• CaptPretentious@lemmy.world
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    28 days ago

    America, can we stop it with the guns and violence?

    I get the idea of wanting to defend oneself, but that ultimately means a shootout. It’s hardly going to matter who shot the first bullet in the history books. The far right are also going to arm themselves when they see other people arming themselves. And it’s only going to ‘prove them right’ in their eyes.

    Do I have a better solution, no. But more mass shootings isn’t going to be the answer. And it’s only going to take one shootout before it’s used in a legal sense against people. And guns aren’t going to be what’s made illegal in the United States, especially with a republican-controlled government…

    • intensely_human@lemm.ee
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      28 days ago

      I get the idea of wanting to defend oneself, but that ultimately means a shootout.

      Study a concept called “deterrence”. It’ll blow your mind.

      It’s hardly going to matter who shot the first bullet in the history books.

      Generally speaking whoever shoots first lives while the other one dies. Above statement makes no sense?

      The far right

      Admit it. You only refer to “the far right” and never “the right”.

      are also going to arm themselves when they see other people arming themselves

      We’re already armed, in response to the other people who’ve been arming themselves for thousands of years. The world being a dangerous place is not something we are just discovering now.

      Do I have a better solution, no.

      Awareness is always a good first step to growth

      But more mass shootings isn’t going to be the answer.

      Buying a gun does not cause maas shootings to happen.

      And it’s only going to take one shootout before it’s used in a legal sense against people.

      ?? explain

      And guns aren’t going to be what’s made illegal in the United States, especially with a republican-controlled government…

      You guessed it. We republicans are going to make women illegal. Such clear headed insight on your part

    • ikidd@lemmy.world
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      28 days ago

      The far right have already armed themselves. Pacifists just end up at the bottom of the mass grave.

      As long as you have no better solution, then defending oneself is on the table. Nobody is talking about mass shootings, but when people are getting beaten up in the streets because the emboldened nazis are walking around feeling their oats, then maybe their intended victims should be given a chance to stay alive, even if it conflicts with your morals. Better judged by 12 than carried by 6.

    • Cethin@lemmy.zip
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      28 days ago

      I don’t like it, but we’ve made a fucked up situation. Likely the only way we get the momentum to fix it is if things get bad enough though, which I’m not encouraging just pointing out that a large segment of our society has a stupid concept of gun rights which isn’t actually in the constitution.

  • Dead_or_Alive@lemmy.world
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    27 days ago

    Lol, this thread is a train wreck and is the perfect example of why Republicans keep winning elections despite being on the wrong side of history and having policies that hurt the American population at large.

    The left will never win as long as we form circular firing squads and argue over petty bullshit.

      • Skeezix@lemmy.world
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        26 days ago

        Because the whole “I need a gun now” reaction is just people trying to assuage the fear and uncertainty of the future. While there will continue to be random violence against minorities and lgtbq, the predominant way they will be hurt going forward is via policy. Policy that marginalizes them. Arming up because you think right wing mobs are going to enact a pogrom against you is no different than right wing nuts arming up because they think a caravan of criminal mexicans is heading toward the border. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you are “in control” because you took a shooting class and bought a pistol. When we are afraid we naturally want to “do something” about it. But as soon as you reach for a weapon you’ve lost.

        • sue_me_please@awful.systems
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          26 days ago

          Easy to say when you aren’t facing the threat of bias intimidation or hate crime by recently emboldened bigots, things that actually happen unlike the caravan paranoia.

    • orcrist@lemm.ee
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      27 days ago

      I like how your comment is the perfect example of the behavior that you claim to oppose. You’re cutting into the left while identifying yourself as left, and everything you wrote was destructive. Congratulations?

      There are several reasonable positions that a person could take on this issue. You could point out the entertainment in increased calls for gun regulation. You could point out the consistency with saying that you’re going to arm yourself as long as guns are legal, but also be in favor of increased gun regulation. You could point out that there are different factions within the Democratic party and on the left in general, and how people all have their own varying agendas. You could encourage a general strategy for Democrats and Democrat supporters to get along. But you did none of that, because you didn’t care. And I don’t mind if you care, but I want other people to see it, just in case they do.

      • Denidil@lemm.ee
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        27 days ago

        Or you could understand that “gun ownership” and “gun regulation” are not incompatible concepts, despite NRA/Russian propaganda to the contrary.

      • Dead_or_Alive@lemmy.world
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        27 days ago

        Keep forming that circular firing squad.

        I’m going to slip out and duck down over here to eat some popcorn.

