This morning on Radio 4 I listened to two leading scientists saying that men

[Burney]

have much higher amounts of testosterone, higher levels of muscle mass, longer limbs, etc. and that therefore they would always retain a huge physical advantage over women in athletic performance pretty much regardless of what they did to their bodies.

So two highly-educated experts were in a studio on the BBC's flagship radio news programme having to state the blindingly obvious for no other reason that a demonstrable lie has been allowed to run rampant in order to spare the feelings of the mentally deranged. As little as 15 years ago, such a scenario would only have been possible in a comedy sketch.

And - not for the first time - it struck me that as a society, we are royally fùcked. :-(

[AFC East]

have much higher amounts of testosterone, higher levels of muscle mass, longer limbs, etc. and that therefore they would always retain a huge physical advantage over women in athletic performance pretty much regardless of what they did to their bodies.

So two highly-educated experts were in a studio on the BBC's flagship radio news programme having to state the blindingly obvious for no other reason that a demonstrable lie has been allowed to run rampant in order to spare the feelings of the mentally deranged. As little as 15 years ago, such a scenario would only have been possible in a comedy sketch.

And - not for the first time - it struck me that as a society, we are royally fùcked. :-(

Of course it did young man, because like us all, you’ve become your father. 30 years ago he had the same conversation in the pub after noticing women’s hour listed in the Radio Times.

[IUFG]

have much higher amounts of testosterone, higher levels of muscle mass, longer limbs, etc. and that therefore they would always retain a huge physical advantage over women in athletic performance pretty much regardless of what they did to their bodies.

So two highly-educated experts were in a studio on the BBC's flagship radio news programme having to state the blindingly obvious for no other reason that a demonstrable lie has been allowed to run rampant in order to spare the feelings of the mentally deranged. As little as 15 years ago, such a scenario would only have been possible in a comedy sketch.

And - not for the first time - it struck me that as a society, we are royally fùcked. :-(


That and Will Smith not being black enough.

Stop. The. Fúcking. World.

[Burney]

Of course it did young man, because like us all, you’ve become your father. 30 years ago he had the same conversation in the pub after noticing women’s hour listed in the Radio Times.

No. This is not the same. This is a demonstrable lie with absolutely zero science behind it that is being peddled to us as a society as fact. People are being brainwashed, hustled and strong-armed into going along with it, but it is a lie. And if anyone dares to question it in public life they do so at the risk of their jobs and welfare.

This is not about being a reactionary old fuddy-duddy or any sh1t like that, it is about knowing the difference between what is true and what is false and thinking that there is an important difference between the two - a difference that is worth defending.

THIS IS NOT OK.

[barrybueno]

have much higher amounts of testosterone, higher levels of muscle mass, longer limbs, etc. and that therefore they would always retain a huge physical advantage over women in athletic performance pretty much regardless of what they did to their bodies.

So two highly-educated experts were in a studio on the BBC's flagship radio news programme having to state the blindingly obvious for no other reason that a demonstrable lie has been allowed to run rampant in order to spare the feelings of the mentally deranged. As little as 15 years ago, such a scenario would only have been possible in a comedy sketch.

And - not for the first time - it struck me that as a society, we are royally fùcked. :-(

And its International Women's Day :shakehead: I could have sworn the whiny bitches had one not so long ago They are fast becoming my most hated 'minority' and that's some tough competition they're up against I can tell you!

[WES]

No. This is not the same. This is a demonstrable lie with absolutely zero science behind it that is being peddled to us as a society as fact. People are being brainwashed, hustled and strong-armed into going along with it, but it is a lie. And if anyone dares to question it in public life they do so at the risk of their jobs and welfare.

This is not about being a reactionary old fuddy-duddy or any sh1t like that, it is about knowing the difference between what is true and what is false and thinking that there is an important difference between the two - a difference that is worth defending.

THIS IS NOT OK.

Is the trans lobby really denying the advantages or are they expressing concern about generalisations and - without directly saying it - taking the position that it shouldn't matter?

I think it's more the latter. Interesting bit will be when someone finally addresses the elephant in the room and proposes that we eliminate women's sports altogether as that is the natural and logical extension of the trans lobby's position.

[Burney]

And its International Women's Day :shakehead: I could have sworn the whiny bitches had one not so long ago They are fast becoming my most hated 'minority' and that's some tough competition they're up against I can tell you!

I keep getting press releases from engineering organisations w@nking on about it and saying how much they're doing to encourage women into the profession. Thing is, I've been seeing them say this for nearly 25 years and the numbers basically haven't shifted despite all the campaigning. It's almost like it might not be about sexism. :rubchin:

[Burney]

Is the trans lobby really denying the advantages or are they expressing concern about generalisations and - without directly saying it - taking the position that it shouldn't matter?

