Richard Dawkins declares there are only two sexes as matter of science: 'That's all there is to it'

[Lursa]

Does this happen to you often? I guess I live in a different world, but when you are introduced to someone, they tell you what pronouns to call them by?

Yes and esp. when they are introduced in a social setting, it's included in the introduction. It's no big deal, no more emphasis is put on it than their name. No one forces you to use it any more than you're forced to use someone's name. Of course I consider it rude to refer to someone by something other than their name if I know it. So same for pronouns.

What's the issue with doing that? To me, it's manners, doesnt cost me anything.

 

[Fearandloathing]

I'll disagree. The "right wing" is playing defense here. It's progressives that have pushed to redefine things that have traditionally been defined based on "sex" to be defined on the now indefinable "gender." Sports participation, bathrooms, discrimination... Progressives are the ones pushing for sexualization of curriculum in schools. Progressives are ones pushing for kids coming out and transitioning at ten, eleven twelve years old.

Where you see weaponization and exploitation, I see defense.

What is defense but weaponization at home?

BTW, that's what progressives do. We progress, throwing away outdated bullshit like not allowing women to vote, denying them the right to own a home.
And it's why it's called "progress".

I bet your mother is happy that she now makes as much as a man...or getting there. I bet your grandmother wishes SHE had some of the "privileges" afforded the average woman today.

So now we've expanded to include equal rights for some forgotten minorities. And you're pissed because?

You're afraid. You're afraid someone else is going to get something for "nothing" and you won't. It used to be blacks, then it was Mexicans, then women, and now those strange people who think there is an alternative to two sexes.

Guess what? It happens in nature 3% of the time that a person is born with both testicles and a vagina. It even has a scientific name

Hermaphrodite​

Hermaphrodite - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Have a nice day.

 

[ProgressPlease]

Link to an example post of someone on here claiming there are more than 2 biological sexes.

I imagine it's bad etiquette to name names.
There are three sexes (male, female, and intersex) - have read this many times on here.

If you read or participate in threads like these you will see this.

 

[Captain Adverse]

Dawkins, Sam Harris, Michael Shermer, et al, have been saying this for a long time.

In the US the right wing has decided to weaponize and exploit the divide on all things gender identity. Because of this many democrats have reflexively taken the exact opposite position. This is the toxicity of American politics.

It's helpful to remember that the majority of people do question minors having medical interventions and whether transwomen can fairly and safely play on women's teams. This includes democrats, liberals, and progressives.

It's an incredible shame that this has become so politicized, leaving little room for any nuance on a topic that deserves and requires a lot of compassion and thoughtful conversation.

You make a sensible statement but have to preface it with a negative comment about "right wing."

It is the LEFT that pushes ideologies of division.

I personally don't care what adult individuals do to themselves, and with other adult individuals. As long as they recognize that no one else has to agree, support, advocate for, or have to modify their own language and personal behaviors in order to "support" them, I will live and let live.

But when it comes to children under the age of consent? No effing way do I support hormone "therapy" and/or "surgical" mutilation.

Adults are free to go to hell or heaven in their own way as long as I don't have to deal with it. Children and adolescents? Thay need to be protected.

 

[Mach]

It is the LEFT that pushes ideologies of division.

On matters of LGBTQ, Democrats push for equal rights, non-discrimination, tolerance, etc. Liberal values.
Republicans push for restricting their rights, and for discrimination based on religious beliefs, i.e intolerance.

This appears to be the opposite of what you claim.

 

[reflechissez]

Mistreating anybody is wrong.

Laughing at the pronouns. I utterly refuse to use them. I oppose the use of "their" for "everybody," "everyone," "anybody," "anyone," "somebody", "someone," and "each" because they all mean "one." Terribly confusing for second-language speakers," and these new pronouns are also incorrect. "Their" is a plural, so again, it's incorrect and confusing. Hmmmpf, English speakers should be grateful that our language is so gender-neutral compared to other Romance languages.

meh

 

[reflechissez]

I suspect that 95% of the posters who complain about such matters are rarely exposed to atypical gender interactions as they go about their day.

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[nota bene]

Hyper hair splittingly anal retentive grammar nazi - "them" is correct usage when the sex of a person is unknown as in "See that person over there? Ask them if they know how to get to Yankee Stadium."

Uh, if you see someone, can't you guess his or her gender almost all the time? Failing that, why can't you say "See the person in the red shirt? Ask that person"? Of course, you can.

And there is quite a difference between the written word and the spoken word. I admit to be very careless at times in my own speech, but there is no excuse in writing. "One" means ONE, requiring "he,""she," or "it." The goal is communication, and as I've already pointed out, carelessness is pronoun use is terribly confusing for second-language speakers.