        • Shardikprime@lemmy.world
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          27 days ago

          Nah man, people in here are not open to criticism unless it’s “the way they like it” which is none criticism at all.

          Just blame the Latino voters and move on

      • Shardikprime@lemmy.world
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        27 days ago

        The dude is trying to give some necessary criticism, but apparently everyone is immune to that.

        Criticism is not destruction, unless you are okay with the current status quo

  • phoneymouse@lemmy.world
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    28 days ago

    The left needs to get on board with this. Govt isn’t going to protect you from far right militias when the shit hits the fan.

    • nothing@lemm.ee
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      28 days ago

      Cops aren’t required to protect you from anything. Learn how to protect you and yours. And learn how to read situations, always.

      • Drusas@fedia.io
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        28 days ago

        Don’t be ableist. There is plenty enough that is actually wrong with him that you could target instead of the fact that he’s disabled.

    • Gigasser@lemmy.world
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      27 days ago

      Not advocating anything, but there’s a “it could happen here” podcast episode for leftists out there, with some really good info.

      AR-15 is a very good gun to get unless you’re in a state like CA. Shotgun sare good too, Mossberg is fairly affordable(btw, you still need to aim with shotguns). Glock 19 for a pistol, just know pistols are harder to use and you will need to train with it more.

  • secretlyaddictedtolinux@lemmy.world
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    23 days ago

    Me months ago: “the NRA matters and feminism matters and the solution is making sure women have more and larger guns and better tactical training.”

    Everyone back then was like “no guns are bad!” and now suddenly, look who is seeing the light.

    Trans people should not be armed. Trans people should be given vouchers to buy large amounts of weapons so they can be HEAVILY armed and also should be given subsidized weapons training by the government.

    When I meet a trans women, I want to admire her dress and know she has excellent tactical training.

    We need to stop seeing gun rights as a left or right issue and appreciate the fact that guns are anti-tyranny. The left’s constant anti-stance alienates a huge number of working class people as well. The problem with any sort of “reasonable restrictions” is the government always wants more, more regulation, more rules, and little by little it gets harder for the average guy or gal or intersex person. Liberals need to stop alienating middle America with this anti-gun stuff so we can protect trans people.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    28 days ago

    I do not blame any woman or queer person arming themselves in the U.S. right now. But I think that you should think of it as personal protection rather than preparation for something larger.

    Be aware of this:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disarmament_of_the_German_Jews

    The Jews of Germany constituted less than 1 percent of the country’s population. It is preposterous to argue that the possession of firearms would have enabled them to mount resistance against a systematic program of persecution implemented by a modern bureaucracy, enforced by a well-armed police state, and either supported or tolerated by the majority of the German population. Mr. Carson’s suggestion that ordinary Germans, had they had guns, would have risked their lives in armed resistance against the regime simply does not comport with the regrettable historical reality of a regime that was quite popular at home. Inside Germany, only the army possessed the physical force necessary for defying or overthrowing the Nazis, but the generals had thrown in their lot with Hitler early on.

    Obviously, women and queer people are a lot more than 1% of the population, but you can’t count on every queer person being on the right side and you certainly can’t count on every woman to be on the right side.

    • RedditRefugee69@lemmynsfw.com
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      27 days ago

      It’s not about mounting an organized resistance. It’s about making the black bag squads scared of coming to your house specifically.

      When the chips are down, nobody’s got your back like you do.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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        27 days ago

        That’s literally what I said:

        I think that you should think of it as personal protection rather than preparation for something larger.

        • RedditRefugee69@lemmynsfw.com
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          27 days ago

          That’s actually the sentence that was cryptic enough for me to misread it, but the rest of your comment is pretty clear.

    • CafeFrog@lemmy.cafe
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      26 days ago

      As an alternative, if we assume that a significant portion of the left is armed instead of just a minority, Rojava would be a good modern day example of the realistic effectiveness of an armed populace, as they employ horizontal citizen militias to survive against both ISIS and Turkey.

      The Spanish Civil War is another interesting example, as the initial response from the left/anarchists when the fascists began their coup attempt was made up of civilian militias formed quickly and armed with whatever they had or could source from a local armory, and they were able to effectively fight off the initial coup in almost half the country, and gather themselves up for a protracted conflict. It’s not quite as direct an example, as the leftists in that conflict we supplemented with tanks and airplanes and artillery from the USSR, but firearms were an essential piece to their resistance, and had the populace been more armed before hand, it would’ve been helpful, as they had trouble producing and acquiring enough through trade.

