Just thank you, man. It must feel Sisyphean to keep pointing out the same errors and the same criticisms every time. But we all need this, and we have you to thank.
Well said, just thank you. I read every word of this piece and then decided to support your sub stack. My daughter has been swept up in the vortex, and voices for critical analysis are a lifeline for me.
I think Science Based Medicine is yet another casualty of the politicization of science. Back in 2018 they published a couple of pieces about trans issues by Hall and there was a lot of backlash (she said it was a bad idea to pull the ROGD study, flawed as it may be). As with much of the world, the pandemic has made the politicisation worse: they published an article claiming that the Great Barrington Declaration (shielding people at high risk while low risk people continue as normal) was like HIV/AIDS denial even though the authors of GBD actually wanted more resources to keep nursing home residents safe from the coronavirus. Then there was another one claiming that there was a good chance opening schools would cause a big spike in coronavirus (it didn't, and there was already data from Europe showing it likely wouldn't).
At this point in time, a lot of ostensibly scientific groups are now just parroting what their political group says is true. And that's too bad for a website like SBM which has done some good work in the past.
When Jesse out-skeptics the man who used to be my skeptical hero (Novella). Sad day for me that this is necessary but I'm glad you took the time and effort to write a nuanced and honest take that will (naturally) be panned as "transphobic" (and already is on the SGU subreddit). Sigh.
I am very disappointed to read this about the SGU subreddit… I wonder if it is because of the extreme partisanship of the US. The right in the US is so crazy it must feel to the left side that even conceding reasonable points of concern is giving the “other” side ammunition and means you must be agreeing with the “crazy” side of politics.
One of the high moments of my modest writing life was when SBM - international skeptical heroes! & moi in the same sentence?! - told readers that an Icelandic writer could use their support on Huffington Post. The writer was yours truly, and the article was "Is Jenny McCarthy Afraid of the Truth About Autism?" https://www.huffpost.com/entry/who-indeed-is-afraid-of-t_b_515783 Speaking against quackery on that platform has never earned a writer popularity points. I couldn't believe my eyes when I read Jesse's (our fearless hero) article on SMB and the review of Shrier's book. Ouch! "Et tu, Brute?"
The speed with which this shared psychosis is infecting the medical, scientific, academic, political, business, etc, etc, communities is shocking, but when it comes to the medical profession - the people with whom we entrust our lives and health - it is outright frightening. I can appreciate that people fear the consequences of being on the "wrong" side of a sensitive subject (transphobia: fear of the trans mob), but medical doctors have a moral and ethical obligation to stand up to activist mobs of any sort. They need to grow a backbone yesterday. And people need to grow up. I'm tired of this childish, almost uniquely US attitude towards mistakes. Why is it so hard admitting you made a mistake, an error in judgment, to admit you were wrong? I think it is a sign of honor and courage, but the general consensus is that if you make a mistake (whether or not you admit it), you must go away forever. It doesn't matter how otherwise talented, hard-working, honest, and all-around good, decent person you are, once the all-knowing, no-can-do-wrong, know-nothingTwits sentence you out of society, that's it for you. Of course, mistakes, trial and error is how humans learn and grow, as people and professionals. I can just see Einstein and Curie on bended knee - "I can see I made a mistake regarding these theories. I will now withdraw from human society and spend the rest of my miserable life hanging my despicable head in shame."
I'm not sure the claims that youth gender dysphoria is a "social contagion" are well backed up, but that doesn't mean that everything about current youth gender transition clinical practice is supported by rigorous research. *Anything* involving teenagers and psychology is going to be complex.
It seems like it's the same situation where people are afraid that acknowledging the complexity of an issue will legitimize more radical bigoted or chauvinistic views.
There has been a precipitous rise in the number of gender clinics all across the US, Canada and Europe. There is no question that the number of teen girls who had no gender dysphoria in childhood and now are seeking and getting medical and surgical treatment for gender dysphoria has risen exponentially in the last 10-15 years. Any parent with a middle- or high-school aged child will tell you their school has trans kids, where that used to be a rarity. Those of us who have or know these kids know of friendship groups who have suddenly come out together as some version of trans/nonbinary.
The issue is that to ask the obvious epidemiological question "why" is to be transphobic. There is too much danger to careers to ask. Of course it's complex, but when has that stopped people in their tracks from trying to get answers?
I feel like there's two sets of claims one is that it's all social contagion, and then the other claim is that a good proportion of the adolescent onset female to male patients that happen in clumps in schools and in friend groups are likely to have social contagion involvement.
The first I don't agree with but the second feels quite likely to me.
