Charles Arthur
@charlesarthur.bsky.social
Author “Social Warming”, about how social media inevitably polarises us all (not me or you, obviously, just everyone else). Journalist who has covered sports, technology, science, medicine. Ex-Guardian, -Independent, -New Scientist.
You can't even get your own claims about your own posts right.
One point that was correct though - your claims are pure ideology. The benefit is that people can see you're incapable of argument.
One point that was correct though - your claims are pure ideology. The benefit is that people can see you're incapable of argument.
November 11, 2025 at 3:10 PM
You can't even get your own claims about your own posts right.
One point that was correct though - your claims are pure ideology. The benefit is that people can see you're incapable of argument.
One point that was correct though - your claims are pure ideology. The benefit is that people can see you're incapable of argument.
I'm confident that all the male competitors have had functional SRY genes. If you don't understand why it's genes, not chromosomes, that matter, then you need to learn more developmental biology.
November 11, 2025 at 3:07 PM
I'm confident that all the male competitors have had functional SRY genes. If you don't understand why it's genes, not chromosomes, that matter, then you need to learn more developmental biology.
Ding ding ding! Calling something "transphobia" is the sure sign that you don't have an actual rational response.
November 11, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Ding ding ding! Calling something "transphobia" is the sure sign that you don't have an actual rational response.
No, you missed the point. Quinn is female, and competes in the female category, and nobody complains, because it's fair.
Laurel Hubbard is male, and competes in the female category, and people, such as female weightlifters, are pissed off because it's unfair.
Laurel Hubbard is male, and competes in the female category, and people, such as female weightlifters, are pissed off because it's unfair.
November 11, 2025 at 3:05 PM
No, you missed the point. Quinn is female, and competes in the female category, and nobody complains, because it's fair.
Laurel Hubbard is male, and competes in the female category, and people, such as female weightlifters, are pissed off because it's unfair.
Laurel Hubbard is male, and competes in the female category, and people, such as female weightlifters, are pissed off because it's unfair.
"Against consensus"? Of who? Lunatics? The process by which the embryo develops as male has been well understood since the 1990s. Gender is irrelevant to sport. What matters is sex, and SRY screening offers a simple method of finding those who are not male, and hence qualify for the F category.
November 11, 2025 at 3:03 PM
"Against consensus"? Of who? Lunatics? The process by which the embryo develops as male has been well understood since the 1990s. Gender is irrelevant to sport. What matters is sex, and SRY screening offers a simple method of finding those who are not male, and hence qualify for the F category.
However the Olympics, along with World Athletics, boxing, rugby, cricket, cycling, swimming, skiing and others have determined that female athletes should not have to be disadvantaged by having to compete against males. Looks like the DESR lost that argument.
November 11, 2025 at 1:19 PM
However the Olympics, along with World Athletics, boxing, rugby, cricket, cycling, swimming, skiing and others have determined that female athletes should not have to be disadvantaged by having to compete against males. Looks like the DESR lost that argument.
The existence of trisonomies and other chromosomal abnormalities is also irrelevant. (They're usually not beneficial.) They're a tiny proportion of the population, and effectively zero in the athletic population. Trans women will be XY, just like any other male.
November 11, 2025 at 1:17 PM
The existence of trisonomies and other chromosomal abnormalities is also irrelevant. (They're usually not beneficial.) They're a tiny proportion of the population, and effectively zero in the athletic population. Trans women will be XY, just like any other male.
That's rubbish. Andres won because Andres is male, and retains male advantage from puberty, and skeletal muscle which is strengthened by repeated training.
What matters is the YEARS of testosterone, which gives all the male advantage. Taking some HRT, same as not training, doesn't make males female.
What matters is the YEARS of testosterone, which gives all the male advantage. Taking some HRT, same as not training, doesn't make males female.
November 11, 2025 at 1:15 PM
That's rubbish. Andres won because Andres is male, and retains male advantage from puberty, and skeletal muscle which is strengthened by repeated training.
What matters is the YEARS of testosterone, which gives all the male advantage. Taking some HRT, same as not training, doesn't make males female.
What matters is the YEARS of testosterone, which gives all the male advantage. Taking some HRT, same as not training, doesn't make males female.
If Trump is stupid enough to bring it to court, he will lose.
November 11, 2025 at 12:58 PM
If Trump is stupid enough to bring it to court, he will lose.
The Fat Blokes study is not longitudinal and uses mismatched groups. There's no point even trying to draw conclusions from it, except that males are stronger and taller than women, and some are fatter too.
November 11, 2025 at 11:58 AM
The Fat Blokes study is not longitudinal and uses mismatched groups. There's no point even trying to draw conclusions from it, except that males are stronger and taller than women, and some are fatter too.
Ideologues always resort to insults in the end, because they don't have any rational arguments. As you demonstrate.