      There’s a great series on the Spanish Civil War here that gets into the nitty gritty, if you’re interested. :)

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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        26 days ago

        Sorry, you’re calling what is happening in Syria a good example? Do you know how many people died? Also in the Spanish Civil War?

        It’s great how people here are willing to sacrifice so many innocent lives on their behalf.

        • CafeFrog@lemmy.cafe
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          26 days ago

          Both conflicts are horrific, but what was their alternative? We saw what happened in Germany when few fought back, and that was just as horrific an outcome, if not more so (6 million Jews killed vs 300 thousand on the left side in the Spanish civil war, though estimates vary).

          Tens of thousands died under Mussolini in labor camps and via execution, and the same would’ve happened under Franco in Spain (and eventually did, post civil war)

          To be clear, I’m not advocating that any country rush to armed conflict, but history seems to indicate that it’s better to be capable of defending yourself vs. not having the option at all.

          If you have examples of pacifism being effective against fascism, I’m quite open to having my mind changed. In fact, I would prefer if that were the more effective option, if evidence supports it.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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        28 days ago

        What a bunch of slave-owners thought about guns hundreds of years ago is not really relevant to today.

        And if you’re going to attack someone for thinking people should be armed for the wrong reason, maybe you should find better targets.

        • WraithGear@lemmy.world
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          28 days ago

          Whoa, I’m not attacking you. I have a difference in opinion as to why people should be armed. Not saying that one does not have a right to self defense, just that i put stock in the need to collectively hold the government accountable and fight tyranny

          • octopus_ink@lemmy.ml
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            27 days ago

            i put stock in the need to collectively hold the government accountable and fight tyranny

            It sounds good until the majority of gun owners in the country decide they like the tyranny.

              • octopus_ink@lemmy.ml
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                27 days ago

                Not whatsoever, but we’re in the US, where although some leftists are armed, the dominant gun culture isn’t going to come out to defeat tyranny, they will come out to defend it. If Trump goes full dictator, these hypothetical armed antifascists resistance fighters will have to fight their way through legions of y’allqaeda before the US military (who I desperately hope will not recognize Trump’s authority in such a circumstance) ever has to worry about them.

                • WraithGear@lemmy.world
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                  27 days ago

                  In that case, that sounds like the left needs to get weapons and become organized, like i recommend. And not turn over and assume that the majority will let them live free… as a treat.

                  You are basically arguing to give up and die because it’s too hard.

          • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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            28 days ago

            And you can see why, from what I already wrote, that is not likely to work unless the majority is on your side. And the military.

            • WraithGear@lemmy.world
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              28 days ago

              The military has had a pretty lousy track record against gorilla warfare from much smaller, worse armed groups who, by the width of an ocean were unable to affect logistical lines, the means to project warfare, or the families of our soldiers. A Revolution within would be much worse.

              • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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                28 days ago

                How many innocent people died in those wars? It’s not very nice of you to be willing to put their lives on the line like that.

                • WraithGear@lemmy.world
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                  28 days ago

                  Oh? Now it’s a discussion about who should be sacrificed and for what. Freedom always has a cost. I never removed myself from the possibility. But right now, the royal “we”, seem to be sacrificing the minority, the different, the poor, the non christian and it gets worse every day. Freedoms are slipping, corporations get stronger, and standards of living and hope for the future fades. This will only accelerate. Arguing to arm oneself for personal protection but not collective action will doom all, but the chosen, to be picked off one by one.

      • zabadoh@ani.social
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        28 days ago

        That is historically true, unfortunately the conservative artificial supermajority Supreme Court doesn’t respect its own precedents and historical facts.

        • WraithGear@lemmy.world
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          28 days ago

          I mean the Supreme Court can say what they like. But their power is derived by the people. It can be taken back.

      • EldritchFeminity@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        28 days ago

        It was also opposed by George Washington on the argument that “A bunch of farmers with guns will never defeat a trained army.” He basically did exactly that, but it took the support of one of the world’s largest super powers at the time in order to do it - France.

        Not to say don’t arm yourself. I plan on doing exactly that myself. But don’t expect to be overthrowing the dictatorship to come. There are no resistance groups being armed by the EU here.

          • VeganPizza69 Ⓥ@lemmy.world
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            27 days ago

            I’d like it if indigenous Amazonians had better tools than bows to defend against loggers, ranchers, miners and various land grabbers. And a few SAMs to take care of those chemical airborne attacks.

