I agree. Unless I'm making a point I don't say 'trans person', man, woman, etc (and absolutely not 'trans child') because to say that is to accept that the concept (gender identity, differently-sexed different bits of the same person) is a real thing. People identify as, or say they are, 'trans', but since no one is trans in the sense that they have a brain of one sex in a cranium of another sex, and everyone is trans in the sense that we don't identify with all sex stereotypes, it's not just a meaningless word but a downright misleading one.
Just because I don't share the belief, though, doesn't mean I'm phobic. I'm also an atheist, but that doesn't automatically mean I'm an islamophobe or an anti-semite. I just don't believe in the principles of the belief system, and similarly I don't agree with gender ideologues about how the world is. We can accept that a Christian *is* a Christian in the sense that they believe they are, but we don't have to believe they actually are an ensouled creation beloved of the Abrahamic deity, whose soul is destined to spend eternity in heaven or hell after they die.
This is a great piece Meghan. Clear, well articulated and brave. You never disappoint. Thank you for standing up for the truth and defending women’s rights unapologetically.
If you want to successfully float a social movement based on lies that everyone knows are lies, emotional manipulation is required in order to distract us from what we would otherwise recognize as reality. Fortunately for the liars, some people are very triggered by name-calling. "Transphobic" is one such name.
You write: "...we are talking about something much bigger: the truth. And reality. We are also talking about women’s rights and the safety and well being of kids." Shame on you, Meghan, for mentioning such transphobic concepts as truth, reality, and women's rights.
Speaking of women's rights, have you noticed that they're on shaky ground these days, and not just from the anti-abortion crowd? Liberals and feminists are rightfully passionate in defense of a woman's right to control her own body with respect to abortion and reproduction. But when it comes to genitally intact male felons, including rapists and murderers, being housed in women's prisons, a woman’s fundamental right to bodily autonomy and safety gets shoved to the margins. How come? Somebody should do a study on how being accused of transphobia leads to virtue signalling and the dissolution of reason. Oh wait...you just did that.
Well said. "Being labelled a transphobe is scary. It signals to progressives not just that you are bad, but that you are dangerous: on par with Nazis and white supremacists who wish to eradicate certain members of the population"
This is the part that infuriates me the most. We could be talking about any darling topic of cancel culture--trans, climate, vaccines, whatever. The culture's entire posture is designed to deliver pretext for violence against the non-believer in order to achieve political dominance. The not-so-funny irony is that by supplanting the free exchange of ideas with unchallengeable calls to "shut her down" (or worse), the progressive far left becomes the very "Nazis" they ascribe to their targets. Anything goes when they've convinced enough people that you're dangerous.
While I've long rejected the label of "transphobic", I came at it more from the second half of the term. I don't fear "trans", and I'm not even disgusted by them as individuals as I've seen [edit: mentioned] in some right-wing memes.
(Their behavior towards others is another matter entirely, ESPECIALLY their pushing to psychologically and physically mutilate children who have no idea what the putative adults are trying to do to them.)
Using the "phobe" suffix has always struck me as trying to sound "sciency" with a term used by psychology, as if there was some scientific basis for the label instead of a bunch of insecure bullies trying to silence any criticism, no matter how mild or fact-based it may be.
(Never mind that their grasp on "science" in general is about as tenuous as that of Trofim Lysenko. :P )
Mar 7, 2023·edited Mar 7, 2023Liked by Meghan Murphy
This is excellen Succinct. I no longer try to convince about the truth. There is no point. i'm not wasting my time. This piece offers a framework for people like me who are sick and tired of this nonsense. Everlasting thanks to you.
I never liked the "phobic" label to begin with because it is belittling and conversation ending. It paints the other party as holding an irrational fear and therefore not worthy of engaging in a conversation or hearing out their views. Even if I don't agree on policy, people who object to same sex marriage have a reasonable argument as to why it was not a good idea. It is not (usually) an irrational fear or a blind hatred based on an ick factor. For this reason I have stopped using phobic and just started saying "anti-same sex marriage" or whatever the issue is. Here it is a bit different because as you rightly point out there is no such thing as a trans person. I'm actually not even sure how to characterize views like ours without making reference to the trans concept. Pro-women only spaces would work, anti-gender treatment of children...but these constructions are definitely more awkward and don't lend themselves to memetic catch phrases.
I have never understood the defensive response to the stupid "transphobe" name. I'm glad to say I'm a transphobe because I don't believe in letting this cult harm children or endanger women. I remember the days when the cross-dressers/transvestites did their own thing around their own company and the rest of us went about our lives. These aren't your grannys trannys. "Trans" is a dangerous cult and we are already way past Kristallnacht.
Amen. I don't give an inch. Men are men, women are women, and kids and teens must be left free to grow and develop without misinformation & endoctrination. Any teacher or school official who tries to fill their mind with utter nonsense should be FIRED. FAST.
