Caster Semenya admits she has an advantage, but dismisses it by adding "so what?"

Running Circles wrote:

rojo wrote:

That being said, these comments don't exactly endear her to me. She misses the nuance of the argument.

She seems oblivious of the fact that she's "the best in the world" in a special cateogry - women's athletics. She's not the best in the world period. There are hundreds if not thousands of men better than her. In a day and age that we let people self identify their gender legally, we must have rules as to who can and can't compete in women's athletics.

(Part of this post is rephrased from another thread, "RE: At SA Women's Conf, Semenya Complains Women in Sports Don't Support Semenya - Plays Dumb About Why" started Wed 8/14):

"Yes I have high testosterone - so what?" and "I'm the best in the world at what I do" aren't the only public remarks Semenya made yesterday that won't exactly "endear" Semenya to many.

At the same conference - a SA women's conference where Semenya was keynote speaker - Semenya was asked how she is planning to use her public platform and superstar status to promote "gender equality" and empower women more generally. Semenya immediately brought the convo back to Semenya's own self, then complained that since Semenya started out in female sports biological women have never given Semenya sufficient support and love.

(To see/hear these remarks, go to circa 29:00 in the video from the embedded in article linked to below)

In the same video, Semenya also

1) says that growing up it was always clear Semenya was far better than other girls (and most boys) in athletics because "there was something different about me," but coyly never acknowledges - or approaches mention of - what the difference actually is, despite the fact that Semenya and SA officials have known for more than 10 years now;

2) follows up the boast that "I'm the best in the world at what I do" by claiming this is why the IAAF has "targeted" Semenya for persecution and is trying to "get rid of" Semenya. Semenya says mean sports authorities have determined Semenya is "a problem" because Semenya is just too good a runner, and other people - especially women - are envious of Semenya's exceptional talents. Again, there's no mention of the fact that the reason Semenya is "a problem" in women's sports is that Semenya is XY with functioning testes, male levels of T and male sensitivity to T - and that's why Semenya is "exceptional" compared to XX runners.

3) claims Semenya's success as a female runner is due to working harder and training better than the rest of the female field, having a tougher mental attitude and superior focus, and coming from a poor, rural province: At circa 13:10, Semenya says she trains 6 days a week, twice a day, usually waking up at 5:00 am to do so - and Semenya presents this schedule as extraordinary, proof of Semenya's special efforts and unmatched dedication.

Saying that Semenya "misses the nuance of the argument" is now clearly an understatement. Semenya is involved in a campaign of full-scale obfuscation and outright lying. And seems to have developed many traits associated with narcissistic personality disorder.

https://ewn.co.za/2019/08/14/caster-semenya-i-ve-never-felt-supported-by-women-in-sports

rojo wrote:

Listen to the very end of this video:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/video/2019/aug/14/i-have-high-testosterone-so-what-says-caster-semenya-video

I'll repeat what I've always said about Caster. It must have been incredibly challenging to find out as a late teen that even though you didn't have a male sexual organ that you are XY and have no womb/ovaries, etc. I love how she's been strong and flexed and stood up for herself.

That being said, these comments don't exactly endear her to me. She misses the nuance of the argument.

She seems oblivious of the fact that she's "the best in the world" in a special cateogry - women's athletics. She's not the best in the world period. There are hundreds if not thousands of men better than her. In a day and age that we let people self identify their gender legally, we must have rules as to who can and can't compete in women's athletics.

misgendering????????? wrote:

StopMisgenerdingPeople wrote:

No, she is XY. We can call it the XX division and ban women who are XY from competing in the XX division. But please stop calling her a dude, you are just being an a$$hole when you do that. She is a female, born XY, can you please stop misgendering her. Thank you.

I don't care what generation you are from, but you are either a troll or just plain ignorant. I bet you went to a hugely liberal College and had one of those professors that molded your weak spine, I mean mind.

This world is completely out of hand and bs like Caster running as woman is absolutely ridiculous. Caster has a HUGE advantage over the true female competitors and it's so obvious it's almost embarrassing to watch. Although it's surely not Caster's fault, it's still a HUGE advantage that anyone who is unbiased can clearly see.

Again, what has this world come to and where in the hell is it going?

Lenny Leonard wrote:

rojo wrote:

She seems oblivious of the fact that she's "the best in the world" in a special cateogry - women's athletics. She's not the best in the world period. There are hundreds if not thousands of men better than her.

This is a tough pill to swallow for everyone involved in women’s sports, including fans of both sexes. It’s a competition between athletes with significant physical limitations when compared with elite male athletes.

I honestly can’t say why Semenya winning medals and setting records has never bothered me. Maybe it’s male privilege? I also think all the scientific testing to somehow quantify how much someone is a woman is a bit creepy. If Caster was competing 50 years ago, she would just be considered an exceptional female athlete and left it alone. There’s something envious about that level of clarity.

rojo wrote:

Listen to the very end of this video:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/video/2019/aug/14/i-have-high-testosterone-so-what-says-caster-semenya-video

I'll repeat what I've always said about Caster. It must have been incredibly challenging to find out as a late teen that even though you didn't have a male sexual organ that you are XY and have no womb/ovaries, etc. I love how she's been strong and flexed and stood up for herself.

That being said, these comments don't exactly endear her to me. She misses the nuance of the argument.

She seems oblivious of the fact that she's "the best in the world" in a special cateogry - women's athletics. She's not the best in the world period. There are hundreds if not thousands of men better than her. In a day and age that we let people self identify their gender legally, we must have rules as to who can and can't compete in women's athletics.

Fogrunr wrote:

Weldon,

I respectfully disagree.

I don't think Caster misses the nuance that you perceive.

I think her point is why are we sacrificing those that are different?

Why can't we accept her the way she is, and accept others like her, and why haven't we provided a place for them?

WHY HAVEN'T WE PROVIDED A PLACE FOR THEM?

"My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?"

We perceive that she is more different from the majority then the majority are different among themselves.

My opinion is that we are missing the point of the Kingdom:

That the Kingdom is built within us, and to be built it requires a minimum of two people, each appreciating the uniqueness of the other and also the uniqueness of themselves.

That is the foundation of compassion.

That is the foundation of expanding our minds to think outside of ourselves.

Compassionate hearts beat stronger.

Compassionate minds are wiser.

Make no mistake.

Castor is a great one.

Despite aggression surrounding her, she maintains her peace, she maintains her self-respect, she is confident that she is accepted by the Creator.

If Castor is accepted by the creator, and we are SO different from her, then why would the Creator accept us?

And if the Creator accepts us both, then why can we not accept her and provide a place for her and others like her?

The problem is not her.

The problem is us.

Personally I take advantage of the opportunity to embrace someone who is different from me, because it opens my heart and mind.

It makes me feel alive.

And it subconsciously reinforces that I am just as appreciated.

Respectfully,

Fogrunr

rojo wrote:

Listen to the very end of this video:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/video/2019/aug/14/i-have-high-testosterone-so-what-says-caster-semenya-video

I'll repeat what I've always said about Caster. It must have been incredibly challenging to find out as a late teen that even though you didn't have a male sexual organ that you are XY and have no womb/ovaries, etc. I love how she's been strong and flexed and stood up for herself.

That being said, these comments don't exactly endear her to me. She misses the nuance of the argument.

She seems oblivious of the fact that she's "the best in the world" in a special cateogry - women's athletics. She's not the best in the world period. There are hundreds if not thousands of men better than her. In a day and age that we let people self identify their gender legally, we must have rules as to who can and can't compete in women's athletics.