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Post by clmetsfan on Mar 25, 2022 19:43:45 GMT -5
Wow I wonder how many otherwise intelligent people believed in the Russia collusion narrative? What's sad is that I think you actually believe that these are equivalent.
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Post by clmetsfan on Mar 25, 2022 13:09:15 GMT -5
A relevant excerpt from the Republican Governor of Utah regarding his veto of a ban on trans students playing sports: Did Utah really have a bill pass that banned trans people playing sports? Or was it more like a bill saying trans students could participate, but had to do so with their gender as defined by genetics and not stated identity? Whatever semantics want you use, the governor made the right decision based on public health.
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Post by clmetsfan on Mar 25, 2022 12:48:31 GMT -5
Are those the NCAA rules they abandoned to let her compete in the national championship? You have it backwards. The previous NCAA rule that was thrown out used looser restrictions for trans athletes (1 year of hormone therapy). By defaulting to the rules of the national governing bodies for each sport, Thomas (who has undergone three years of HRT) had to also prove that her testosterone levels were within range. That's the rule change that they enacted just before nationals, which they then delayed the implementation of given the last-minute timing.
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Post by clmetsfan on Mar 25, 2022 12:10:38 GMT -5
How about the ratio of muscle tissue to adipose tissue (higher in women). That does not change over night if maintained and enhanced through physical workouts. I'm not very familiar with the scientific background of this criteria and how it relates to hormone therapy, but remember that Lia Thomas gained fat and lost muscle mass as result of her HRT. I don't know if it's within the same levels for cis women, or if there is even a "normal" range for cis women that's of any use here. If you do, please share. All that said, if medical experts (actual ones, not some of the keyboard experts in this thread) determine that it's a viable mechanism for normalizing the playing field, I'm all for it. What I know for sure is that Lia Thomas is playing within the rules, and that there's been no medical data shared in this thread which shows that she has an unfair physical advantage.
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Post by clmetsfan on Mar 25, 2022 10:35:13 GMT -5
You really don't think there are some inherit advantages Lia has carried with her over to women's swimming? Come on. You brought up medically-determined rulings. Is that no longer the basis you want to use?
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Post by clmetsfan on Mar 25, 2022 9:58:49 GMT -5
Maybe Lia Thomas could have swam in the men's division until she was medically determined to not have an unfair advantage physically over women? That way, she still gets to compete, but isn't doing so in an unequal way. CL Mets, I'm assuming you agree Lia Thomas competing in the women's division isn't fair, right? Interesting that you talk about medically-determined rulings on physical advantages. Thomas's hormone levels are on par with cis women after she took a year off while undergoing hormone replacement treatment. Her times are good, but not record-breaking. She's also obviously worked hard to get them back down after they rose dramatically when she started back up again. In fact, her times in the men's division BEFORE transitioning were slower than they are now, after she's undergone HRT, which lowered her height by an inch and decreased her muscle mass. So what exactly is her unfair advantage?
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Post by clmetsfan on Mar 25, 2022 9:14:31 GMT -5
It would not be the first time, and I have not. seen any state the connection with the justice that you imply exists here...unless, that is, one believes his wife is not her own person and is merely an extension of her husband. You're a smart guy, I'm sure you're aware of the rules around conflicts of interest when a judge is ruling on a case that involves activities that their spouse was directly involved in. You're not that naive.
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Post by clmetsfan on Mar 25, 2022 9:06:38 GMT -5
LOL ah yes I'm sure the text messages obtained by multiple independent news outlets are all fake and part of a liberal conspiracy to smear this great man and his totally unseditious wife.
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Post by clmetsfan on Mar 25, 2022 9:01:55 GMT -5
I am glad the courts do not act simply on "appearances." Of course, the public will often judge based on little beyond those same appearances. Fortunately for him he's pretty much free from consequences even if those appearances are 100% factual. Must be nice.
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Post by clmetsfan on Mar 25, 2022 8:57:27 GMT -5
A relevant excerpt from the Republican Governor of Utah regarding his veto of a ban on trans students playing sports:
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Post by clmetsfan on Mar 25, 2022 8:54:23 GMT -5
Voting against the release of National Archives records (without writing a dissent) after his wife was privately lobbying White House officials to overturn an election would appear to be incredibly unethical.
