Thank you for making this post.

You've outlined exactly why allowing the far right to resolve perceived social issues isn't the way forward, especially when it comes to any sort of "minority" (which seems to be anything that isn't non-immigrant white Christian cis straight men) issues.

It's honestly disappointing to see these sorts of expressions stated here on Lemmy. It was the shitty, uninformed, "I don't care for the science or data", reactionary right wing views that contributed to me leaving Reddit and here we are again.

I suppose continuing to dehumanise trans folk with the most important issue being a tiny number of trans people competing in a subset of activities, that are inherently unfair, is so much more important than avoiding demicide.

Got to placate the far right! They are really well known for being reasonable, not demanding more and having positions based wholly on logic without an ounce of hatred slipping through.

I honestly cannot fathom how you can be looking at the situation of the US currently and not realising how wedge issues based on lies and bigotry work and the absolutely deletrious effect it is having on minorities.

I suppose you'll still be equivocating and making excuses when it's gone past travel bans (https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/marco-rubio-state-transgender-visa-b2704734.html), erasure of LGBT literature (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/banned-books-lgbtq-transgender-black-people-of-color-pen-america-rcna193879), banning of social and medical transition (https://www.hrc.org/resources/attacks-on-gender-affirming-care-by-state-map, https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/texas-not-for-freedom-house-bill-could-ban-gender-affirming-care-for-transgender-adults/ar-AA1AjTF5), the creation of specific crimes for the existence of transgender people (https://msmagazine.com/2025/03/03/montana-hb-446-criminalizes-trans-existence-social-contagion/), the removal of protections in law (https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/01/23/trump-administration-moves-reject-transgender-identity-rights) and we're in camps waiting to be "purified".

Why are you falling for wedge issues that are designed to wipe out a group of people in a way that absolutely parallels actions taken by Nazis? Is a discussion about 10 athletes out of hundreds of thousands that important?

What conversation do you want exactly?

If you want to pretend there is nuance you will be fully aware that the evidence that supposedly supports banning trans athletes, which is an initial step of control used to further limit transgender people by e.g. preventing them for entering the country, are meta studies based on comparisons of cisgender men and cisgender women, right?

There isn't a nuanced debate to be had and I'm sick of pretending that people like myself who just want to live our lives are a subject for debate.

So yes, worrying about tens out of hundreds of thousands of athletes when there isn't clear evidence of an advantage is bigoted and not calling that out leads to situations where conservatives and the far right try to introduce bills like that which was recently struck down (thankfully) in Montana.

Now, question for you - why is it so important to you that a minority of people should have their basic humanity and ability to participate in society be questioned in the way that transgender people are? Why do you support that? Why do you consider that to be an okay thing to do, when the consequences of allowing it are so plain to see?

I am not sure what you don't understand about the statement that walking back support is, in fact, walking back support.

Walking back support in one area is walking back support.

It ain't that complex. As soon as concessions are made, the far right demands more because there must always be an enemy to crush completely for the in-group. Who will then pick a new enemy when it comes politically convenient.

That is because "the left" might have a few members that just so happen to be better read and have considered some of Popper's writings.

On such a note, I presume these right-leaning opinions aren't about the virtues of conservative fiscal policy?

There are many right wing views, views that are now sadly becoming more and more mainstream, that should not be tolerated. If right wingers had faced actual consequences when espousing their hatred of minorities, we might not be looking at a US government that wants to cozy up to Putin and distance their long term allies while stripping away the rights of US citizens.

They aren't and, if they were, is that a problem?

Look at what right-wing echo chambers have led to. Look at what the "centrist" internet has led to.

Its 2025 and there are still people on the Fediverse convinced that the problem is the "left". Utterly divorced from reality.

Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy. Pushing Ice. Semiosis trilogy. Ninefox Gambit. Schild's Ladder. Firefall.

Good for them

I put weight on deliberately when starting on HRT and at points when I increased my estrogen dose.

It didn't help and I have very small boobs. I've done caloric restriction and large amounts of exercise a few times when further increasing estrogen or changing from pills to patches and it's not really impacted breast growth.

Some trans girls are just up against the genetic lottery and you'll end up small no matter what. In my case, none of the cisgender women in my immediate family have anything above an A cup and coupled with broader shoulders from an original testosterone puberty means I've got not much at all!

Which is a lot to say that trying to game it via weight gain and loss isn't going to make a huge difference and you should get development no matter, unless you are on a starvation diet.

Do you sit with your head turned to the side when using the mouse and keyboard? 😱

The US regime believes in notifying parents, irrespective of the possible harm, if their child might be gay or trans but won't bother with bullying so severe it leads to suicide. The US is fucked.

Ahh, phrenology is apparently scientific if you do it with AI?

I fucking hate this timeline

He's somewhat gotten the point and it's definitely not the worst reaction but be prepared for things not to be smooth and for the acceptance and understanding never to come. This may not be the case, but from my experience, those who state that they would rather you explore other options first will always have an alternative option that is perceived by them to be a better outcome.

Just be ready to cut this person out of your life. I really hope it doesn't come to that for you, but I've had people like that which still fail to accept and understand after multiple diagnoses and over a decade later.

Ahhh, Semiosis had it right all along!

I think it is a link to X so I won't click on it.

This was just announced https://retrohandhelds.gg/retroid-pocket-flip-2-announced/

I'm not surprised sadly - I have a PhD in chemistry and then continued to a postdoc and teaching before heading elsewhere. During my undergraduate there was a woman on the course who was very good and very competent but was also evangelical to the point of believing in a young Earth. To her, concepts such as half-lives were just lies that needed to be learnt.

Normally that has been flushed out by the time of doing a PhD, but if not it really should be.

Kinda totally past the point of caring about that distinction tbh. We're seeing where conservatism leads and it's abhorrent for anyone with a mild sense of decency that cares a shred about science and a world with even a hint of equality and acceptance.

It was fantastic! Even got a lovely story from the wee old woman behind the counter about how she got kicked in the head (don't worry, it was funny and not anything malicious!)