Bob Spunkmouse

Will be my first game since forever. And I fucking hate palace. I’m fully expecting us to lose because of those facts. Sorry in advance.

I’m not sure if he is or not, but he’s playing at the most consistently high level he has for us, I reckon. A menace every game.

the standard of women’s football is not just inferior to the standard of men’s football because of puberty alone though is it? Rico said theres 121k registered women footballers in the uk, how many males are there? One or two more I’d guess? Looks like Rico underestimated - from the 2015 FA State of tye Game report:.. “8.2 million adults of which 6.25 million are men and 2.03 million are women 3.35 million children, aged 5-15 or which 2.49 million are boys and 860,000 are girls.” I assume similar numbers will exist in most places - perhaps the US is an outlier to that where men’s football has never been a staple. Maybe? I don’t know. So there’s a much smaller pool of talent. There’s far fewer coaches, far fewer scouts, training facilities and academies. Then there’s the level of competition faced. Iron sharpens iron? all of those factor into why gremio u-16 might trounce the women’s national team. yeah, genetics and puberty plays a part but it’s not isolated. And that also counts as elite sport, so best be sure the authorities have a plan for if all those lads suddenly start transitioning to being women.

I think at elite level it’s something authorities need to think hard about and keep trying to work out. And I don’t think it’s easy. I also don’t think it’s worthy of scare mongering and shouting (not you) at this point in time. Unless you have alternative reasons to want to scaremonger and shout, that is (not you).

I’m going. You’re insufferable in the way to constantly twist what I’ve written to try and make it some kind of different story. For the record, my opinion is that PEDs probably aren’t an issue in most women’s amateur sports. Their probably not an issue in most men’s amateur sport either. Obviously strength based sports like boxing and weightlifting there might be, but I’m sure the authorities can have a think about it. I don’t expect it’s an issue in recreational hockey, netball or football though. the VAST majority of ALL sport played in this country is played for competitive fun. That’s what amateur sport is. At every level of footy I’ve ever played since leaving school, there’s been at least one or two lads that were genuinely shite. Like proper rubbish. Actual MEN who are crap at football. Put them in a women’s league and the opposition would be delighted. Yeah, they’re be taller probably, and maybe have stronger bones, and better aim obviously (what?) but they’d still be shite. so the thrust of my argument is that most trans women won’t be trying to play sport beyond “for fun” recreational level, if at all. Like the fucking rest of us. those few that are, and genuinely are transitioning to live as women and want to compete at a high level of sport probably ought to expect some hurdles (especially if they want to run the hurdles) and the authorities need to think hard about how they manage it and ensure fairness and will probably make mistakes along the way, but the VAST majority of trans women will not be causing your sleepless nights on this issue - which is why it’s so irritating when you use it as a colourful distraction point. If it’s a level of competitiveness that can be considered recreational, then the world would be better if it can be tolerant enough to let people in. Although, I hope they don’t go on to rape their teammates in the showers which is probably the only reason they’re ALL really doing it the dastardly deviants. Out. Night. Try not to have nightmares about trans women hiding under your bed, with their super straight and incredible aim. x

My daughter is one of those 121k. Women’s football is hugely popular. That’s a good thing. It’s still mostly fun rather than an important matter. Yeah people give a shit if they win, but I’d hope most won’t want people to be excluded from sport. you won’t change my mind on this. Outside of high level I don’t think this is the issue you want it to be.

You’re either stupid, deliberately obtuse, or fucking bonkers. I don’t think it’s the first. I used to play football as a kid. Since leaving school I’ve only ever played on a casual, non-competitive level. I’m like the vast majority of people. For a good while I played in a 5-a-side team that arranged games against another group that had two women playing in their side. They managed just fine against us big strong men with our “superior aim”. Cause we’re all generally just playing for a bit of fun and not that good. That’s MOST PEOPLE. there was an article in the news a fair few years ago now of a trans woman up here in Leeds who was barred for playing for her amateur league women’s team even though she was legally recognised as a woman. Her teammates were upset about it and she was excluded from playing sport. Are you telling me that’s the price you’re pleased with? Who is winning from that?

