughter played field hockey at a D1 school. The work and discipline it took to reach that level were enormous. I cannot imagine the pain she would feel if someone like Lia Thomas was on the field smashing record after record. It's absolutely wrong and the NCAA is abominable.
As long as the non-cheaters keep playing the game, the cheater will win. The only solution is for ALL the non-cheaters to leave the pool or the field, so that the cheaters are left playing against other cheaters.
"Most people aren’t saying ‘We hate trans people,’ because they’re not allowed to say that, but they’re disguising it by saying ‘We care about fairness,’’’said Bailar, “It’s an insidious form of propaganda.”
Bailar can believe that if he/she wants but it simply isn’t true.
What is most sad about this is that absolutely no one seems concerned that they are promoting and condoning the mutilation and permanent infertility of kids’ bodies when it’s been proven that over 90% of kids with gender dysphoria (yes, that’s what this really is) get over it in two years.
Imagine helping a girl with anorexia starve herself to death because she perceives herself as being fat. Same idea here.
Thomas can never be a female. But in the transgender game, there’s lots of money to be made, all at the expense of women.
Parental Cowards - letting their daughters get trashed and muttering and doing nothing. This is the new American norm - at all levels - right up to US - Russia - Ukraine.
He was a mediocre swimmer for D1 college - top ranking around 460. Now he’s beating up on women and wants to be called a champion. He’s a male and a cheater.
Calling this man William Thomas "she" and a "trans woman" and a "transgender swimmer" is a fundamental part of the problem. He's a cynical man, and it is not polite or kind to enable his lies and misconduct.
Cowardice, selfishness, and mistrust are the reasons Thomas is allowed to get away with this insanity. Everyone knows he's a man who is cheating but too scared to band together and do the right thing.
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that decent people remain silent.
Amazing how completely confused our culture is. This really isn’t hard. Biological males vs biological males; same with women. You do whatever you want to your body, but “stay in your lane”.
Lia Thomas and her supporters are FUELING anti-trans bigotry at the expense of everyday trans people who don't care about sports and simply want protection from discrimination in housing,healthcare, and employment.
Lia Thomas and her supporters are far bigger enemies to the trans community than anti-trans bigots could ever hope to be.
It boggles the mind that these “powerful” people are so very afraid of losing their prestige that they will silently accept what is obviously wrong, to the detriment of their own families and the rest of humanity.
The chilling effect detailed in this piece can't be overstated. When a relatively small group of zealots and self-appointed moral gatekeepers is empowered by every major cultural institution, they can compel or emotionally blackmail people into remaining silent/asserting something they don't believe to be true.
A message is being sent to the public, and people are quietly conditioned into subscribing to acceptable norms/behaviors. Self-censorship is a dangerous thing. If you say something enough times, or you refrain from saying something for long enough, you'll gradually come to adopt an opinion or belief that's completely antithetical to what your heart tells you is right or wrong.
It all starts with allowing the activists to control the language. Even the author, who clearly knows better, is using, "she" and "her" to describe Lia (erstwhile Will) Thomas. Well, he's NOT a she, regardless of what he calls himself, any more than my calling myself an aardvark makes me one. He's a hormonally-manipulated man, and if you want independent confirmation, simply get a cheek swab and look at his DNA. Every nucleated cell in his body contains the same DNA; his "swimmer's body" was built according to that blueprint. His fast-twitch muscle fibers, ditto. His dense bones, his muscular power - all according to that DNA, and that athletic advantage doesn't go away with a few hormone shots.
When I see the activists vehemently asserting that men menstruate, that they can have babies, that "gender" is "assigned at birth" - and ordinary people capitulate so that they not be thought transphobic or bigoted or anti- something or other, I think to myself, "What will generations to come think of this time and place?" I don't know, but it won't be flattering.
It's OK to offend people; in fact it is critically important that one not give up the Constitutionally-guaranteed right to speak one's mind. Simply stand up and say the truth. It's really not that hard. When the aggressive crazies call you names or try to cancel you, the best response is to laugh at them, for there is no defense against ridicule - and they ARE ridiculous. I see that Canada just arrested one of the Freedom Convoy organizers for holding "unacceptable views." Think that can't happen here? Think again.
Thomas could easily have declined to swim on the women’s team. The fact that he’s competing against women makes him an asshole.
My daughter played field hockey at a D1 school. The work and discipline it took to reach that level were enormous. I cannot imagine the pain she would feel if someone like Lia Thomas was on the field smashing record after record. It's absolutely wrong and the NCAA is abominable.
He. Him. Man.
As long as the non-cheaters keep playing the game, the cheater will win. The only solution is for ALL the non-cheaters to leave the pool or the field, so that the cheaters are left playing against other cheaters.
"Most people aren’t saying ‘We hate trans people,’ because they’re not allowed to say that, but they’re disguising it by saying ‘We care about fairness,’’’said Bailar, “It’s an insidious form of propaganda.”
Bailar can believe that if he/she wants but it simply isn’t true.
Thank you Ms Weiss! Excellent journalism.
What is most sad about this is that absolutely no one seems concerned that they are promoting and condoning the mutilation and permanent infertility of kids’ bodies when it’s been proven that over 90% of kids with gender dysphoria (yes, that’s what this really is) get over it in two years.
Imagine helping a girl with anorexia starve herself to death because she perceives herself as being fat. Same idea here.
Thomas can never be a female. But in the transgender game, there’s lots of money to be made, all at the expense of women.
Parental Cowards - letting their daughters get trashed and muttering and doing nothing. This is the new American norm - at all levels - right up to US - Russia - Ukraine.
Stop calling him “she”. He is not a she. Do not buy into the madness. He is a guy stealing from women.
He was a mediocre swimmer for D1 college - top ranking around 460. Now he’s beating up on women and wants to be called a champion. He’s a male and a cheater.
"Some people just want to watch the world burn." - Ben Timlin
Calling this man William Thomas "she" and a "trans woman" and a "transgender swimmer" is a fundamental part of the problem. He's a cynical man, and it is not polite or kind to enable his lies and misconduct.
Cowardice, selfishness, and mistrust are the reasons Thomas is allowed to get away with this insanity. Everyone knows he's a man who is cheating but too scared to band together and do the right thing.
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that decent people remain silent.
Amazing how completely confused our culture is. This really isn’t hard. Biological males vs biological males; same with women. You do whatever you want to your body, but “stay in your lane”.
Lia Thomas and her supporters are FUELING anti-trans bigotry at the expense of everyday trans people who don't care about sports and simply want protection from discrimination in housing,healthcare, and employment.
Lia Thomas and her supporters are far bigger enemies to the trans community than anti-trans bigots could ever hope to be.
Lia Thomas owes the trans community an apology.
It boggles the mind that these “powerful” people are so very afraid of losing their prestige that they will silently accept what is obviously wrong, to the detriment of their own families and the rest of humanity.