Hey—I’m going to delete your comment. Not because I disagree with it (which I do) but because it sucks.
If you want to come back and write a better comment that demonstrates you’ve at least Googled the abstracts of studies on testosterone levels in elite athletes and trans/intersex elite athletes in particular; and also that you’ve carefully read the IOC rules on testosterone levels in elite trans athletes; and furthermore that you’ve considered some of the expert opinions (on both sides, even!) in any of the recent dozens of in-depth articles on the topic in various sports publications; and additionally that you’re aware of the potential legal implications of denying an athlete the ability to compete based on sexual identity; and finally, that you can present a thoughtful, rigorous opinion (even one that I disagree with) based on that self-education, then I’m all for it.
This is relatively new ground for everyone, and there is room (and even need) for respectful, fact-driven discussion about competition guidelines as our knowledge of the issues surrounding them grows in the years come. But until you can clear even the lowest informational bar, my FB page isn’t a place you get to have an opinion. And I’m not sorry for that.
See, I have the same problem with a comment like “testosterone is a thing” as I do with “biological advantage”—it’s a sloppy, oversimplified response that purports to leverage “common sense” in heading-off the sort of rational question-asking responsible for pretty much everything humans have ever accomplished.
And, as it happens, my disdain for that particular phrase stems not from issues surrounding trans athletes, but from my fellow cis-males, a certain subset of whom insist that some amorphous “biological advantage” prevents a Cat 3 amateur cyclist who can put out 250 watts at threshold at age 20 from competing fairly with a Cat 3 amateur cyclist who can put out 250 watts at threshold at age 45.
Regardless of the specific areas they’re applied to, these are just bad arguments, and you should not make them. If, for some reason, you remain hellbent on public proclamations about where trans-females should and shouldn’t compete—a topic that will literally never affect you, by the way—as someone who looks like you and who may be pre-judged based on the things you say, I’m going to have to demand you make a good faith effort to present some actual reasoning.
It’s true, I suppose I could have not deleted your comment and instead posted this as a reply. But that’d just be rewarding your ignorance on the topic with attention it has not earned and most certainly does not deserve. The resulting discussion, no matter how nuanced and detailed the responses, or how carefully cited the specific facts, would not change your mind, and—as a point of basic psychology—would likely make you cling ever more relentlessly to your own ignorance on the topic.
So please—take the respite I’ve granted removing you from this conversation to reconsider not just the opinion you hold, but your motivation in expressing it. What positive outcome are you seeking? While I do disagree with your take on the topic, I don’t disagree to the point that I want to see you piled-on and publicly shamed for it. That won’t help you reach the sort of thoughtful, carefully-considered conclusion (even one I may disagree with) that I believe, in my heart of hearts, you’re capable of. And finally—just since it seems to be news to many of us white dudes—attaching your name to half-baked trumpet blasts across a social network of 2 billion can have far-reaching, real-world consequences. It’s worth reiterating that “freedom of speech” has never come with a “freedom from accountability” rider.
