[ExI] et tu chess?

[efc at swisscows.email]

What about the extremely radical suggestion to scrap gender classes in 
chess?

I can see the point in physical sports, but not quite in mental sports.

Best regards,
Daniel


On Thu, 17 Aug 2023, Dylan Distasio via extropy-chat wrote:

> 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
> women's sports?   I would guess you probably are due to the very obvious physical advantages that biological men have over women. 
>  For the record, I am completely against transwomen competing in women's sports for these biological reasons, particularly in things
> like UFC/MMA, swimming, track&field, powerlifting, etc.
> 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
> as well as to why biological men/transwomen should not be allowed to compete in women's chess.    Men may hold a biological advantage
> there as well in terms of brain differences, and the effects of testosterone on risk taking.   
> 
> You could also make the argument that even if the perceived superiority of men in playing chess is due purely to cultural issues and
> the sheer numbers of men who play chess compared to women that allowing biological men/transwomen to compete there would put women at
> a disadvantage overall.
> 
> 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
> 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
> arena.
> 
> 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
> is entirely without merit and shouldn't be immediately laughed off.   Like I said though, the consequences of allowing them to
> compete in chess pale in comparison to physical sports, so maybe we should just see what happens and collect more data before
> enacting a ban prematurely.
> 
> On Thu, Aug 17, 2023 at 11:56 AM spike jones via extropy-chat <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:
>
>        
>
>       I just heard that the International Chess Federation (FIDE) is banning transgender women from competing in women’s
>       chess.  Scandal!
>
>        
>
>       Just when I think this old world has achieved peak silliness, we seem to discover new pinnacles of silliness. 
>
>        
>
>       This might have a downside however.
>
>        
>
>       spike
> 
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