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Post by clmetsfan on Feb 3, 2022 17:59:51 GMT -5
How did they not think of this. I had a coworker years ago who named his oldest child Graham. I said to another coworker, "As in cracker?" I was scolded and told that the parents took a long time to choose the name. My response was that it took me a half of a second to come up with the way some would tease the kid. Should have gone with Nationals so we could say the "Washington football Nationals" like the NY Giants of before my time. What was wrong with Senators, it's available, is it not? The only negative about that name was that the baseball teams that used it hadn't won anything since the 1930s. I think Senators was the only proposed name I head that's actually worse than Commanders, tbh. As if there isn't enough history of failure surrrounding the baseball team of the same name, can you think of a group of people in the US less worthy of being respected than members of Congress? Not to mention, as Tom pointed out, that DC residents don't even have congressional representation. The Washington Statehoods would've been a better name than the Senators.
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Post by clmetsfan on Sept 1, 2021 8:07:59 GMT -5
The proof of vaccination is purely for show. Can’t imagine an easier thing to falsify. I am actually vaccinated and my Walgreen’s gave me a photocopy of a vaccine card because they had run out. This is why more states should have centralized passports that are tied to the state vaccine records. NY does this with the Excelsior pass.
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Post by clmetsfan on Aug 5, 2021 10:13:20 GMT -5
Pretty embarrassing for you guys to have all this talk of decathletes and Wheaties boxes with no mention of the greatest athlete/product pairing of all time:
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Post by clmetsfan on Aug 4, 2021 8:55:13 GMT -5
I just don't get your doubt about the timing. She decides not retire, puts in five more years of grueling training, only to suddenly lose motivation in the middle of the competition? What possible unspoken reason could she have for doing that? It seems like you're nitpicking just for the sake of nitpicking. I am asking you, or generally for the reasons. They sound more like excuses. If she was so distracted, distraught, endangered, why go through all the training and sweat and sacrifice, the delays, the travel, the isolation, and then give up the night before? Ok, so you are just nitpicking for the sake of nitpicking. Glad we cleared that up. If you can't take her at her word, and choose to ignore all the commentary from other gymnasts who acknowledge that what she's going through is a very real condition, and decide to dismiss a mental health crisis that a stranger is experiencing as "excuses," then I don't think this discussion is worth having anymore. Some people just like being contrarians.
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Post by clmetsfan on Aug 3, 2021 17:19:30 GMT -5
I'm not disappointed about the bronze versus many potential golds. If she competes and reps the USA, I think anyone can be proud of the effort and grace. I'm at least skeptical that all of the pressure and twisties and all of that came up after she was in Tokyo. She had been abused, unfortunately, and tragically. She had been under tremendous pressure and grueling training schedules and physical stress and mental strife. But she competed and won profited gained fame and it seemed to not be an issue. What changed after she got to Japan? It's at least plausible that once she was there, she was over it, didn't have the same motivation, didn't need the same sacrifices and risk, so just bailed. Even if you're saying I have no comprehension to fault the reason, I am nitpicking the timing at least as fishy. I just don't get your doubt about the timing. She decides not retire, puts in five more years of grueling training, only to suddenly lose motivation in the middle of the competition? What possible unspoken reason could she have for doing that? It seems like you're nitpicking just for the sake of nitpicking.
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Post by clmetsfan on Aug 3, 2021 16:16:13 GMT -5
I think there was talk of a potential 5 Gold Medals for Ms. Biles before she dropped out. Returning with one Bronze Medal, given the earlier hopes, must be a colossal disappointment. No matter the reasons. One bronze and a silver. It's obviously a disappointment, which no one feels more than her I'm sure, but also speaks to how devastating and difficult her decision must have been. To already be the greatest to ever compete in your sport, then spend 5 years sacrificing your body for one more Olympics only to have this happen has to incredibly disappointing for her. That doesn't mean she'll regret the decision, because only an incredibly serious issue could prevent someone like that from competing, but it's very unfortunate that it happened.