I agree. Unless I'm making a point I don't say 'trans person', man, woman, etc (and absolutely not 'trans child') because to say that is to accept that the concept (gender identity, differently-sexed different bits of the same person) is a real thing. People identify as, or say they are, 'trans', but since no one is trans in the sense that they have a brain of one sex in a cranium of another sex, and everyone is trans in the sense that we don't identify with all sex stereotypes, it's not just a meaningless word but a downright misleading one.
Just because I don't share the belief, though, doesn't mean I'm phobic. I'm also an atheist, but that doesn't automatically mean I'm an islamophobe or an anti-semite. I just don't believe in the principles of the belief system, and similarly I don't agree with gender ideologues about how the world is. We can accept that a Christian *is* a Christian in the sense that they believe they are, but we don't have to believe they actually are an ensouled creation beloved of the Abrahamic deity, whose soul is destined to spend eternity in heaven or hell after they die.
there is no such thing as transition. you can redraw the map but it doesn't change the land.
This is a great piece Meghan. Clear, well articulated and brave. You never disappoint. Thank you for standing up for the truth and defending women’s rights unapologetically.
If you want to successfully float a social movement based on lies that everyone knows are lies, emotional manipulation is required in order to distract us from what we would otherwise recognize as reality. Fortunately for the liars, some people are very triggered by name-calling. "Transphobic" is one such name.
You write: "...we are talking about something much bigger: the truth. And reality. We are also talking about women’s rights and the safety and well being of kids." Shame on you, Meghan, for mentioning such transphobic concepts as truth, reality, and women's rights.
Speaking of women's rights, have you noticed that they're on shaky ground these days, and not just from the anti-abortion crowd? Liberals and feminists are rightfully passionate in defense of a woman's right to control her own body with respect to abortion and reproduction. But when it comes to genitally intact male felons, including rapists and murderers, being housed in women's prisons, a woman’s fundamental right to bodily autonomy and safety gets shoved to the margins. How come? Somebody should do a study on how being accused of transphobia leads to virtue signalling and the dissolution of reason. Oh wait...you just did that.
Well said. "Being labelled a transphobe is scary. It signals to progressives not just that you are bad, but that you are dangerous: on par with Nazis and white supremacists who wish to eradicate certain members of the population"
This is the part that infuriates me the most. We could be talking about any darling topic of cancel culture--trans, climate, vaccines, whatever. The culture's entire posture is designed to deliver pretext for violence against the non-believer in order to achieve political dominance. The not-so-funny irony is that by supplanting the free exchange of ideas with unchallengeable calls to "shut her down" (or worse), the progressive far left becomes the very "Nazis" they ascribe to their targets. Anything goes when they've convinced enough people that you're dangerous.
"Scary" is absolutely the right word.
While I've long rejected the label of "transphobic", I came at it more from the second half of the term. I don't fear "trans", and I'm not even disgusted by them as individuals as I've seen [edit: mentioned] in some right-wing memes.
(Their behavior towards others is another matter entirely, ESPECIALLY their pushing to psychologically and physically mutilate children who have no idea what the putative adults are trying to do to them.)
Using the "phobe" suffix has always struck me as trying to sound "sciency" with a term used by psychology, as if there was some scientific basis for the label instead of a bunch of insecure bullies trying to silence any criticism, no matter how mild or fact-based it may be.
(Never mind that their grasp on "science" in general is about as tenuous as that of Trofim Lysenko. :P )
This is excellen Succinct. I no longer try to convince about the truth. There is no point. i'm not wasting my time. This piece offers a framework for people like me who are sick and tired of this nonsense. Everlasting thanks to you.
You took the words right out of my mouth.
But why is this not self-evident?
(No answer required.. I know that also.)
I never liked the "phobic" label to begin with because it is belittling and conversation ending. It paints the other party as holding an irrational fear and therefore not worthy of engaging in a conversation or hearing out their views. Even if I don't agree on policy, people who object to same sex marriage have a reasonable argument as to why it was not a good idea. It is not (usually) an irrational fear or a blind hatred based on an ick factor. For this reason I have stopped using phobic and just started saying "anti-same sex marriage" or whatever the issue is. Here it is a bit different because as you rightly point out there is no such thing as a trans person. I'm actually not even sure how to characterize views like ours without making reference to the trans concept. Pro-women only spaces would work, anti-gender treatment of children...but these constructions are definitely more awkward and don't lend themselves to memetic catch phrases.
I have never understood the defensive response to the stupid "transphobe" name. I'm glad to say I'm a transphobe because I don't believe in letting this cult harm children or endanger women. I remember the days when the cross-dressers/transvestites did their own thing around their own company and the rest of us went about our lives. These aren't your grannys trannys. "Trans" is a dangerous cult and we are already way past Kristallnacht.
Amen. I don't give an inch. Men are men, women are women, and kids and teens must be left free to grow and develop without misinformation & endoctrination. Any teacher or school official who tries to fill their mind with utter nonsense should be FIRED. FAST.
If I ever see you in restaurant, I will pay your bill.