To the contrary, policy is all about feelings. What is the purpose of policy? It's to promote the common good, to use a simplistic term. The common good is usually defined in terms of happiness, at least in part, and happiness is a feeling. You literally cannot understand the ends of policy without empathy. Otherwise you just create a weird sterile robot society.
Policy should be based on what is the right thing to do, not what feels good to do.
I think you're confusing centrist with leftist. I support everyone's right to live their life however they please. If you want to change your gender every day, go for it. If you're a male with a footlong beard and want to wear a sundress to church, I couldn't care less. If you want to marry somebody that is the same sex as you, go for it. If you want to marry two somebodies, one that is the same sex as you and one that isn't, I'm fine with that.
Any room for nuance in your position? For example, are you ok with mixed gender in some sports? Is there a level where you would be OK with mixed gender, for example elementary, junior high or high school? Are you OK with biological females competing on male teams?
Disagree. Every contrarian thinks they’re a centrist.
I think girls can play in boy's sports as long as they can. I'm fine with pre-pubescent kids playing together.
But aren’t you opposed to hormone treatment for minors? Or is that someone else?
I am against it. I was talking more 'in theory' or college.
It may shock you to know that this was pretty unproblematically what was done until the culture war right decided that trans people would be their next targets. The Olympics asked trans women to submit blood test results showing that their testosterone levels were at less than 15 ng/dL (well below the top end of normal for cis women, especially athletes) before they were allowed to compete. If every professional league adhered to this standard, trans people and those who support them would not have any problems.
Based on the fact that we're having this conversation, it very clearly does not work. What do you think the goals of youth sports are? Why do they exist?
To give ephebophiles something to do outside.
My primary concern is public schools and universities. Private entities can do as they please and deal with any consequences.
My kids played sports, either through the city, private businesses or through public schools, as late as 8th grade I believe, and I don't recall having any issue with how boys and girls were/weren't combined.
Depends a lot on where you draw the line for "youth", but there are varying goals depending on age and experience.
draw the line, then, and then explain.
Why do you draw the line there? If you're worried about the ostensible harm done to female athletes by trans athletes in public schools, why wouldn't that extend to private entities?
I draw the line there because they're private entities. That's really about it. I don't believe they're obligated to prioritize fairness.
If you don’t start hormone therapy till 18, you would still have a genetic advantage. In any event, it would likely take two years of therapy to reduce testosterone to sufficiently low levels, so you'd really only be talking about two years of competition. That does not seem like a solution that would ever be implemented.
On this issue I am clearly left. But the issue of treating people with respect and not discriminating should be centrist.
Expecting Zen to clearly support a position is a losing proposition.