I have a kid in the middle of this. I have seen some of them desist. Some are in it because they are following a trend/friend group and when it comes to whether they want to change their bodies with hormones and surgery they realise the reality of it, they understand it's not for them.
But others, who have deeper psychological issues can begin to see gender transition as a solution to their problems, and it gets heavily reinforced through social media contacts with people they have never met. That's not to say there aren't people who med trans is probably the best choice for their well being. There are. But to just assume that it's the right thing for all this new cohort, this new developmental path, with such a thin evidence base, and then assuming a teen female without childhood gender dysphoria has the same needs as an adult male who had GD since childhood, is an assumption that really should be exposed to scientific scrutiny.
Are you seeing the medical community aid these teens done the path towards transitioning that might just be following the group? Curious because that’s the part of this I’m having a hard time believing is occurring with any regularity.
I have not seen that happen but I don't know how many of the desisters even made it that far. I suspect mostly the "followers" are not going to go so far as the endocrinologist's office. They can see the youtube videos with the beards and voice changes and mastectomies. One person who's story I'm most familiar with, my daughter's friend, desisted completely after two years of being 'out', when she came to terms with her bio dad and set boundaries on what she would tolerate from him. (her mom was affirming- had announced on FB her daughter was now her son, then daughter desisted the following year!). She had a gender-affirming therapist who my kid was also seeing at the time. The therapist said to me when I mentioned the desistance "It's the ones who are really militant about it that desist". She seemed really annoyed.
Jesse, this is a phenomenal article....and I am not fully finished reading it! You should re-use it in other venues........it's a really important one.
BTW, this may be of interest to fellow readers...especially the 2 minute video "Trans Resistance March and Vigil".
I believe that no one under the age of 18 should be allowed to medically transition. I even favor laws banning it until we have better information. I also think discussing inaccuracies in Gorski's and Novella's work is important and helpful. Singhal is correct in criticizing it and SMB should be encouraged to print thoughtful, scientific points of view that don't align to Trans Activist thought.
That being said, Harriet Halls review was not, repeat was not, thoughtful, scientific or helpful, it was more of a rant than a book review. And it deserved to be taken down.
Just thank you, man. It must feel Sisyphean to keep pointing out the same errors and the same criticisms every time. But we all need this, and we have you to thank.
Well said, just thank you. I read every word of this piece and then decided to support your sub stack. My daughter has been swept up in the vortex, and voices for critical analysis are a lifeline for me.
I think Science Based Medicine is yet another casualty of the politicization of science. Back in 2018 they published a couple of pieces about trans issues by Hall and there was a lot of backlash (she said it was a bad idea to pull the ROGD study, flawed as it may be). As with much of the world, the pandemic has made the politicisation worse: they published an article claiming that the Great Barrington Declaration (shielding people at high risk while low risk people continue as normal) was like HIV/AIDS denial even though the authors of GBD actually wanted more resources to keep nursing home residents safe from the coronavirus. Then there was another one claiming that there was a good chance opening schools would cause a big spike in coronavirus (it didn't, and there was already data from Europe showing it likely wouldn't).
At this point in time, a lot of ostensibly scientific groups are now just parroting what their political group says is true. And that's too bad for a website like SBM which has done some good work in the past.
When Jesse out-skeptics the man who used to be my skeptical hero (Novella). Sad day for me that this is necessary but I'm glad you took the time and effort to write a nuanced and honest take that will (naturally) be panned as "transphobic" (and already is on the SGU subreddit). Sigh.
I am very disappointed to read this about the SGU subreddit… I wonder if it is because of the extreme partisanship of the US. The right in the US is so crazy it must feel to the left side that even conceding reasonable points of concern is giving the “other” side ammunition and means you must be agreeing with the “crazy” side of politics.
One of the high moments of my modest writing life was when SBM - international skeptical heroes! & moi in the same sentence?! - told readers that an Icelandic writer could use their support on Huffington Post. The writer was yours truly, and the article was "Is Jenny McCarthy Afraid of the Truth About Autism?" https://www.huffpost.com/entry/who-indeed-is-afraid-of-t_b_515783 Speaking against quackery on that platform has never earned a writer popularity points. I couldn't believe my eyes when I read Jesse's (our fearless hero) article on SMB and the review of Shrier's book. Ouch! "Et tu, Brute?"