I think it's more the latter. Interesting bit will be when someone finally addresses the elephant in the room and proposes that we eliminate women's sports altogether as that is the natural and logical extension of the trans lobby's position.

They're shifting. They have tried to claim there are no residual advantages with some highly selective stats and some junk science. However, as that science has been thoroughly debunked, they are now moving to the position you describe, which would effectively throw the entire concept of female sport under the bus.

But of course most of these freaks would all get absolutely smashed by proper male athletes, so what we're potentially looking at is just male sport - which is fine by me, now I come to think of it. Women's sport is sh1t.

[Monty92]

Perhaps not explicit sexism. But it might be about the fact that many companies continue to refuse to offer flexible working, which holds women back from rentering the workplace after having kids.

You’d obviously say that’s a lifestyle choice, but it is one that men make too but without it impacting their career chances.

I’m obviously playing devil’s advocate here.





I keep getting press releases from engineering organisations w@nking on about it and saying how much they're doing to encourage women into the profession. Thing is, I've been seeing them say this for nearly 25 years and the numbers basically haven't shifted despite all the campaigning. It's almost like it might not be about sexism. :rubchin:

[Burney]

Perhaps not explicit sexism. But it might be about the fact that many companies continue to refuse to offer flexible working hours, which holds women back from rentering the workplace after having kids.

You’d obviously say that’s a lifestyle choice, but it is one that men make too but without it impacting their career chances.

I’m obviously playing devil’s advocate here.

If that were the case, you'd expect to see women entering the profession when young in similar or equal numbers to men, though, wouldn't you? Followed by a massive drop-off when they start having kids.

They don't. Not by a massively long chalk. And companies are falling over themselves to encourage women into engineering because it's really good PR for them. Nothing really changes, however. There are very good female engineers in senior positions - I know quite a few of them - and none of them feel they've ever faced serious discrimination either on a structural or cultural basis.

The fact is that men are more likely to want to be engineers and are more likely to be successful engineers than women.

[redgunamo]

That makes sense. Children are a McGuffin, mere human shields.



If that were the case, you'd expect to see women entering the profession when young in similar or equal numbers to men, though, wouldn't you? Followed by a massive drop-off when they start having kids.

They don't. Not by a massively long chalk. And companies are falling over themselves to encourage women into engineering because it's really good PR for them. Nothing really changes, however. There are very good female engineers in senior positions - I know quite a few of them - and none of them feel they've ever faced serious discrimination either on a structural or cultural basis.

The fact is that men are more likely to want to be engineers and are more likely to be successful engineers than women.

[7sisters]

have much higher amounts of testosterone, higher levels of muscle mass, longer limbs, etc. and that therefore they would always retain a huge physical advantage over women in athletic performance pretty much regardless of what they did to their bodies.

So two highly-educated experts were in a studio on the BBC's flagship radio news programme having to state the blindingly obvious for no other reason that a demonstrable lie has been allowed to run rampant in order to spare the feelings of the mentally deranged. As little as 15 years ago, such a scenario would only have been possible in a comedy sketch.

And - not for the first time - it struck me that as a society, we are royally fùcked. :-(

So, the only remaining question is. Who are these fruit loops and why does anyone with a grain of common sense allow these people a stage.
I sometimes hope for a Milligan style persona to come forth in fits of laughter to decry us all for the sheep style cluster f^ck we’ve become. Either way, it’s some achievement.

[Burney]

So, the only remaining question is. Who are these fruit loops and why does anyone with a grain of common sense allow these people a stage.
I sometimes hope for a Milligan style persona to come forth in fits of laughter to decry us all for the sheep style cluster f^ck we’ve become. Either way, it’s some achievement.

It won't happen. The comedy fraternity is completely emasculated, with even those with divergent views knowing that expressing them forcefully will see their bookings dry up and effectively blackballed by their peers.

The fix is in, I'm afraid.

[Herbert Augustus Chapman]

So at work a group of about three wimmin' heard me telling my work wife lady that we, males, were appoximately 50% stronger than females.

One of the wimmin', a burly and very athletic germanic type (quite a jolly and pleasant character btw) scoffed and said she bet she was as strong as me. I offered her an arm wrestle there and then and she accepted.

Before we commenced I explained to everyone who'd started gatheringing around to see the old man humiliated, that not only would I win easily but when I decided to put her arm over she would have practically zero physical resistance to offer.

I toyed for a few seconds before emphatically finishing her off and she was absolutely mortified at how much stronger than her I was, as were the other women.

I quickly established that none of them had ever entered into any kind of test of strength with a man and they had basically fallen for being continually told they were as strong as us.

[Ash]

It won't happen. The comedy fraternity is completely emasculated, with even those with divergent views knowing that expressing them forcefully will see their bookings dry up and effectively blackballed by their peers.

The fix is in, I'm afraid.

Only the feminists can save us now imo.

