Comments for Sobrietyland. Designing a life from scratch. http://madmargaret.wordpress.com Designer, née performer, and proud jobless bum since 2009 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:25:58 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Even the homeless get the blues by The Planner http://madmargaret.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/even-the-homeless-get-the-blues/#comment-574 The Planner Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:25:58 +0000 http://madmargaret.wordpress.com/?p=2398#comment-574 Trust in human nature rewarded! That is awesome! Trust in human nature rewarded! That is awesome!

]]> Comment on Change has come, one year on by madmargaret http://madmargaret.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/change-has-come-one-year-on/#comment-572 madmargaret Sun, 13 Sep 2009 22:24:13 +0000 http://madmargaret.wordpress.com/?p=2161#comment-572 Terrific thinking! Thanks for the support! Terrific thinking! Thanks for the support!

]]> Comment on Obvious or Oblivious by madmargaret http://madmargaret.wordpress.com/2009/09/12/obvious-or-oblivious/#comment-571 madmargaret Sun, 13 Sep 2009 13:20:43 +0000 http://madmargaret.wordpress.com/?p=2179#comment-571 It's all about the rulebook. Fact is, anyone who is really good at something is a freak (ask me, I know). They are celebrated because something that they do, for whatever reason, is extraordinary (in other words, "normal" people simply can't do those things). But to be in competition—as opposed to doing the talk-show circuit, or turning 'pro' for instance—whatever that "deformity" is must play by certain rules. If those rules include gender selection, then there you are. That isn't to say that Semenya didn't work hard to get her medal or that she wasn't an extraordinarily fast runner—she is. However, if it's shown that the testosterone (acting as a natural 'steroid') is giving her an unfair advantage, that falls outside the playbook. Armstrong is an extraordinary athlete as well, and I doubt that his physicality post-cancer has anything to do with it. Some people are just better at things than other people. If Semenya wants to remain intersexed, that's her right, but by doing so, she can't compete fairly alongside her female peers if she is not, in fact, female. In open, co-ed type competition, that might be an option, but not in the gender segregated world of modern sports. Again, remember that it's segregated to give competitors a level playing field in which to compete. In boxing you have heavyweight, middleweight, lightweight, etc. It's the same thing. Just because the world is an unfair place doesn't mean Semenya can't achieve certain goals as she presently is. She just has to find a new, non-traditional way of doing so. But as I said before, nobody should give her squat just because they feel sorry for her. That doesn't help anybody. Remember the lesson of "The Incredibles"—if everyone is special, NOBODY is. It’s all about the rulebook. Fact is, anyone who is really good at something is a freak (ask me, I know). They are celebrated because something that they do, for whatever reason, is extraordinary (in other words, “normal” people simply can’t do those things). But to be in competition—as opposed to doing the talk-show circuit, or turning ‘pro’ for instance—whatever that “deformity” is must play by certain rules. If those rules include gender selection, then there you are. That isn’t to say that Semenya didn’t work hard to get her medal or that she wasn’t an extraordinarily fast runner—she is. However, if it’s shown that the testosterone (acting as a natural ’steroid’) is giving her an unfair advantage, that falls outside the playbook. Armstrong is an extraordinary athlete as well, and I doubt that his physicality post-cancer has anything to do with it. Some people are just better at things than other people. If Semenya wants to remain intersexed, that’s her right, but by doing so, she can’t compete fairly alongside her female peers if she is not, in fact, female. In open, co-ed type competition, that might be an option, but not in the gender segregated world of modern sports. Again, remember that it’s segregated to give competitors a level playing field in which to compete. In boxing you have heavyweight, middleweight, lightweight, etc. It’s the same thing.

Just because the world is an unfair place doesn’t mean Semenya can’t achieve certain goals as she presently is. She just has to find a new, non-traditional way of doing so. But as I said before, nobody should give her squat just because they feel sorry for her. That doesn’t help anybody.

Remember the lesson of “The Incredibles”—if everyone is special, NOBODY is.

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