But really, you're making excuses for carelessness or not knowing any better.

 

[Captain Adverse]

On matters of LGBTQ, Democrats push for equal rights, non-discrimination, tolerance, etc. Liberal values.

No, IMO Democrats push for special rights, and discrimination on the basis of favoring those "special interest groups," etc.

When I was young we protested against segregation. These days it is all about "special places" set aside for each of such special interest groups which often serve to discriminate against or impose burdens on certain other so-called "advantaged" groups.

It is all about creating a hierarchy of oppression and then trying to self-identify with as many of them as possible in order to find one's niche as high as possible thereby gaining as much special favor as possible.

When it comes to the Democrat politicians, IMO they encourage this and then seek to purchase influence and votes via federal funding, special privileges, and advocation...all in order to take and hold perpetual power. Yet the danger of one-Party control of government is clearly demonstrated throughout modern history.

Republicans push for restricting their rights, and for discrimination based on religious beliefs, i.e intolerance.

I am not arguing for Republicans. But as I point out above IMO it is the Democrats who are the ones pushing discrimination on the basis of "special classes" of citizens.

This appears to be the opposite of what you claim.

Not at all. Nothing you listed has anything to do with my position on individual freedom. It is all typical red herring and straw man examples.

I don't care what adults do to themselves or with consenting adults, but that does not mean I have to personally agree, support, or advocate. All I need do is tolerate.

But not what these advocates seek to do to children.

 

[reflechissez]

Uh, if you see someone, can't you guess his or her gender almost all the time? Failing that, why can't you say "See the person in the red shirt? Ask that person"? Of course, you can.

And there is quite a difference between the written word and the spoken word. I admit to be very careless at times in my own speech, but there is no excuse in writing. "One" means ONE, requiring "he,""she," or "it." The goal is communication, and as I've already pointed out, carelessness is pronoun use is terribly confusing for second-language speakers.

But really, you're making excuses for carelessness or not knowing any better.

Thank goodness you've taken up the mantle.

 

[nota bene]

What is defense but weaponization at home?

BTW, that's what progressives do. We progress, throwing away outdated bullshit like not allowing women to vote, denying them the right to own a home.
And it's why it's called "progress".

I bet your mother is happy that she now makes as much as a man...or getting there. I bet your grandmother wishes SHE had some of the "privileges" afforded the average woman today.

So now we've expanded to include equal rights for some forgotten minorities. And you're pissed because?

You're afraid. You're afraid someone else is going to get something for "nothing" and you won't. It used to be blacks, then it was Mexicans, then women, and now those strange people who think there is an alternative to two sexes.

Guess what? It happens in nature 3% of the time that a person is born with both testicles and a vagina. It even has a scientific name

Hermaphrodite​

Hermaphrodite - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Have a nice day.

Leave his mother out of this.

And how vile to post that someone's objections to what is going on socially, particularly in schools, is based on bigotry.

And guess what? We all know about the 3% and the medical term, and that is not what we are talking about here.

 

[nota bene]

Thank goodness you've taken up the mantle.

Oh, long ago, and spare me your snideness. I earn my living knowing correct usage, and I've worked with second-language speakers for decades. Next smartassed remark?

 

[nota bene]

Well of course, anyone is free to make that assertion but they would only be demonstrating their ignorance.

If you can't distinguish between singulars and plurals, that's a "you" problem. Work on your counting skills if so.

 

[nota bene]

Does he not realize the debate is about psychology and not biology?

You would need to ask Dawkins this.

 

[nota bene]

I suspect that 95% of the posters who complain about such matters are rarely exposed to atypical gender interactions as they go about their day.

I have been and have posted about it.

 

[Nickyjo]

Mistreating anybody is wrong.

Laughing at the pronouns. I utterly refuse to use them. I oppose the use of "their" for "everybody," "everyone," "anybody," "anyone," "somebody", "someone," and "each" because they all mean "one." Terribly confusing for second-language speakers," and these new pronouns are also incorrect. "Their" is a plural, so again, it's incorrect and confusing. Hmmmpf, English speakers should be grateful that our language is so gender-neutral compared to other Romance languages.

Tho I generally think groups should be given the right or opportunity to designate what they wish to be called, the they/their thing seems silly. Why use plural pronouns (tho occasionally “their” is used to mean a singular) rather than adopt or choose some new term or shorthand, as gays and lesbians did?

Btw, accepting they/their, do we make make verbs plural as well? Is it “they are here” or “they is here.” I assume the former.

 

[Nickyjo]

You make a sensible statement but have to preface it with a negative comment about "right wing."