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Post by clmetsfan on Aug 3, 2021 16:11:12 GMT -5
Did I miss some press releases about Simone Biles from politicians of any party? I would hope the politicians would stay out of this. Politicians have been staying out for the most part. I think mm67 is referring to a lot of the right-wing punditry that has been pretty vocal in their criticisms. Clay Travis, Piers Morgan, Charlie Kirk, Amber Athey, etc. Kirk called her a sociopath (!!), an editor at the Federalist called her selfish. Not that any of these people actually care, they're just seizing on an opportunity to stoke the outrage flames.
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Post by clmetsfan on Aug 3, 2021 11:30:13 GMT -5
This is one of the most hilariously ignorant comments I've seen on here. "Hiding" behind mental health? Not being able to orient yourself in the air doesn't have anything to do with the dangers of gymnastics? Seriously?? Let me know if you find someone who does understand the dangers of doing back flips and still disagrees with Biles's decision, because you sure as hell don't fit that description. I'm not sure what's so difficult about separating (1) Biles having the yips from (2) how Biles handled having the yips. Sane people aren't criticizing her for having the yips. But the way she has handled it over the past week has been a totally different story. Then again, we don't all have the depth and intellectual capacity to understand the complexities of gymnastics like you so clearly do. Mea culpa mea culpa. You still don't get it. I don't understand the complexities of gymnastics like Simone Biles does, because I've never even attempted anything like it at any level (as I'm sure you haven't either). The difference is that when I don't know what the hell I'm talking about, I try not to criticize the decisions of people who do. People like Jacoby Miles, a former gymnast who got the twisties and ended up as a quadriplegic: www.si.com/olympics/2021/08/02/simone-biles-twisties-physical-risk-former-gymnasts-left-paralyzedSeriously though, if you can find a former gymnast -- or anyone who has spent a significant amount of time flipping through the air -- who thinks that she made the wrong decision, by all means share it. I'm sure your strong opinion about a sport that you only pay attention to every four years has a very well-informed basis.
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Post by clmetsfan on Aug 3, 2021 8:59:26 GMT -5
Apple and oranges. You can criticize managerial and ownership decisions because they're DECISIONS based on analysis of the same situation that we can all understand. It's completely different from criticizing someone's decision to not participate in an extremely dangerous sport that almost none of us have ever attempted at any level. Have you read about the "twisties" since this happened? Just try to imagine the terror that must come from being upside down in the air and not being confident that you'll be able to land on your feet. Anyone who hasn't experienced that and tries to explain why Simone Biles made the wrong decision is just talking out of their ass. You do realize that it’s possible to understand the dangers of doing back flips while also disagreeing with the way Biles handled the situation, right? Her embracing being the center of attention and the “GOAT” label and then essentially turning around hiding behind “mental health” + allowing the media to run with a narrative that it was related to sexual assault, when in reality she just had the yips doesn’t really have anything to do with the “dangers of gymnastics.” Also you have experienced being a baseball manager with your job on the line, millions watching your every move, having to appease a clubhouse of professional baseball players? If not, playing fantasy baseball doesn’t really simulate what that pressure is like, right? This is one of the most hilariously ignorant comments I've seen on here. "Hiding" behind mental health? Not being able to orient yourself in the air doesn't have anything to do with the dangers of gymnastics? Seriously?? Let me know if you find someone who does understand the dangers of doing back flips and still disagrees with Biles's decision, because you sure as hell don't fit that description.
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Post by clmetsfan on Aug 2, 2021 22:30:41 GMT -5
Precisely. Biles's withdrawal saved the team's chances at a medal. If an ace starting pitcher suddenly can't throw strikes, do you tell them to suck it up and find a way, or bring in the long man who isn't as naturally talented but capable of performing better that day? (this isn't even that great of an analogy, because a pitcher who can't located the plate doesn't also run the risk of breaking his neck when he throws a wild pitch) The night before World Series Game 1, Clayton Kershaw mentions that he's had incredible stress on the home front. He's physically exhausted from playing since he's 6 years old, traveling across the country, regular season + playoffs, All Star appearances, awards shows, late night talk TV, commercials, and charity work. He's already compiled a Hall of Fame career, so he doesn't "owe" anybody anything. He could gut it out, but if he throws a pitch and drills a batter in the head and kills them, it would be a catastrophe. Instead, 20 hours before first pitch, he's decided to bow out. Would he be celebrated? Would his teammates be "delighted" that they had their chances relegated to second-best?