        • Not_mikey@slrpnk.net
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          28 days ago

          Washington was talking about the militias that were present in the early parts of the war that were under trained and undisciplined. The red coats took them easily and they fled often so the continental congress started the continental army lead by Washington, which was a trained and disciplined army in the style of European standing armies, which was able to take on and even defeat the British occasionally.

          After the war the ruling elite still had this idealized vision of citizen militias protecting the liberty of white man and saw it as a less tyrannical, and cheaper model then the European professional standing army and made the second amendment to encourage it. Washington was saying that that system failed and will never work and that we should have a trained army ready to take on European powers if they come back.

          Now we have the worst of both worlds, a massive army that gobbles up tax dollars and a bunch of untrained citizens with guns who barely understand what a militia is much less can protect the liberty of the nation.

      • pyre@lemmy.world
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        28 days ago

        that was before tanks and instant communication. the army would have been less organized and maybe you could have a chance against the government, especially as a militia. today you don’t.

        you do have a chance against a bunch of fuckwads who threaten you because the party they voted for won and the think they can rape freely now. just not the government.

        • WraithGear@lemmy.world
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          28 days ago

          The last three wars have been pretty recent, and haven’t not gone well against a foe no where near or equal. Not so much as a pyric victory, but an eventual unwillingness to keep wasting time and money and lives, and we just left. What do you call it when you just leave a war failing all your objectives and handing over territory to the enemy?

          • pyre@lemmy.world
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            28 days ago

            what are you talking about? control over your own land is nothing like invading a remote country halfway around the world.

          • FindME@lemmy.myserv.one
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            26 days ago

            I’m not saying you are wrong, but the biggest difference, and one that actually matters, is that there was a very clear us vs. them defined and easily spotted. In Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan we were fighting against people that blended in and weren’t being actively turned on by their neighbors. Here, you can bet every dickish Dick that voted red would happily report on the neighbors that they even have an iota of suspicion about resisting the orange cunt.

            • WraithGear@lemmy.world
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              26 days ago

              Actually you are describing how it would not be different at all than these other wars. An insurgency in the us would be particularly hard to pick out. There would be no outward appearance between “us” or “them” we are a very diverse nation after all. Also, in these wars neighbors were turning each other in left and right. It was nearly impossible to determine if it was legitimate, or a personal squabble, or some random in order to get brownie points with the us. People are no different over here.

              Besides, i will not entertain the idea that fighting against tyranny is wrong because it would be hard.

            • RaoulDook@lemmy.world
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              27 days ago

              We have psychos trying to implement a theocratic government and oppressing women and minorities like Afghanistan

    • TunaCowboy@lemmy.world
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      28 days ago

      I think we agree that it is important to consider parallels in history, but the US is not 1930s Germany.

        • TunaCowboy@lemmy.world
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          27 days ago

          Germany is roughly 138,000 square miles in size, while the USA is approximately 4,000,000 square miles.

          The population of Germany in the 1930’s was roughly 60,000,000, the population of the US today, closer to 400,000,000.

          The US does not share an international border with 10 different countries.

          That’s just for starters. So while I agree there are parallels, there are a lot more differences that you’re not accounting for.

          • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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            27 days ago

            I don’t think you’re stupid and I think you’re able to read context, so why you’re pretending I wasn’t talking about the political atmosphere and playing this “well actually” game, I don’t know.

            • TunaCowboy@lemmy.world
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              27 days ago

              I really don’t want to argue, and my original comment was a direct response to your assertion that armed resistance in the US (if warranted) is essentially futile.

              Again, yes there are parallels, which I continue to acknowledge, but the US is not Germany in a ton of relevant ways. Subsequently, a direct comparison between 1930’s Germany and 2025 US is inherently flawed, in regard to armed resistance - the main topic of your own original comment.

              Is it possible that while you were busy erroneously ad homineming me with an accusation of '‘well actually(ing)’ you, that it was you who missed context? Or are you pretending I wasn’t talking about the topic of the comment I replied to and playing a ‘well actually’ game?

              My reply to you was not hostile, why default to treating me adversarially? Why instead of discussing the topic that you brought up would you force me into this exhausting position? I believe you can do better than reddit tier.

  • BombOmOm@lemmy.world
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    28 days ago

    Good. Gun rights are human rights. All people have the right to defend themselves and those around them. Taking that away by banning the only tool that evens the playing field is not OK.

  • jordanlund@lemmy.world
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    28 days ago

    Can confirm, my wife has expressed an interest. We’re just waiting for the local LGBTQ friendly range to open.

    The other local ranges are either run by cops (ACAB) or require NRA memberships to join. Yeah, that’s not happening.

          • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
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            28 days ago

            Not trying to belabor the point or anything, but with some planning you can make it regimented. I’m in northern CA, and been taking small groups out to a local BLM spot on the weekends. A big reason is to avoid the chuddy vibes at local ranges. We bring targets, do some instruction and have clear guidelines. We measure distances and we clean up our brass.

      • jordanlund@lemmy.world
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        28 days ago

        The one we’re waiting on is called Wooster Armory in Tigard/Beaverton. Kinda by Washington Square, by the Guitar Center. The gunshop is open, but it looks like they’re having trouble getting the range open. I’m going to pop in and say “Hi!” today and see what the deal is.

        Threat Dynamics in Sherwood is good too, I did my AR training there.

        Edit Wooster is now saying January for members, February for the public.

    • Bytemeister@lemmy.world
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      28 days ago

      Sometimes you have to open the gun range you wish to see in your neighborhood.

      Or something like that. I think Gandhi said it.

  • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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    28 days ago

    Stay strapped or get clapped…

    It feels like they picked the worst screenshot intentionally though when talking about that YouTuber…

    Like, maybe it’s a new kind of magnifier that you flip up to use instead of off to the side to not use. But that AR just doesn’t look like whoever built it knew what they were doing.

    Like the BLM protests where it was obvious people went out and bought ARs just for the event and didn’t even put sights on beforehand.

    That being said don’t wander around gun YouTube on your account it only takes a couple videos for the algorithm to decide you’re a gun nut, and that comes along with a bunch of other rightwing videos, because normally it does.

    But Reagan is the one who passed Cali’s gun laws, and he did so because people he didn’t like were marching with guns.

    Obviously it would have made more sense to start when Biden was in office, but it seems like unless protestors carry guns, the cops will just beat them without a second thought.

    If they even think some have guns tho… Cops won’t do shit.

    • Carmakazi@lemmy.world
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      28 days ago

      If cops get return fire in a (leftist) protest/riot, they’ll come back with MRAPs and live rounds and re-enact Kent State. They live for that moment.

      Oh, and that magnifier is on a Unity FAST mount, and yes, it flips up to get in position. It’s on a higher sight plane along with the Eotech to help with shooting while using things like night vision goggles, and a lot of people say it’s more natural and comfortable for fast shooting in general. It’s actually some Gucci shit and looks squared away to me.

      • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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        28 days ago

        Weird, I never saw one of those before, but if it works it’s way better than hanging off to the side.

        And I think you’re forgetting how much cops are cowards. They won’t go into a school when it’s one kid with an AR and they have a seat team.

        They’ll say they want a firefight all fucking day, when they get the opportunity they shit their pants.

        But we know how they treat unarmed protestors, and the difference when there’s guns present.

  • kipo@lemm.ee
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    28 days ago

    Jessie McGrath, 63, a lifelong Republican who is trans, grew up around guns on farms in Colorado and Nebraska. She decided to vote for Harris when Republicans started attacking gender-affirming care and “wanting to basically outlaw my ability to exist”. She ended up being a delegate at the Democratic national convention.

    “Government getting involved in making healthcare decisions is something that I never thought I would see the Republican party doing,” she said.

    What the actual…how are people this ignorant.

          • formergijoe@lemmy.world
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            27 days ago

            The house just made it illegal for trans people to use the bathroom they want in the capital, and Kansas, Montana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and West Virginia have banned people from changing their gender on their ID.

            Tennessee also requires an ID to vote, so if a transgender woman shows up with a big old “M” on her state-issued ID, some fake-news-stolen-election minded poll worker can keep her from voting.

            Granted, these don’t outlaw hormone therapy or anything, but these are gender affirming actions outlawed by the government.

    • Trae@lemmy.world
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      28 days ago

      She was 100% on board with them regulating reproductive care because it has never personally affected her as a biological male.

      She only has an issue now that her favorite team turned on her after telling her for the last 30 years that she’s next.

      • Cethin@lemmy.zip
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        28 days ago

        Assigned male at birth is the term you want to use. “Biological male” is a term used by transphobes to spread misinformation.

        Biology is very complex and not your elementary school version of biology. What makes someone “biologically” male? Is it having a penis, having testis, having more testosterone than estrogen, having XY chromosomes? These can all be intermixed with other characteristics.

        The “basic biology” definition doesn’t work in the real world, and the people using it are actively trying to harm trans people or ignorant. Now you’re more informed so ignorance isn’t an excuse anymore.