It is the LEFT that pushes ideologies of division.

I personally don't care what adult individuals do to themselves, and with other adult individuals. As long as they recognize that no one else has to agree, support, advocate for, or have to modify their own language and personal behaviors in order to "support" them, I will live and let live.

But when it comes to children under the age of consent? No effing way do I support hormone "therapy" and/or "surgical" mutilation.

Adults are free to go to hell or heaven in their own way as long as I don't have to deal with it. Children and adolescents? Thay need to be protected.

We all are divisive, except on different subjects. Think of the Trump years, and before that Karl Rove, I believe, saying he divided people into “liberals and Americans.”

 

[nota bene]

Tho I generally think groups should be given the right or opportunity to designate what they wish to be called, the they/their thing seems silly. Why use plural pronouns (tho occasionally “their” is used to mean a singular) rather than adopt or choose some new term or shorthand, as gays and lesbians did?

Btw, accepting they/their, do we make make verbs plural as well? Is it “they are here” or “they is here.” I assume the former.

Ha, that last is a great question, one that I am definitely going to pass on.

And as for the LGBT community, I finally stopped at "boi" and "stud." There are just too many descriptors to keep up with. Years ago the late economist/professor/pundit Walter E. Williams posted about why is is "black." He'd been an n-word and "colored" and just got tired of adopting the newest term.

 

[ALiberalModerate]

I imagine it's bad etiquette to name names.
There are three sexes (male, female, and intersex) - have read this many times on here.

If you read or participate in threads like these you will see this.

Are there just 2 genders?

 

[Nickyjo]

Ha, that last is a great question, one that I am definitely going to pass on.

And as for the LGBT community, I finally stopped at "boi" and "stud." There are just too many descriptors to keep up with. Years ago the late economist/professor/pundit Walter E. Williams posted about why is is "black." He'd been an n-word and "colored" and just got tired of adopting the newest term.

Boi and stud. In my innocence I have to ask, what are those?

 

[ProgressPlease]

Are there just 2 genders?

Gender is socially constructed and referring to masculine and feminine stereotypes in a given society. It did replace the word sex for squeamish folks quite a long time ago so there is a lot of confusion.
There are two sexes. Gender means something different, depending who you talk to.
Intersex is not a third sex.

 

[nota bene]

You make a sensible statement but have to preface it with a negative comment about "right wing."

It is the LEFT that pushes ideologies of division.

I personally don't care what adult individuals do to themselves, and with other adult individuals. As long as they recognize that no one else has to agree, support, advocate for, or have to modify their own language and personal behaviors in order to "support" them, I will live and let live.

But when it comes to children under the age of consent? No effing way do I support hormone "therapy" and/or "surgical" mutilation.

Adults are free to go to hell or heaven in their own way as long as I don't have to deal with it. Children and adolescents? Thay need to be protected.

You didn't know already that posts must reference the "right wing" or "Reich-wing" or Trump irrespective of topic?

A young relative of mine is "transitioning" and already presents as male. She's 15. Her parents are entirely supportive, as is the rest of the family, but her parents want her to wait until she's 18 to take other steps.

 

[ProgressPlease]

You didn't know already that posts must reference the "right wing" or "Reich-wing" or Trump irrespective of topic?

A young relative of mine is "transitioning" and already presents as male. She's 15. Her parents are entirely supportive, as is the rest of the family, but her parents want her to wait until she's 18 to take other steps.

I said right wing because I think they are different from conservative (though there can be overlap) just as democrat and progressive are different. Unfortunately the terms don’t mean anything consistent anymore but I was trying to draw some distinction not use hyperbolic terminology.
I’m not the least bit insulted to be called left wing.

 

[Visbek]

During a recent interview with British journalist Piers Morgan, famed atheist and biologist Richard Dawkins declared that "there are two sexes, and that’s all there is to it."

Sad to say, but even from a biological perspective, he's wrong, and he should know it.

There are lots of examples of asexual reproduction. Which of the two sexes is an amoeba? Or a whiptail dragon?

Further, a small percentage of humans (and other species, I'm sure) are born as intersex -- i.e. they have features associated with the male and female sex. It is only in the past few decades that doctors have had the ability to perform surgeries that basically force the child into either "male" or "female" -- surgeries not unlike the ones conservatives are trying so hard to outlaw.

Anyway. In the same way that "race" is not the same thing as "haplogroup" or "species," "biological sex" is not the same thing as "gender." Dawkins is simply wrong on this topic, and really should know better.

 

[nota bene]

Boi and stud. In my innocence I have to ask, what are those?

One of many gender-expressive terms for lesbians. It's no longer just a femme/butch world out there.