The speed with which this shared psychosis is infecting the medical, scientific, academic, political, business, etc, etc, communities is shocking, but when it comes to the medical profession - the people with whom we entrust our lives and health - it is outright frightening. I can appreciate that people fear the consequences of being on the "wrong" side of a sensitive subject (transphobia: fear of the trans mob), but medical doctors have a moral and ethical obligation to stand up to activist mobs of any sort. They need to grow a backbone yesterday. And people need to grow up. I'm tired of this childish, almost uniquely US attitude towards mistakes. Why is it so hard admitting you made a mistake, an error in judgment, to admit you were wrong? I think it is a sign of honor and courage, but the general consensus is that if you make a mistake (whether or not you admit it), you must go away forever. It doesn't matter how otherwise talented, hard-working, honest, and all-around good, decent person you are, once the all-knowing, no-can-do-wrong, know-nothingTwits sentence you out of society, that's it for you. Of course, mistakes, trial and error is how humans learn and grow, as people and professionals. I can just see Einstein and Curie on bended knee - "I can see I made a mistake regarding these theories. I will now withdraw from human society and spend the rest of my miserable life hanging my despicable head in shame."
This blog is a constant reminder that it takes an order of magnitude more effort to dispell bullshit than to pour it out.
I'm not sure the claims that youth gender dysphoria is a "social contagion" are well backed up, but that doesn't mean that everything about current youth gender transition clinical practice is supported by rigorous research. *Anything* involving teenagers and psychology is going to be complex.
It seems like it's the same situation where people are afraid that acknowledging the complexity of an issue will legitimize more radical bigoted or chauvinistic views.
There has been a precipitous rise in the number of gender clinics all across the US, Canada and Europe. There is no question that the number of teen girls who had no gender dysphoria in childhood and now are seeking and getting medical and surgical treatment for gender dysphoria has risen exponentially in the last 10-15 years. Any parent with a middle- or high-school aged child will tell you their school has trans kids, where that used to be a rarity. Those of us who have or know these kids know of friendship groups who have suddenly come out together as some version of trans/nonbinary.
The issue is that to ask the obvious epidemiological question "why" is to be transphobic. There is too much danger to careers to ask. Of course it's complex, but when has that stopped people in their tracks from trying to get answers?
I feel like there's two sets of claims one is that it's all social contagion, and then the other claim is that a good proportion of the adolescent onset female to male patients that happen in clumps in schools and in friend groups are likely to have social contagion involvement.
The first I don't agree with but the second feels quite likely to me.
I have a kid in the middle of this. I have seen some of them desist. Some are in it because they are following a trend/friend group and when it comes to whether they want to change their bodies with hormones and surgery they realise the reality of it, they understand it's not for them.
But others, who have deeper psychological issues can begin to see gender transition as a solution to their problems, and it gets heavily reinforced through social media contacts with people they have never met. That's not to say there aren't people who med trans is probably the best choice for their well being. There are. But to just assume that it's the right thing for all this new cohort, this new developmental path, with such a thin evidence base, and then assuming a teen female without childhood gender dysphoria has the same needs as an adult male who had GD since childhood, is an assumption that really should be exposed to scientific scrutiny.
Are you seeing the medical community aid these teens done the path towards transitioning that might just be following the group? Curious because that’s the part of this I’m having a hard time believing is occurring with any regularity.
I have not seen that happen but I don't know how many of the desisters even made it that far. I suspect mostly the "followers" are not going to go so far as the endocrinologist's office. They can see the youtube videos with the beards and voice changes and mastectomies. One person who's story I'm most familiar with, my daughter's friend, desisted completely after two years of being 'out', when she came to terms with her bio dad and set boundaries on what she would tolerate from him. (her mom was affirming- had announced on FB her daughter was now her son, then daughter desisted the following year!). She had a gender-affirming therapist who my kid was also seeing at the time. The therapist said to me when I mentioned the desistance "It's the ones who are really militant about it that desist". She seemed really annoyed.
Jesse, this is a phenomenal article....and I am not fully finished reading it! You should re-use it in other venues........it's a really important one.
BTW, this may be of interest to fellow readers...especially the 2 minute video "Trans Resistance March and Vigil".
https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/boston-pride-shutting-down-amid-calls-for-change/2426067/
"(If you’re curious why the American Psychiatric Association switched from Roman to Arabic numerals, that’s explained here.)"
It's these kinds of asides that make keep me subscribing
I believe that no one under the age of 18 should be allowed to medically transition. I even favor laws banning it until we have better information. I also think discussing inaccuracies in Gorski's and Novella's work is important and helpful. Singhal is correct in criticizing it and SMB should be encouraged to print thoughtful, scientific points of view that don't align to Trans Activist thought.
That being said, Harriet Halls review was not, repeat was not, thoughtful, scientific or helpful, it was more of a rant than a book review. And it deserved to be taken down.
Typo: "at baseline, ***about months later***, and about 12 months later."
FYI, the link that explains why the DSM-5 uses Arabic rather than Roman numerals now 404s.