# The Toxic Shame of Progressive Man  ## Metadata - Author: [[Tim Worstall]] - Full Title: The Toxic Shame of Progressive Man - Category: #articles - Summary: insert summary - My notes: - Summary: Victoria Smith critiques the irrationality of those who deny biological differences between sexes, particularly in sports. She argues that public figures, like comedian John Oliver, cling to these beliefs to avoid facing the shame of their own misguided convictions. Ultimately, Smith suggests that many individuals are more concerned with maintaining their moral superiority than acknowledging the real harms caused by their ideology. - URL: https://thecritic.co.uk/the-toxic-shame-of-progressive-man/?s=09 ## LLM Chats ## NotebookLM ## LLM Audio ## Highlights > “Suppose an individual believes something with his whole heart,” wrote Leon Festinger, Henry Riecken and Stanley Schachter in their 1954 classic [*When Prophecy Fails*](https://pinterandmartin.com/products/when-prophecy-fails): > Suppose further that he has a commitment to this belief, that he has taken irrevocable actions because of it; finally, suppose that he is presented with evidence, unequivocal and undeniable evidence, that his belief is wrong: what will happen?” > In Festinger et al.’s view, rather than renounce his belief, an individual “will frequently emerge, not only unshaken, but even more convinced of the truth of his beliefs than ever before”. To continue to hold the belief might be difficult, but it can often be far less mortifying and soul-destroying than facing the alternative. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01js4n6n291zf85xstt5em4q3w)) > Believing sex doesn’t matter is not like believing in a second coming. There is ample evidence that it does. No one should be arguing over whether men and boys — whatever they call themselves — have an advantage over women and girls in sports. We all know they do, just as we know that sex isn’t randomly assigned at birth, radical feminists are not politically aligned with Donald Trump and gender identity is totally dependent on the very regressive stereotypes that Butler et al claim to be demolishing. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01js4n8mnkhsvavshwghp12azn)) > I think there are two reasons for this, neither of which have anything to do with any genuine conviction. One is the classic “misogyny is other people” position adopted by misogynist men of every political persuasion. Having grown up among right-wing men for whom “men in other countries” and “men of other religions” were the only *real* misogynists, I was, briefly, shocked to find that left-wing men use the exact same tactic, expecting a pat on the back for not being right-wing men regardless of their own behaviour. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01js4nct08k8s92qa4px0xprbf)) > Criticise Progressive Man’s attachment to gender ideology, and — not unlike a paranoid ex who can’t believe you just don’t want to be with him and must be up to something with that other guy — he’ll instantly accuse you of being on the same side as Andrew Tate and the Pope. It’s as though he thinks he can shame you into coming back to him, tail between your legs, promising never to you’ll never speak out of turn again. The misogyny of the right doesn’t appal him so much as function to deflect any form of self-analysis. Look! Over there! Elon Musk! ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01js4ndc2xq7r75p875t69avx3))