You’ve misunderstood my point. Not sure if deliberately or just because you’re so hell bent on seeing a problem. The reason the vast majority won’t be seeking a sporting advantage is because the vast (vast) majority of people - male, female, trans, intersex, whatever you like - do not compete in competitive sport beyond a the level of a fun run, a Tuesday night kick about (as I’ve just returned from) or 18 holes with a +16 handicap. the fact someone will now have a better aim (what?) because they’re not a born female, make a fucking difference to who? fine, there needs to be some thought and care in competitive sport at elite level, and there’ll be mistake and missteps along the way, but is it worth getting your boxers in a bunch over? (I thought saying knickers in a twist might trigger you).

Nope. Not all sport. Not even all elite sport. Most, fine, admittedly. I still don’t profess to have an answer, but I’m still not overly worried that there’s going to be a swath of second rate men clogging up elite level women’s sport. the main intent of my reply though - which you realise but choose to ignore - is that the vast majority of trans women are highly unlikely to be trying to gain sporting advantage from transitioning to being a woman. But carry on ignoring that point and shouting at the margins and outliers like that’s the only thing

I honestly don’t know. In terms of answers to the question and in terms of biology. So I have no reply of worth on the matter. I’d say it’s likely (although I have no numbers) that the vast majority of trans women aren’t likely to compete (or try to) at the next olympics - even if the floodgates have now been opened if you’d listen to Rico.

Get it changed mate. There’s absolutely no reason to make life harder for yourselves. There are obvious benefits to her from you giving her a lift - her time, her money, her effort etc. And those benefits have worth, but if you don’t address the aggravation it’s causing you, it’ll end up causing rows and resentment, and it sounds like that’s not necessary. life’s hard enough without us finding ways to make it harder. get talking to her about it too. Don’t just suggest change, explain that it’s getting you down - not giving her a lift, but the impact the timings have on your day. work it out, find a compromise, get her driving, win.

There’s no answer to that. Anything can be the thing that impacts on your mental health. I agree with the shouts above. Get the bus where she can, get a taxi when needed, give her a life some days when it suits you both. she also ought to try and learn to drive still. 3 failed tests or not. Long term that’ll be in her and your best interests.

Get some beans on that plate man.

So what about the large (and growing) number of trans women, who don’t have (or want) beards, who don’t want to change to be male one day and female the next, who don’t want to take up elite level sport, and who don’t want to rape female prisoners. What about them? they feel like women, and are transitioning to whatever degree they are comfortable, to being a woman and living as that person they currently are. what about them? I don’t give a flying one about any of your wider points. If you expressed them in a way that wasn’t to ugly I might engage with them more and I’m sure I’m many cases agree with you, but that’s not why I’m here. what about those trans women that want to be able to live in their current state and be recognised as existing without being referred to as “blokes” and having to piss in the men’s bogs? To you, by your words, they either don’t exist (which they do) or they don’t matter (which is pretty sad). that’s what I’m bothered by. That’s all. I think there’s a very complex and important conversation to be had about children in all of this. outside of children, there’s a clear (but again complicated) need to prevent exploitation of this by individuals keen to exploit. Whether sport or life. but alongside that there’s also a need to not be a prick towards a large and growing number of people that just want to be comfortable living their life without having to get your fucking approval.

You’ve got two posts in one here, as far as I’m concerned. one post, that shares your opinions on the issues Rico points out is absolutely fair and fine. I have some shared views, my thoughts differ a bit in places, and all fo what you’ve said is - to me - quite fair enough and reasonably stated. The other post though you’ve got wrong. There is one reason alone that I’ve responded to Rico here and said what I’ve said, and that’s because that is the language her has used. And did so there. he didn't say “some of them are men, taking the piss or taking advantage ffs” he said in direct response to my challenge “they [no subsection of, they, all of them] are men ffs” he said it because it’s what he believes. He’s said it before. I’ve called him before for referring to trans women (not the men abusing the system, not ones with beards or in sport, just run of the mill trans women) as “blokes”. It’s his thing. It’s deliberate, and it’s transphobic. it’s a big part of why I don’t answer him when he asks me questions about people I’ve never heard of as a means of distraction. His distraction shouldn’t be allowed. if all he had a problem with was men abusing loopholes and doing things I think most of us can accept are/is wrong, I wouldn’t say a word. in one encounter though he did admit if those theoretical trans women he calls blokes worked with him he’d call them whatever pronoun they wanted to their face. Which was bloody good of him. A bit like how that fella we all know wouldn’t use the P word to the Indian family down the street but just as a slang for the corner shop they run. Good egg.