November 11, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Ideologues always resort to insults in the end, because they don't have any rational arguments. As you demonstrate.
The burden is on you to demonstrate that it's fair for males to compete in the female category. We now have one example in swimming where it's demonstrably unfair. That in itself should be sufficient to rule out the whole category of androgenised males via SRY screening: if one can't pass, none can.
November 11, 2025 at 11:56 AM
The burden is on you to demonstrate that it's fair for males to compete in the female category. We now have one example in swimming where it's demonstrably unfair. That in itself should be sufficient to rule out the whole category of androgenised males via SRY screening: if one can't pass, none can.
"Conclusion:.. these findings suggest that strength may be well preserved in transwomen during the first 3 years of hormone therapy". Harper - a TW - now accepts that you can't make TW participation fair.
November 11, 2025 at 11:54 AM
"Conclusion:.. these findings suggest that strength may be well preserved in transwomen during the first 3 years of hormone therapy". Harper - a TW - now accepts that you can't make TW participation fair.
Whether they occur within a category (height, reach, speed, strength - fair: eg Usain Bolt was faster than other males) or between categories (adult males have unfair advantages over 12yo females).
We try to find the best *within* a category. The best NBA player isn't the tallest. Height isn't all.
We try to find the best *within* a category. The best NBA player isn't the tallest. Height isn't all.
November 11, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Whether they occur within a category (height, reach, speed, strength - fair: eg Usain Bolt was faster than other males) or between categories (adult males have unfair advantages over 12yo females).
We try to find the best *within* a category. The best NBA player isn't the tallest. Height isn't all.
We try to find the best *within* a category. The best NBA player isn't the tallest. Height isn't all.
Actually, trans men are welcome to compete in women's sports, providing they haven't doped with testosterone, because they're female.
Recreational sports such as croquet and the newly-invented tennis were convenient ways for the sexes to interact in the Victorian era. The opposite of your claim.
Recreational sports such as croquet and the newly-invented tennis were convenient ways for the sexes to interact in the Victorian era. The opposite of your claim.
November 11, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Actually, trans men are welcome to compete in women's sports, providing they haven't doped with testosterone, because they're female.
Recreational sports such as croquet and the newly-invented tennis were convenient ways for the sexes to interact in the Victorian era. The opposite of your claim.
Recreational sports such as croquet and the newly-invented tennis were convenient ways for the sexes to interact in the Victorian era. The opposite of your claim.
Please tell me about the trans women who would test negative on an SRY screen. How could they have been born male without an active SRY gene?
We're talking about human sports, not clownfish.
We're talking about human sports, not clownfish.
November 11, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Please tell me about the trans women who would test negative on an SRY screen. How could they have been born male without an active SRY gene?
We're talking about human sports, not clownfish.
We're talking about human sports, not clownfish.
They're still male, aren't they. They would not pass an SRY screen. You wail "transphobe". It's not 2017 any more. Nobody is scared of you. Make your case with facts, not emotion.
As for your strawman - I never said anyone did this to win at sports. I pointed out that they retain male advantage.
As for your strawman - I never said anyone did this to win at sports. I pointed out that they retain male advantage.
November 11, 2025 at 11:34 AM
They're still male, aren't they. They would not pass an SRY screen. You wail "transphobe". It's not 2017 any more. Nobody is scared of you. Make your case with facts, not emotion.
As for your strawman - I never said anyone did this to win at sports. I pointed out that they retain male advantage.
As for your strawman - I never said anyone did this to win at sports. I pointed out that they retain male advantage.
Where are the scientists on here demonstrating that male people become female (ie pass an SRY screen) after taking HRT?
You might find it uncomfortable that people disagree with you. But that's also the effect of making claims that can't be proven.
You might find it uncomfortable that people disagree with you. But that's also the effect of making claims that can't be proven.
November 11, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Where are the scientists on here demonstrating that male people become female (ie pass an SRY screen) after taking HRT?
You might find it uncomfortable that people disagree with you. But that's also the effect of making claims that can't be proven.
You might find it uncomfortable that people disagree with you. But that's also the effect of making claims that can't be proven.
That's not required. The burden is on *you* to demonstrate that somehow male people become female and therefore eligible for the female category. Do they pass an SRY screen after taking HRT? No. After surgery? No.
So provide *your* proof of their eligibility. Note: mantras don't count.
So provide *your* proof of their eligibility. Note: mantras don't count.
November 11, 2025 at 11:29 AM
That's not required. The burden is on *you* to demonstrate that somehow male people become female and therefore eligible for the female category. Do they pass an SRY screen after taking HRT? No. After surgery? No.
So provide *your* proof of their eligibility. Note: mantras don't count.
So provide *your* proof of their eligibility. Note: mantras don't count.