Research in Australia has found, for example, genetically male kookaburras reproductively active with large follicles and a distended oviduct, indicating recent egg production. 6 percent of the Australian birds assessed had the physical features of one sex but the genetic makeup of the other.

That means they are female. Repeat after me: your sex is not **defined** by a karyotype. Write that out 100 times.

Yeah, I tried that one. So far as he’s concerned, they’re all female because god forbid anything break out of the Sacred Binary.

And they’d already firmly told me that birds “don’t change sex” when I mentioned that fish do

So, birds with XY chromosomes are female, according to you.

You have no idea what you are talking about.

Birds don't have X or Y chromosomes

At last we can find common ground. A sex is not synonymous with a karyotype. We define sexes by gamete type not karyotype.

What about hermaphrodites?

Why is SO important to neatly catergorise humans? Do we need to ban dieing hair because it doesn't match the birth color?

Being truthful is important I think. Basing society on lies will lead to problems. Can we agree on that at least?

My dude, society is quite literally built upon the little white lies we tell each other to get through our days.

Objective truth is less important than the ability to convince others. See exhibit A, your president. So if everyone agrees that something is so, then it is for all intents and purposes. Specifics of biology at that point only really matter for medical purposes.

I get it if the malleability of language and humans in general makes you uncomfortable. I'm far enough on the autism spectrum that I'm not super comfy with it myself, I prefer things to be well-defined. But not at the expense of others' rights to live in safety, I'll happily be slightly uncomfy then

So if a person admits they are trans you have no problem? Also, if we are going to get into basing society on lies what a weird place to start. Whats next Santa?

Happy for people to declare themselves "trans". Fill your boots and hope it makes you happy. As for Santa. No-one makes policy decisions or bases their politics on santa being real.

Also, Trans isn't the base for my politics, but letting people do what they need to do to stay safe and sane is. If me using their pronouns helps them, then who am i to judge. Just curious, Mr science do you think we neatly classify races too?

I guess Christmas being a national holiday is a government policy. I would dare you to cancel Christmas and see how non-political that gets. That statement alone shows the bad faith you are trying to argue.

I thought you said it was phenotype.

Phenotype! Karyotype! Karyotype! Phenotype! Let's call the whole thing off...

Ahhh damn, you with your relentless logic and factual response! (Did not know that)

Counterpoint:

And also Harpies are a type of fish.

I'm sorry, Ms Tewson is the one on troll patrol this morning: direct your nonsense at her.

I was today years old when I learned this. That's what I get for not taking that bird biology course as an elective in college.

I have posted this article several times (and no one reads it) explaining why the two sexes (male and female) can be determined in development in many different ways. Not just XY. journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...

Yet*

I got some Cesium-137 Shrimp that says they were trying to at least get some Y chromosomes.

This is what happens when you're smug about a subject you don't know about.

If it is female, by your definition, can it be male?

You’re probably making poor life choices if you end up opposite T. Kingfisher and Katheryn Tewson in a debate.

I don't lay eggs. Am I a man?

My very first thought.

I no longer have any eggs, am I a man?

Are we gonna diogenes our way into admitting sex is bimodal

we already have, this is just the mop-up

oh buddy, oh buddy, the animal kingdom has some shit to show you. especially since this whole exercise started with you being upset and insisting "male" and "female" are rigid and fixed aspects of biology. bsky.app/profile/saga...