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Culture War Roundup for the week of September 16, 2024

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but his prominence coupled with his attitude to the truth is why I'd single Trump out.

My point us that I don't see his attitude as qualitatively different as that of others, even people who are actually in position of public trust (unlike politicians, who are assumed to be lying to get into office as a matter off course).

If it's someone who implies 'Puberty blockers are reversible, period, and there's nothing more to say about them'

The way it works is that they are contrasted with hormones, which are deemed irreversible, and sold as a way to give someone time to think. I see no way to describe them as "reversible" in a way that hormones are not.

then I think that person will find their status and ability to ascend certain social ladders quietly reduced.

Can you give an example?

Now there is fog around the case, but I have not (so far) seen enough to justify the term 'hoax'. Some people want the story to be a certain way, that much is true.

If there is no evidence indicating an event happened that certain way, isn't that a hoax?

The way it works is that they are contrasted with hormones, which are deemed irreversible, and sold as a way to give someone time to think. I see no way to describe them as "reversible" in a way that hormones are not.

They are reversible in that puberty resumes after you stop taking them. Whether it's just the same as the puberty you'd have experienced is a good question. Whether the possible side effects while you are taking them could have permanent repercussions is another – if so then it can be argued they are not reversible. But I guess I don't think 'reversible' is inherently misleading because it distinguishes them from some hypothetical puberty blocker which blocks puberty permanently.

The NHS in the UK took 'reversible' off their communications following the Cass Report though, and broadcasters became more circumspect. (That'd be an example of people modulating their claims in order to stay elite.)

If there is no evidence indicating an event happened that certain way, isn't that a hoax?

Well from what I have read (which is by no means everything) there is some evidence – namely that the killer confessed – and the facts of the case continue to be disputed.

They are reversible in that puberty resumes after you stop taking them.

Yeah, and hormone levels go back to normal if you stop HRT, but no one is trying to sell that as "reversible".

The NHS in the UK took 'reversible' off their communications following the Cass Report though, and broadcasters became more circumspect. (That'd be an example of people modulating their claims in order to stay elite.)

Meanwhile, in the US, it is a matter of public record that the organization writing standards for transgender care didn't want to do an evidence based review, specifically because it would show there's no evidence, and that they are sitting on 2 unpublished systemic reviews that they have commissioned themselves. To my knowledge everybody still has their cushy prestigious jobs as doctors, high level officials, etc.

How do "broadcasters" enter the picture? If "broadcasters" can modulate the original lie, than just look at what they're saying about Trump all the time.

namely that the killer confessed

To the murder or to the hatecrime?

Specifically to the hate crime. (Or to be more precise, he pled guilty to killing Shepard having been driven to temporary insanity by a fit of gay panic after Shepard came onto him.)