<div dir="ltr">Yeah, to be clear, I don't really disagree with you in the mental arena, but would be interesting to hear from some actual women competitors in chess to see what their opinion(s) on the matter is.</div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, Aug 17, 2023 at 1:00 PM efc--- via extropy-chat <<a href="mailto:extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org">extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">What about the extremely radical suggestion to scrap gender classes in <br>
chess?<br>
<br>
I can see the point in physical sports, but not quite in mental sports.<br>
<br>
Best regards,<br>
Daniel<br>
<br>
<br>
On Thu, 17 Aug 2023, Dylan Distasio via extropy-chat wrote:<br>
<br>
> I don't know whether it is actually silly if we dig down on it. Out of curiosity, are you in favor of banning biological men from<br>
> women's sports? I would guess you probably are due to the very obvious physical advantages that biological men have over women. <br>
> For the record, I am completely against transwomen competing in women's sports for these biological reasons, particularly in things<br>
> like UFC/MMA, swimming, track&field, powerlifting, etc.<br>
> So back to chess...Although I don't think there is enough real data to be sure, an argument can be made on the biological front there<br>
> as well as to why biological men/transwomen should not be allowed to compete in women's chess. Men may hold a biological advantage<br>
> there as well in terms of brain differences, and the effects of testosterone on risk taking. <br>
> <br>
> You could also make the argument that even if the perceived superiority of men in playing chess is due purely to cultural issues and<br>
> the sheer numbers of men who play chess compared to women that allowing biological men/transwomen to compete there would put women at<br>
> a disadvantage overall.<br>
> <br>
> All that said, since noone is going to get injured playing chess, I am more inclined to say allow transwomen to compete there and see<br>
> what the outcomes are as I don't think we have enough data to know for sure that men have an innate advantage over women in the chess<br>
> arena.<br>
> <br>
> While I agree with you that it seems silly on its face compared to the more clear cut case of physical sports, I don't think the ban<br>
> is entirely without merit and shouldn't be immediately laughed off. Like I said though, the consequences of allowing them to<br>
> compete in chess pale in comparison to physical sports, so maybe we should just see what happens and collect more data before<br>
> enacting a ban prematurely.<br>
> <br>
> On Thu, Aug 17, 2023 at 11:56 AM spike jones via extropy-chat <<a href="mailto:extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org" target="_blank">extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org</a>> wrote:<br>
><br>
> <br>
><br>
> I just heard that the International Chess Federation (FIDE) is banning transgender women from competing in women’s<br>
> chess. Scandal!<br>
><br>
> <br>
><br>
> Just when I think this old world has achieved peak silliness, we seem to discover new pinnacles of silliness. <br>
><br>
> <br>
><br>
> This might have a downside however.<br>
><br>
> <br>
><br>
> spike<br>
> <br>
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</blockquote></div>