        • hector@sh.itjust.works
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          26 days ago

          I’m not super versed into this, just looking to learn 🤗

          Individuals having two X chromosomes (XX) are female; individuals having one X chromosome and one Y chromosome (XY) are male.

          Doesn’t that and having a penis means being a biological man? I don’t really see how “biological man” is offensive…

          • Cethin@lemmy.zip
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            26 days ago

            The problem is what does it mean to be biologically a man? Is it a static thing defined at birth or is it a description of the living organism as it exists? (It’s the latter.) For example, there are some animals that can change their sex naturally. We don’t say they’re just the one they’re born as.

            OK, so now humans. If biological sex is a description of the person as they exist currently, what does it mean for us? Chromosomes are a useful tool because they contain the code that tells our body how to develop, but the actual development is the part that matters, not the chromosomes. The chromosomes will dictate what hormones are produced, and the hormones are what actually control development. We can control what hormones are in the body, so we can hijack the process and change the actual development.

            So, since biological sex is a description of the creature as they are, if we hijack the process of development to tell the body to develop according to given sex, that’s what their biological sex should be called, right? The clownfish that was once a male that changes into a female is a female. We don’t say it’s a male just because it once was one.

            I can’t say whether it’s offensive. I’m a cis man. The issue I do know is that it’s used by transphobes to pretend like they know more than they do and harm trans people. For example, congress’s anti-trans bathroom rule. Speaker Johnson said: “All single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House Office Buildings — such as restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms — are reserved for individuals of that biological sex” He’s using the term as a weapon, not as a descriptive tool.

            Where it’s most important is for doctors. My understanding is assigned sex at birth and medical records and understanding who the person is now is the useful information. They do need to know sex assigned at birth, and they also need to know if they’re on HRT or have had other procedures. They have to treat trans people differently than their sex at birth because biologically they are different.

        • Trae@lemmy.world
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          27 days ago

          Who assigned them male at birth? What if they were raised like a cisgender female typically would be in our society?

          What makes someone “assigned at birth”? Is it dressing in masculine clothes, is it having a name like Michael and Billy, is it having a circumcision? These can all be comingled with other variations of child rearing.

          Just because a parent assigns a “gender” at birth doesn’t make it someone’s actual identifying “gender”. As a young child they have no say in the matter and it’s quite frankly wrong to whitewash their childhood history and personal trauma like that.

          Now that you’re more informed, I hope moving forward you stop trying to erase people’s adolescent psychological adversity.

          • octopus_ink@lemmy.ml
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            27 days ago

            Man, just reread what was shared with you and take the learning experience. You tried to be cute by making a mad-lib out of it and you sound way worse now than you did two comments up.

            Edit hours later after checking to see if my advice was heeded:

            • Trae@lemmy.world
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              27 days ago

              Oh no, I didn’t heed my trans wisdoms lords advice and they’ve decided to deride someone for a singular word choice to make themselves feel morally superior!

              This will definitely advance the trans acceptance of the common person! Or maybe stay with me here for a moment, not everyone on the internet is as accepting as you are and when they see someone getting slammed for “wrong speak” it reinforces their shitty beliefs.

              “If someone who loves and supports trans people is getting shit on for saying a double plus ungood word by other trans allies, then why would I ever want to be a part of that.”

              I’ve heard these conversations verbatim from people I work with who hold actual hatred for trans people and trans acceptance. Once again though you’re all living for up votes and that brief instance you get to feel morally superior on the internet and share these snippets in your discord groups. This is clearly such a flippant topic for you that all you could muster up is a meme.

              • Cataphract@lemmy.ml
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                26 days ago

                If you’re taking a few online comments “from a perceived group” and labeling the entire movement and ideology of it bad because “they said mean things to me”. Well sorry pal, you were just looking for an excuse.

                Try talking to those co-workers and see how nice their word play can be. Should definitely join the people who hold actual hatred than to get over some language critiques so you can properly communicate with a minority group online. You are trying to just communicate right? Just as speaking to a professional or someone without your background you tend to communicate differently to be more effective right?

                I get it, you’re old-think and stuck in your ways. “I don’t actively harm people, so people shouldn’t be harmed by anything I do”. It’s so much easier to just blame everyone else and continue living in your bubble instead of actually learning new perspectives. People stay locked in their ways everyday, why should you have to be any different?

                If your intention was to sidetrack any conversation from the gun article and only have a debate about trans people, well you did a good job because all of that above is a hot mess I was not interested in after only a few comments.

          • melvisntnormal@feddit.uk
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            27 days ago

            I’m not a trans person, but I’m pretty sure that “assigned X at birth” refers to whatever gender is assigned on one’s birth certificate.