What if in this hypothetical, he didn't bow out in advance. Instead, during the first inning, he issues three walks, two hit batsmen, two doubles, and a home run. He motions to Dave Roberts and the trainer. It's better that somebody else come in, because he can't perform up to the high caliber everyone is used to. Would he be celebrated for that?
First of all, you're incorrect in your previous post that she wasn't replaced in the team competition. She was. They "only" won silver because her vault was the lowest score and they were never able to climb up from second place. But would Kershaw be celebrated for making a responsible decision about his mental health to avoid endangering someone? Of course not. Do you think that's a good thing? Do you think it's a good thing when it happens to a 24-year-old survivor of sexual assault by the team doctor?
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Post by clmetsfan on Aug 2, 2021 22:24:24 GMT -5
Precisely. Biles's withdrawal saved the team's chances at a medal. If an ace starting pitcher suddenly can't throw strikes, do you tell them to suck it up and find a way, or bring in the long man who isn't as naturally talented but capable of performing better that day? (this isn't even that great of an analogy, because a pitcher who can't located the plate doesn't also run the risk of breaking his neck when he throws a wild pitch) Based on your previous comment, shouldn't you have added that only those who have either been a major league baseball manager and/or a major league baseball pitcher would be allowed to offer an opinion? After all, nobody is allowed to have an opinion on Biles unless they are gymnasts themselves.. As a Mets fan, I'm sure you never criticized the Wilpons because you've never owned a professional franchise, right? [Pretty sure they're pretty thrilled that their friend and teammate made the smart choice to protect both her body and the team's chances. All the criticism I've seen of Biles is from people who a) have never so much somersaulted in the air, let alone executed wildly athletic and dangerous flips and spins, and b) don't understand that a gymnast who can't flip or land properly is going to get terrible scores. Apple and oranges. You can criticize managerial and ownership decisions because they're DECISIONS based on analysis of the same situation that we can all understand. It's completely different from criticizing someone's decision to not participate in an extremely dangerous sport that almost none of us have ever attempted at any level. Have you read about the "twisties" since this happened? Just try to imagine the terror that must come from being upside down in the air and not being confident that you'll be able to land on your feet. Anyone who hasn't experienced that and tries to explain why Simone Biles made the wrong decision is just talking out of their ass.
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Post by clmetsfan on Aug 2, 2021 12:32:09 GMT -5
There was no backup for team events, so ask her squad how they feel about the silver. The rest seems like conjecture rather than fact, so no way to know for sure. I have some doubts. Biles was replaced in her events...you could make the argument her poor vault cost them the gold. Precisely. Biles's withdrawal saved the team's chances at a medal. If an ace starting pitcher suddenly can't throw strikes, do you tell them to suck it up and find a way, or bring in the long man who isn't as naturally talented but capable of performing better that day? (this isn't even that great of an analogy, because a pitcher who can't located the plate doesn't also run the risk of breaking his neck when he throws a wild pitch)
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Post by clmetsfan on Aug 2, 2021 12:29:11 GMT -5
There was no backup for team events, so ask her squad how they feel about the silver. The rest seems like conjecture rather than fact, so no way to know for sure. I have some doubts. Pretty sure they're pretty thrilled that their friend and teammate made the smart choice to protect both her body and the team's chances. All the criticism I've seen of Biles is from people who a) have never so much somersaulted in the air, let alone executed wildly athletic and dangerous flips and spins, and b) don't understand that a gymnast who can't flip or land properly is going to get terrible scores.
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Post by clmetsfan on Jul 3, 2021 17:07:58 GMT -5
For all the lip service that people love to spew about prioritizing mental health, enforcing a backwards, outdated rule that was broken because someone was going through emotional trauma is very on-brand for the USOC.
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