With all of the controversies in "gender identity" and treatment of children diagnosed with body dysphoria all over the news, how can the public know which research is valid? For example the DeVries, Steersma, et al studies (circa 2014) called "The Dutch Studies" and from which the World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH) derived "The Dutch Protocols" only had 70 subjects originally. The subject size decreased to 55, with no explanations. Then a subject committed suicide (again no explanation) and a subject died immediately after the "vaginoplasty" surgery. Thus, "The Dutch Protocols" are based on a cohort of only 53. As well, these Dutch researchers took funding from the Ferring Pharma company, which produces the very puberty blockers they were studying. How does the general public assess the foundations for a psycho-medical treatment of a psychiatric illness?
University of Arizona has recently sent a mailer to the parent of one of their college students. They addressed the mother of the student as "Mx." instead of Mrs or Ms.
This is very offensive. I would be offended by my child's college taking it upon themselves to change my gender title without my approval. What do you think ? And how should offended parents proceed?
1) On February 16, 2023 a presidential executive order established what are essentially political commissars for all of the federal government including the military. The structure is a close copy of the system used by the Soviet Union and is still in use in the Chinese Military. Did not receive any mainstream media attention. The opposition party was silent.
2) Washington Legislature passed a series of bills, SB 5889, SB 5904, SB 5313, SB5599, HB 1469 that allow any group to take a child from their parents, arrange for “gender affirming care”, including off label medications and surgery. It is unlawful to disclose to the parents the location of their child. The parents’ health insurance company must pay for those procedures. That insurance company is prohibited from disclosing that those procedures were paid.
3) Oregon Legislature has similar legislation, including HB 2002. HB 2002 also prohibits future legal action against those providing medical procedures to a minor without parental consent. If a child later decides that gender surgery was not a good thing, cannot sue.
Question: Why do you think that such extreme actions are not news? Why is both the mainstream media and the opposition party silent?
Has Matt Walsh ever gotten back to you about your open invitation for a conversation?
If he never accepts to your invitation, what might be your response to his claims? Or, what line of questioning would you pursue in your hypothetical conversation with him?
Do you think there is a level of modernity a society must reach before classical liberalism becomes the most ideal mode of governance? A certain percentage of the populace being educated?
Kinda of a personal question. Feel free to ignore this. How do I find a mental health therapist who isn't ideological when I live in a "woke" city? I've had 2 in my area who were pushing their beliefs on me and would shame me and/or tell me it will take a lot of work (on my part) to move past my unconscious biases. I used to live in a swing state and I never had a therapist push ideology into individual sessions or group sessions. Do I need to move?
This is for Peter, not really for the discussion board. I recently obtained "How to Have Impossible Conversations," but have long shared and discussed your insightful and succinct observation that “The only way to figure out which claims about the world are likely to be true, and which are likely to be false, is through reason and evidence. There is no other way.”
I'm very close to publishing an anthology which grew out of my social anthropology grad research completed in 2020 at Goldsmiths, U of London. The focus is the religion-exiting experience. I'm wondering if Peter would consider reading an ARC, and possibly write a brief back-cover blurb? Thanks. Doug Matheson (dougwmatheson@gmail.com)
Hi Gina, I saw you liked the above. In-as-much-as I haven't heard from Peter, I'm curious if in your role as Director of Content and Production for Peter Boghossian's nonprofit, National Progress Alliance (NPA), you might be interested in reading the manuscript for "Taking New Paths: Stories of Leaving Religion." I could send you either an electronic file, or hard copy ARC. Thanks for considering it.
Hi Gina, I've tried to re-establish email communication, to no avail. Has life gotten overwhelmingly busy? Or have you chosen to not read and react to this? Thanks.
Suppose Jerry Coyne, Michael Shermer, and Richard Dawkins, all assure you that recent genetic studies show that given the proper hormone treatment, an X chromosome can be transformed into a Y chromosome and vice versa, and the results have been repeated in independent experiments. It is starting to appear that men can become women and women can become men after all. How would you determine if their claims are true or false?
I am still hoping Matt Walsh decides to accept your invitation to have a conversation. What I really respect about your invitation is that it prioritizes integrity over “winning”. Thank you, Peter and Gina, for all your hard work and dedication. Please keep the great content coming!
Having watched many videos of your reverse Q&A's and street epistemology (and learning so much as a family!), we have a question about practical application with our friends and family members. We'd like to plant some seeds of doubt on the topic of "drag queen story hour" which they all seem to have embraced as a civil rights issue. We see their posts on social media such as, "It's not just about drag queens just like it was never just about water fountains" and "The biggest danger of taking your child to a drag show is that a christian could show up with a gun." We aren't going to engage on social media. In person, however, what would be a good, non-threatening opener so we could invite a conversation? Given that people tend to cling to their beliefs more when you offer them evidence, we're a little stuck since they may not be aware of some of the overtly sexual content or the predatory history of some of these men masquerading as exaggerated versions of women. Or, they may think this is all perfectly OK! What would be some strategies we could use to at least start a friendly conversation? Thank you! FYI, my son (16) just quoted you in a project on free speech for his class at PCC.