[Burney]

So at work a group of about three wimmin' heard me telling my work wife lady that we, males, were appoximately 50% stronger than females.

One of the wimmin', a burly and very athletic germanic type (quite a jolly and pleasant character btw) scoffed and said she bet she was as strong as me. I offered her an arm wrestle there and then and she accepted.

Before we commenced I explained to everyone who'd started gatheringing around to see the old man humiliated, that not only would I win easily but when I decided to put her arm over she would have practically zero physical resistance to offer.

I toyed for a few seconds before emphatically finishing her off and she was absolutely mortified at how much stronger than her I was, as were the other women.

I quickly established that none of them had ever entered into any kind of test of strength with a man and they had basically fallen for being continually told they were as strong as us.

I really thought/hoped this story was going to turn pornographic, h. :-(

Mind you, this was amply demonstrated the other day on a tweet I saw where some chap (who was just your average gym bunny) posted a clip of him smashing the women's deadlift record in his gym whilst satirically claiming he identified as a woman while doing so. To anyone who objected he simply said 'Don't be a bigot'. :hehe:

[Burney]

Only the feminists can save us now imo.

:nod: Although I'm sometimes having to bite my tongue not to point out that a lot of this mess is of their own making.

[Herbert Augustus Chapman]

I really thought/hoped this story was going to turn pornographic, h. :-(

Well I bumped into one of the more petite and pretty girls later that day and she asked to arm wrestle me out of curiosity.

She had practically zero strength in her slender little arm and I must say that since then, though I am old enough to be her father, she has started to behave a little coquettishly with me so watch this space.

[AFC East]

No. This is not the same. This is a demonstrable lie with absolutely zero science behind it that is being peddled to us as a society as fact. People are being brainwashed, hustled and strong-armed into going along with it, but it is a lie. And if anyone dares to question it in public life they do so at the risk of their jobs and welfare.

This is not about being a reactionary old fuddy-duddy or any sh1t like that, it is about knowing the difference between what is true and what is false and thinking that there is an important difference between the two - a difference that is worth defending.

THIS IS NOT OK.

I am referring to the idea that society is ****ed. I don't disagree that truth is an important concept and that some things that shouldn't need defending, now need defending. (See vaccines for a more dangerous example).

It's just part of the ebb and flow of society. When I step back, things are better than they were when I was a young man, even if I do find myself raging at the radio more than I'd like to.

[Burney]

I am referring to the idea that society is ****ed. I don't disagree that truth is an important concept and that some things that shouldn't need defending, now need defending. (See vaccines for a more dangerous example).

It's just part of the ebb and flow of society. When I step back, things are better than they were when I was a young man, even if I do find myself raging at the radio more than I'd like to.

Vaccines are a classic example. Mind you, I maintain this whole thing started with Freud and his ridiculous pseudo-science that appeals to hysterics, attention-seekers and narcissists.
Now the whole concept of evidence-based reasoning is under attack and we're too weak to defend it. We are in serious danger of regressing.

[AFC East]

Vaccines are a classic example. Mind you, I maintain this whole thing started with Freud and his ridiculous pseudo-science that appeals to hysterics, attention-seekers and narcissists.
Now the whole concept of evidence-based reasoning is under attack and we're too weak to defend it. We are in serious danger of regressing.

I'm hopeful that the pendulum will swing the other way, albeit more slowly than it seemed to swing away from truth.

[Burney]

I'm hopeful that the pendulum will swing the other way, albeit more slowly than it seemed to swing away from truth.

I genuinely wish there could be a societal return to stoicism. The stiff upper lip culture is much-derided these days, but by God it stopped people bleating about their fùcking feelings - and that alone is a good thing.

[Sir C]

I genuinely wish there could be a societal return to stoicism. The stiff upper lip culture is much-derided these days, but by God it stopped people bleating about their fùcking feelings - and that alone is a good thing.

It worked both ways though, didn’t it? I mean people weren’t endlessly offended, but then again they were generally treated decently by people with manners.

When I look at what is written here about Emery, for example, I yearn for an age of simple good manners and respect.

[SWv2]

It worked both ways though, didn’t it? I mean people weren’t endlessly offended, but then again they were generally treated decently by people with manners.

When I look at what is written here about Emery, for example, I yearn for an age of simple good manners and respect.

Mainly that Ganpati lad.

Seems a nice lad otherwise.

[Sir C]

Mainly that Ganpati lad.

Seems a nice lad otherwise.

I just wish everyone could be nice.

Your soul is pretty black but that’s genetic. Nothing you can do about it. It’s civilised people being rude that really upsets me.

[Burney]

It worked both ways though, didn’t it? I mean people weren’t endlessly offended, but then again they were generally treated decently by people with manners.

When I look at what is written here about Emery, for example, I yearn for an age of simple good manners and respect.