          • Cethin@lemmy.zip
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            27 days ago

            Assigned at birth is referring to what the doctor writes on your birth certificate. It’s not complicated. It has nothing to do with gender.

            • Trae@lemmy.world
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              27 days ago

              If you ever find yourself wondering why there’s people out there that don’t speak up about trans hate, just go reread your original reply to me. My comment was nothing close to hateful or bigoted, but you’re not gonna tolerate wrong speak on lemmy.

              You clearly could see where I was coming from and where my support is directed. Instead of total indifference to my comment, which would have been the bare minimum amount of attention you could give to it. You decided to take umbrage with me saying “biological” instead of what makes you happy and throw out intersex groups that make up a fraction of a percent of the entire population like an uno reverse card.

              Then to cap it off you made sure to declare that I’ve been “properly educated”, so sayeth you. So from here on out, I need to use the right language or… else?

              I’m not quite sure what your final edict was supposed to imply. That if I don’t use the right language my trans friends won’t talk to me anymore? I’ll get kicked out of the gay club?

              Instead of leaving it, you had to make it a point to punch down on someone who isn’t as “informed” as you and put me on blast like I just said the N word equivalent for trans persons.

              Seriously, it’s great you want to help spread awareness, but damn you took a super hostile and adversarial tone right off the bat.

              Just calling my shot here. I wrote all this out on my phone and it will not be well received despite the fact that there’s members of trans alliance and advocacy groups who disagree with your position and disagree with the use of “ASAB”. There’s people within the community who dislike using the term trans as a catch all.

              Where do you personally draw the line? Are you going to stop saying ASAB now that you know some people don’t like it? Are you going to keep saying “trans” even though some people feel like it marginalizes the community and feels too informal to discuss complex gender identities?

              Gender Dysphoria Alliance

              The Problem with saying ASAB

              Columbia Law Review

              For whatever reason people online are more interested in being outraged.

              • Cethin@lemmy.zip
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                27 days ago

                I didn’t take umbrage with your original comment. I just pointed out that it’s wrong and you should stop. I was annoyed when you seemed to double down.

                Intersex people are just clear that “basic biology” is a non-functioning understanding of what biology is. Intersex people couldn’t exist if what you learned in high school bio was the end. It’s a clear indication that sex is not just some binary thing. It’s a very complex thing. Even non-intersex people have different developments in the growth due to different hormone levels and other things, and we can even control hormone levels artificially. It’s very complex, and the only useful term is AFAB/AMAB, and then more detailed medical records.

                Then to cap it off you made sure to declare that I’ve been “properly educated”, so sayeth you. So from here on out, I need to use the right language or… else?

                Yeah, use the more accurate language, or else we know you’re choosing not to. Nothings going to happen. Everyone gets to make choices in life. I can’t make you do anything, but from one cis-gendered person to another, it’s not difficult to be better. It’s just a choice.

                You’re getting really offended by someone just informing you the language you used was wrong. It wasn’t even a particularly insulting comment.

                Where do you personally draw the line? Are you going to stop saying ASAB now that you know some people don’t like it? Are you going to keep saying “trans” even though some people feel like it marginalizes the community and feels too informal to discuss complex gender identities?

                I rarely have a use for either term, so I draw the line where it’s useful for others. If you’re a doctor, that’s where it matters, and after gender confirmation, your “sex” is a lot more complicated. After a while or hormone therapy, you’re more akin to your chosen sex than your birth sex. That’s why the “biologically male/female” term isn’t useful. It’s assuming their birth sex is their current sex for medical purposes, but it’s more complex than that. Sex assigned at birth is useful because it limits it to that period specifically, and your medical records tell the whole story.

                The AEI article you posted seems to ignore this fact. It seems to say your birth sex is the important factor. It’s just one of many. For future development, the one your hormones correspond with is likely more important.

                The CLR article mirrors what I’ve said earlier:

                “By referring instead to sex assigned at birth, transgender rights advocates convey that “biological sex” is not simple, static, or binary and that gender identity also has biological aspects.”

                For whatever reason people online are more interested in being outraged

                I agree. People should be more calm, even when corrected. Being outraged doesn’t help. It only acts to cement our mind in preconceived ideas. Changing our minds when provided more information that counters our previous beliefs is something that should be commended, not fled from.

                • Trae@lemmy.world
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                  27 days ago

                  Got it.

                  I apologize.

                  You’re a the most qualified person on the internet for cisgender, trans, and intersex word policing.

