35 Comments
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Kristine Coons's avatar

We're going to continue to see these tactics of flooding the field with false information and poor studies. Nevermind the hundreds of studies that support transgender care (Eyeroll). They will keep trying to pull out that "one" article, trying to wave it triumphantly before the masses and are quickly shot down by legitimate researchers and studies. The vast majority of studies supports transgender individuals and their identities.

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Shayne's avatar

Couldn't be a clearer sign that their aims are political, not good science. We all know that. Some of them know that. Most couldn't tell you the difference between good science and propaganda. They don't care. Science isn't a tool that serves their ends.

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Leah Abram's avatar

Agreed that their aims are political and not scientific. It’s just like the bell curve, but with trans people instead of black people.

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KingRayVet's avatar

I see nothing being shot down. Shot down where? Those folks aren't blasting it through the same media that is putting out the garbage. I'm so tired of this.

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Shayne's avatar

There is some really sad data entangled in all of the misinformation (trans care helps but regardless, data suggest that being trans can be tough). A civilized people would see that and want to help.

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TransFormAndFunction's avatar

Historically, cultures that have called themselves “civilized” have done everything in their power to defend patriarchy and erase lgbtq people. Using fake science to try and eradicate trans people is peak “civilized” behavior

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Jendi's avatar

One of the many upsetting things about this weaponized misinformation is that it puts pressure on trans people to hide our mental health struggles so they aren't used to deny care.

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Ryan's avatar

I just learned about "Brandolini’s law" recently:

‘The amount of energy needed to refute bullshit is an order of magnitude greater than that needed to produce it.’

We're gonna need more Erins.

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RRMother's avatar

I disagree. It’s at least two orders of magnitude.

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Brynn Craffey's avatar

From the article: "The comparison of transgender people who have had surgery with cisgender people rather than other transgender people is a relatively common mistake." Given the frequency, is it actually a "mistake"? Or intentional?

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allie's avatar

It doesn't take a degree to notice that they're comparing apples to grapes.

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Leah Abram's avatar

More like apples to dragons

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Leah Abram's avatar

It’s a bigoted political hit job disguised as a study, not unlike the bell curve.

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Kelly O’Brien's avatar

"I'm still standin', Yeah, Yeah Yeah…" after forty-seven years. And NONE of the transsexual people I know are contemplating suicide. Rather, as we grow old, it's about a life well-lived as a contributor to society, versus being a lost, alienated and deeply troubled individual trying to survive. THAT sounds much more like a candidate for suicide.

So, rather than worry about who and where people spend about 2 minutes in a public bathroom, the much bigger question is, "How do we facilitate ALL people to reach their full potential?"

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Finley's avatar

Fun fact: people who went to the hospital after taking flu medication were more likely to die of the flu than people who didn’t have the flu! Ban flu medicine and end flu deaths!

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Sandra's avatar

At this point, there is so much misinformation and junk “science” flooding the media, and almost all of it has political or bigotry objectives….intentionally trying to hurt or marginalize trans people - especially when spread by right-wing media. The only solution I can see is to counteract the hate and misinformation with equally visible and cogent counterpoints, and insist that media outlets air our side of the story. Erin - I know that’s exactly what you’re trying to do and everyone appreciates it!

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Jessica's avatar

Why even bother using even these bs studies at this point if they just accept any garbage that supports their message. At this point I think their supporters will eat anything they say regardless. Might as well just write "I hate trans people" on a mcdonald's napkin.

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Joan the Dork's avatar

You're absolutely right that the haters don't care about the facts- but disinformation is also an important weapon in their arsenal against us... because they know (or, at least, the more intelligent monsters among them know) that the real science exists, and that in order to successfully push their agenda in certain arenas, they need something to present which 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴 science to use as ammunition.

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Joan the Dork's avatar

If you can't get the science to agree with you about the people you hate, no problem! Just make up your own science. Next, burn the real science so that your science will be the only science. Then the 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 fun starts!

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Vanessa Schmithorst's avatar

This is just laughably ridiculous. It reminds me of the stuff creationists used to do, like claim dinosaur and human footprints were found side-by-side at Paluxy River, or claim "moon dust" showed a young universe.

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allie's avatar

I don't know if there is a study comparing suicide rates of trans people in countries that affirm trans identity versus those that don't or those where transgender folk are simply not allowed to exist.

The overwhelming reason we wish to end our lives stems more from the lack of support and acceptance from society, government, schools, family and employers and very little if at all from lack of self acceptance.

The required therapy and other preparation that we endure before surgery should be helping us to accept the imperfections that we simply can't change.

How about doing a study of suicide risk among transgender patients who were refused gender affirming surgeries.

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Leah Abram's avatar

I, too, would like to see a study comparing states where we’re allowed to thrive versus states where we’re not allowed to exist.

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Louise Sumrell's avatar

Typical tactics of fascists.

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Amelia's avatar

If anyone at SpaceX used such egregiously misleading statistical analysis, Musk would fire them immediately.

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Jack and Karen Hopkins's avatar

What a colossally dumb study. Agree this is likely deliberate

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KingRayVet's avatar

Hmmmmm. Why aren't there ever any consequences for them lying about us? I think it waters what they're doing DOWN when they say it's misinformation when it's just a flat out lie. Those people aren't looking at other websites to fact-check those people. It's like one huge piece of slander and nobody is suing them for it. Complaining, yelling, or screaming about it does nothing to correct what they're doing. UGH

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Leah Abram's avatar

It’s not misinformation, it’s defamatory disinformation.

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KingRayVet's avatar

I'll always refer to it as such from now on. Thanks, Samuel.

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Leah Abram's avatar

No prob, Bob!

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KingRayVet's avatar

Hahahahaha, Samuel. Bob was my dad. Oh, is that like calling me Bubba? LOL

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Leah Abram's avatar

LOL, I say "No Prob, Bob!" to everyone regardless of their name. It's only a coincidence that your father is named Bob!

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KingRayVet's avatar

I thought so. I was just makin fun. Also, I write here, so you could've seen who my father is. Either way, I thought it was funny. lol

Dangit, they really need to turn on emoji's for computers. I'm stuck in the stone ages with that. Hahahahaha

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May 22
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KingRayVet's avatar

Yes, lying is being normalized which is really really weird to me. Dishonesty, misinformation, disinformation, misconduct, bad behavior, all of it is like something good to do. It's like they've not had any home-training and I absolutely know journalists get in trouble for telling the truth. Now they look like mere writers, not journalists, because of that. The good ones quit, move on to other companies and end up going down the tubes.

This country is setting a bad precedence and teaching people that honesty isn't the best policy.

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