With all of the controversies in "gender identity" and treatment of children diagnosed with body dysphoria all over the news, how can the public know which research is valid? For example the DeVries, Steersma, et al studies (circa 2014) called "The Dutch Studies" and from which the World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH) derived "The Dutch Protocols" only had 70 subjects originally. The subject size decreased to 55, with no explanations. Then a subject committed suicide (again no explanation) and a subject died immediately after the "vaginoplasty" surgery. Thus, "The Dutch Protocols" are based on a cohort of only 53. As well, these Dutch researchers took funding from the Ferring Pharma company, which produces the very puberty blockers they were studying. How does the general public assess the foundations for a psycho-medical treatment of a psychiatric illness?
University of Arizona has recently sent a mailer to the parent of one of their college students. They addressed the mother of the student as "Mx." instead of Mrs or Ms.
This is very offensive. I would be offended by my child's college taking it upon themselves to change my gender title without my approval. What do you think ? And how should offended parents proceed?
1) On February 16, 2023 a presidential executive order established what are essentially political commissars for all of the federal government including the military. The structure is a close copy of the system used by the Soviet Union and is still in use in the Chinese Military. Did not receive any mainstream media attention. The opposition party was silent.
2) Washington Legislature passed a series of bills, SB 5889, SB 5904, SB 5313, SB5599, HB 1469 that allow any group to take a child from their parents, arrange for “gender affirming care”, including off label medications and surgery. It is unlawful to disclose to the parents the location of their child. The parents’ health insurance company must pay for those procedures. That insurance company is prohibited from disclosing that those procedures were paid.
3) Oregon Legislature has similar legislation, including HB 2002. HB 2002 also prohibits future legal action against those providing medical procedures to a minor without parental consent. If a child later decides that gender surgery was not a good thing, cannot sue.
Question: Why do you think that such extreme actions are not news? Why is both the mainstream media and the opposition party silent?
I submitted a question last month that got missed- hoping it will be included this round! Thanks.
Leslie, it will be! Thank you for your patience, I'm sorry I missed it last month!
Why is it a good idea to put kids in Mandarin immersion schools?
Has Matt Walsh ever gotten back to you about your open invitation for a conversation?
If he never accepts to your invitation, what might be your response to his claims? Or, what line of questioning would you pursue in your hypothetical conversation with him?
Do you think there is a level of modernity a society must reach before classical liberalism becomes the most ideal mode of governance? A certain percentage of the populace being educated?
Kinda of a personal question. Feel free to ignore this. How do I find a mental health therapist who isn't ideological when I live in a "woke" city? I've had 2 in my area who were pushing their beliefs on me and would shame me and/or tell me it will take a lot of work (on my part) to move past my unconscious biases. I used to live in a swing state and I never had a therapist push ideology into individual sessions or group sessions. Do I need to move?
This is for Peter, not really for the discussion board. I recently obtained "How to Have Impossible Conversations," but have long shared and discussed your insightful and succinct observation that “The only way to figure out which claims about the world are likely to be true, and which are likely to be false, is through reason and evidence. There is no other way.”
I'm very close to publishing an anthology which grew out of my social anthropology grad research completed in 2020 at Goldsmiths, U of London. The focus is the religion-exiting experience. I'm wondering if Peter would consider reading an ARC, and possibly write a brief back-cover blurb? Thanks. Doug Matheson (dougwmatheson@gmail.com)
Hi Gina, I saw you liked the above. In-as-much-as I haven't heard from Peter, I'm curious if in your role as Director of Content and Production for Peter Boghossian's nonprofit, National Progress Alliance (NPA), you might be interested in reading the manuscript for "Taking New Paths: Stories of Leaving Religion." I could send you either an electronic file, or hard copy ARC. Thanks for considering it.
Hi Doug, I would love to see your manuscript. I'll email you!
Hi Gina, I've tried to re-establish email communication, to no avail. Has life gotten overwhelmingly busy? Or have you chosen to not read and react to this? Thanks.
Suppose Jerry Coyne, Michael Shermer, and Richard Dawkins, all assure you that recent genetic studies show that given the proper hormone treatment, an X chromosome can be transformed into a Y chromosome and vice versa, and the results have been repeated in independent experiments. It is starting to appear that men can become women and women can become men after all. How would you determine if their claims are true or false?
I am still hoping Matt Walsh decides to accept your invitation to have a conversation. What I really respect about your invitation is that it prioritizes integrity over “winning”. Thank you, Peter and Gina, for all your hard work and dedication. Please keep the great content coming!
Note to self: Leslie's question from March!
Hi Peter,
Having watched many videos of your reverse Q&A's and street epistemology (and learning so much as a family!), we have a question about practical application with our friends and family members. We'd like to plant some seeds of doubt on the topic of "drag queen story hour" which they all seem to have embraced as a civil rights issue. We see their posts on social media such as, "It's not just about drag queens just like it was never just about water fountains" and "The biggest danger of taking your child to a drag show is that a christian could show up with a gun." We aren't going to engage on social media. In person, however, what would be a good, non-threatening opener so we could invite a conversation? Given that people tend to cling to their beliefs more when you offer them evidence, we're a little stuck since they may not be aware of some of the overtly sexual content or the predatory history of some of these men masquerading as exaggerated versions of women. Or, they may think this is all perfectly OK! What would be some strategies we could use to at least start a friendly conversation? Thank you! FYI, my son (16) just quoted you in a project on free speech for his class at PCC.