Hang on, now. Emery is a foreigner. As a nation, it is our birthright to be rude about foreigners.

[Sir C]

Hang on, now. Emery is a foreigner. As a nation, it is our birthright to be rude about foreigners.

Consider the Great Englishmen of history: Henry V, Horacio Nelson, Winston Churchill, Sir Willie, Lord Hague. None of them would be rude about any man.

[Ash]

Consider the Great Englishmen of history: Henry V, Horacio Nelson, Winston Churchill, Sir Willie, Lord Hague. None of them would be rude about any man.

Young Hal bantering off Falstaff:

"Thou art so fat-witted, with drinking of old sack
and unbuttoning thee after supper and sleeping upon
benches after noon, that thou hast forgotten to
demand that truly which thou wouldst truly know."

Fictitiously, admittedly.

[Burney]

Young Hal bantering off Falstaff:

"Thou art so fat-witted, with drinking of old sack
and unbuttoning thee after supper and sleeping upon
benches after noon, that thou hast forgotten to
demand that truly which thou wouldst truly know."

Fictitiously, admittedly.

He also burned the real Falstaff - Sir John Oldcastle - alive in a metal cage just for being a Lollard.

I'd call that pretty rude.

In fact, Henry V was a proper nasty b@stard.

[Ash]

In fact, Henry V was a proper nasty b@stard.

Default setting for all Plantagenets, to be sure.

[Burney]

Default setting for all Plantagenets, to be sure.

I've always had a soft spot for Henry II, Edward I was excellent at thrashing the Celts, while Edward III's run of victories against the French endears him to one, but generally you're right: a bad lot.

[Ash]

I've always had a soft spot for Henry II, Edward I was excellent at thrashing the Celts, while Edward III's run of victories against the French endears him to one, but generally you're right: a bad lot.

That bloody Becket just wanted the church to be above the law, after all.

[Luis Anaconda]

He also burned the real Falstaff - Sir John Oldcastle - alive in a metal cage just for being a Lollard.

I'd call that pretty rude.

In fact, Henry V was a proper nasty b@stard.
Indeed - even allowing for the "don't judge people by modern standards, judge by the time etc", he was an absolute **** for his day. Mostly to French people tbf

[Burney]

That bloody Becket just wanted the church to be above the law, after all.

Exactly. And he was drinking and whoring with Henry right up until he made him ArchB of C and then he goes all holier-than-thou and hair-shirted. Prick. Can't abide him. Deserved everything he got.

[Ash]

He also burned the real Falstaff - Sir John Oldcastle - alive in a metal cage just for being a Lollard.


And did he LOL 'ard?

[Burney]

Indeed - even allowing for the "don't judge people by modern standards, judge by the time etc", he was an absolute **** for his day. Mostly to French people tbf

The Hundred Years War were no church picnic and the chevauchée generally wasn't for the squeamish, but you get the distinct impression Hal liked it all a bit too much.

[Burney]

And did he LOL 'ard?

No. He screamed for a good long time, apparently. It was distinctly banter-free.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

Indeed - even allowing for the "don't judge people by modern standards, judge by the time etc", he was an absolute **** for his day. Mostly to French people tbf

Yup. The occupation of Paris under him after Agincourt makes the Warsaw Ghetto look like Butlins, but all accounts.*

{*Some bloke off In Our Time, and I don't think he used those exact words, but said it was despicable, even by the standards of late-medieval warfare.}

[Luis Anaconda]

No. He screamed for a good long time, apparently. It was distinctly banter-free.

Basically a real-life grown-up Joffrey

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

No. He screamed for a good long time, apparently. It was distinctly banter-free.

It was his own fault. Only a muppet would bother trying to have a Reformation without waiting for the printing press to be invented first.

[Luis Anaconda]

It was his own fault. Only a muppet would bother trying to have a Reformation without waiting for the printing press to be invented first.

Now I just get an image of Kermit and Miss Piggy discussing the consubstantiation and transubstantiation - disturbing

[Burney]

It was his own fault. Only a muppet would bother trying to have a Reformation without waiting for the printing press to be invented first.

True. Jan Hus made a similar strategic error. Also burned. :-(

Wycliffe* did at least die of natural causes, but that didn't stop them digging him up 44 years later and burning him anyway.



*Not the one out of the Fugees.

[Burney]

Now I just get an image of Kermit and Miss Piggy discussing the consubstantiation and transubstantiation - disturbing

Let's be honest, the relationship between Kermit and Miss Piggy was a crime against God and Nature.

[redgunamo]

Right. The whole island-race thing.



Hang on, now. Emery is a foreigner. As a nation, it is our birthright to be rude about foreigners.

[Luis Anaconda]

Let's be honest, the relationship between Kermit and Miss Piggy was a crime against God and Nature.
Love between a pig and a frog can be a beautiful thing