                  Now that I know and if I don’t change, you’ll make sure to report it to the cisgender police for trans activities special victims unit…

                  It’s interesting you chose the statement “it’s not difficult to be better, it’s just a choice”. You could have started this entire interaction with “hey dude, just a heads up that a lot of transphobes use phrases like ‘biological male’ to invalidate trans identities”, but instead you took the opportunity to speak down to me and made sure I was now “educated” and that I can stop using wrong speak.

                  Thank God you’re here as an ally to make people question why those of us on this side of the fence can’t even get along internally.

      • kipo@lemm.ee
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        28 days ago

        Calling trans women biological males is transphobic hate speech. Not allowed here.

        • Sweetpeaches69@lemmy.world
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          28 days ago

          It’s entirely relevant to the conversation. She couldn’t get pregnant, so she didn’t give a shit that women’s reproductive rights were on the table until the leopard ate her face personally. I’m as left as they come, but the virtue signaling you just did is why so many people get so turned off by so much rhetoric of our political side.

          • kipo@lemm.ee
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            27 days ago

            It’s not virtue signaling. The language the other person used is what the republicans constantly say when they are describing trans women because they don’t believe trans women are women, and it’s used to take away the rights of trans people, and it’s working.

            There are plenty of ways to say that she isn’t cis and doesn’t have a uterus while being respectful – like I just did.

            I’m as left as they come, but the virtue signaling you just did is why so many people get so turned off by so much rhetoric of our political side.

            I think you want the trans community and its allies to not confront you on dangerous rhetoric then, while they constantly have to fight people on the left and right to keep from having their rights stripped away.

            Being an ally means being open to learning when we make mistakes, and the language the other person used wasn’t appropriate. I hope you and others here can understand why.

            • Sweetpeaches69@lemmy.world
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              27 days ago

              It was just plain virtue signaling. This comment you made isn’t quite as plain, but it still isn’t helpful.

              The difference is, in the first comment you just left it as, “not allowed here”, which is just signaling your virtue, and more importantly, not correcting or helping in any way. I implore you to explain why someone’s verbiage is wrong, not just shut people down with no explanation. Even in this comment, you didn’t offer an alternative for “biological male”, so the person you originally addressed likely will write you off, and keep saying it.

              Your approach is just ineffective.

              Educate, don’t berate.

              • kipo@lemm.ee
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                27 days ago

                Even in this comment, you didn’t offer an alternative for “biological male”

                I absolutely did: “trans woman”.

                I was educating. It’s 2024 and trans people are dying and having their basic human rights taken away, due in part to the pervasive rhetoric I originally called out. I expect better of people, and transphobic comments on lemmy are not welcome and break the rule of civility in the lemmy.world news community.

                Also, you’re telling me - a trans person - that they are virtue signaling about trans issues.

  • Ekybio@lemmy.world
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    28 days ago

    With sentiment like “your body, my choice” floating around more and more, I hope that everyone in need will arm themselves accoringly.

    Because the guys on the other guys think they are made of steel. Remind them that they have a lot of very vulnerable blood vessels close to the skin and that knifes are as cheap as their lies…

  • Snapz@lemmy.world
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    27 days ago

    The whole Russian project was to have our “polite society” collapse as we, as Americans, lost all faith in our institutions and turned against one another and in the process, also lost any kind of collective identity, which makes us a weaker target externally. That happened.

    It’s crazy to me, looking back, how much this was openly discussed along the way, as it successfully happened in slow motion over the last 10-15 years - wasn’t there also a book released that just laid their strategy bare? If there are historians in the future, will be amazing to read the perspective on all of this with time and analysis from those not trapped within the cycle of death and hopelessness.

    • Denidil@lemm.ee
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      27 days ago

      It works because those of us who read and learn about things like this are a minority of the population. Not one large enough to counteract the effect either.

      • crimsonpoodle@pawb.social
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        27 days ago

        I think our society in reality is fine mostly; gun sales to conservatives under the Obama administration surged due to their fears at the time; now it happens again just in reverse.

        The key problem is that the internet is separating people and allowing foreign actors and cynical domestic interests to create filters of what people hear and see.

        you count yourself among a learned few then you should go out and create local events and spread local news as much as possible. People need to interact outside of their bubbles more and they would come to see mostly that they are both reasonable. It is only the facts that are current in question between the two isles, not necessarily the principles.

    • Infomatics90@lemmy.ca
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      27 days ago

      Yes it is called the foundations of geopolitics, written by Aleksandr Dugin. Its free to read on the internet archive.