Trans debate arrives into Pro woman’s Billiards

[phreaticus]

Someone forwarded this to me today. I guess those who normally wrangle over culture war topics in NPR can now go at it full throttle in the main forum…

Given the unusual aspect that men traditionally & mysteriously are generally dominant in our somewhat non physical sport, it does perhaps offer a new lens for the debate. I just skim read, but found some of the perspectives in the article’s comment section to be interesting and fairly civil.

Trans player wins women's billiards championship

Jamie Hunter is currently pocketing the prizes in women’s billiards and snooker. In the last two weeks, the 25 year-old has won both the World Women’s Billiards Championship and the US Women’s Snooker Open. Hunter only joined the World Women’s Snooker Tour in 2021, after “coming out as...

unherd.com

 

[skiergd011013]

The twilight zone could have done an episode about this decades ago and nobody would have believed it

 

[De420MadHatter]

Old news, a decade ago we had a trans in the sport.
His name was Rea, probably still a member, but haven't seen a post in a while.
Ole Gene thought he done saddled up with a lady that wanted to learn how to play pool

 

[theyonger]

I dont get why it matters. Only thing I can think of is the generally average height advantage that men have over women. But we have a lot of pro male players that are short.

I am supporting of having a women's only division to get some equality and female specific recognition (Historically men have played a lot longer so there is generational influence and experience). A men's only division shouldn't even exist, it should just be an open division. Trans male to female should be able to participate in the women's only divisions.

 

[David in FL]

I am supporting of having a women's only division to get some equality and female specific recognition

Trans male to female should be able to participate in the women's only divisions.

Then why bother to have a “women only” division?

What criteria defines a “trans female” who is able to compete, from a biological male who is not?

 

[theyonger]

Women only division a good thing to have to recognize female talent. Women have not had the opportunity for decades to play at high levels and over generations there is a quantifiable skill gap between men and women, on the entire average. Without a female only division, it will take even longer for women to compete at a top levels of men. Top 10 charts would just be stacked with men, so the female only competitions would recognize and celebrate the female talent.

This is similar to the STEM fields and the female/male ratio issue. STEM hasn't been as readily available to women in the past compared to men, so there is an experience gap which ends up leading to a percieved (and perhaps real in many cases) pay gap. Much like billiards, there shouldn't be any reason a female engineer to not perform at a male engineer level but data shows otherwise.

You make a good point on the criteria for defining trans female. That's a puzzler for me, you can certainly be a pre-op, refuse hormonal treatments, and just claim to be trans to compete in a women's division. We haven't seen this type of dishonest behavior in other sports regarding trans but its a weak system of honor. I mean, we have seen teams fake being disabled to participate in the paralympics, so its perhaps just a matter of time. Tough question!

 

[Tooler]

Just wait till Kucharo hears about this.

 

[skogstokig]

I dont get why it matters. Only thing I can think of is the generally average height advantage that men have over women. But we have a lot of pro male players that are short.

height advantage? orcullo, efren, lee van, alex, ko ping chung, etc. that's not it..

 

[o.g. (old guy)]

He's a man, he should play in the men's division! Why this is even discussed is beyond me. If he wants to pretend he's a woman I really don't care. But rules are rules and if ya gotta pair your a male.

 

[JusticeNJ]

I guess those who normally wrangle over culture war topics in NPR can now go at it full throttle in the main forum…

Or, you know, you could also not do that.

 

[JustPlay]

It doesn't really matter. It's not like a one on one direct physical competition against a biological woman where the biological make up of the male will dominate the woman or women. That being said, the top women players will not win against, on any consistent basis the top men players. I personally do not support it (not that it matters what I actually think about it.) If the women do not want it, the only option I see is ALL the women boycotting a tournament. Then the pressure will be placed back on the promoters and tournament host.

 

[couldnthinkof01]

I was just about to put my dress on and run roughshod through the wpba. Unfortunately, I don't even play good enough for that.

 

[GoldCrown]

More confusing would have be the bathroom. Another room. Another sign. Special toilets … 1 for those that sit.. those that stand. Oh Lawd.
How about a League of Their Own

 

[Jaden]

Old news, a decade ago we had a trans in the sport.
His name was Rea, probably still a member, but haven't seen a post in a while.
Ole Gene thought he done saddled up with a lady that wanted to learn how to play pool

He was a lesbian trapped in a man's body..

Jaden

 

[Brookeland Bill]

Someone forwarded this to me today. I guess those who normally wrangle over culture war topics in NPR can now go at it full throttle in the main forum…

Given the unusual aspect that men traditionally & mysteriously are generally dominant in our somewhat non physical sport, it does perhaps offer a new lens for the debate. I just skim read, but found some of the perspectives in the article’s comment section to be interesting and fairly civil.

Trans player wins women's billiards championship

Jamie Hunter is currently pocketing the prizes in women’s billiards and snooker. In the last two weeks, the 25 year-old has won both the World Women’s Billiards Championship and the US Women’s Snooker Open. Hunter only joined the World Women’s Snooker Tour in 2021, after “coming out as...

unherd.com

Old news in Houston. Look up the pool player and cue maker Anne Mayes on this site or the Internet.

 

[Cameron Smith]

Let’s keep in mind here that this players success has less to do with any potential advantages of their birth and much more to do with the state of the womens pro snooker tour. Womens snooker doesn’t have the depth and competitiveness of womens pool. While Reanne Evans and a few others are fine players capable of centuries, if you look at the players sheets many of the competitors have high breaks lower than 40. So this tour isn’t like womens pool where at the global level there are several players at in the high 600s and low-mid 700s (and higher even).

 

[Tennesseejoe]

Just start a transgender classification and compete in it. Most probably it will have fewer members to start but that is how all leagues start. Sort of like how Special Olympics started. Let the transgender folks establish their special rules if needed. This is not that complicated and needn't carry a negative stigma. Just have men's, women's, and transgender sections to compete in.

 

[boogieman]

Someone forwarded this to me today. I guess those who normally wrangle over culture war topics in NPR can now go at it full throttle in the main forum…

Given the unusual aspect that men traditionally & mysteriously are generally dominant in our somewhat non physical sport, it does perhaps offer a new lens for the debate. I just skim read, but found some of the perspectives in the article’s comment section to be interesting and fairly civil.

Trans player wins women's billiards championship

Jamie Hunter is currently pocketing the prizes in women’s billiards and snooker. In the last two weeks, the 25 year-old has won both the World Women’s Billiards Championship and the US Women’s Snooker Open. Hunter only joined the World Women’s Snooker Tour in 2021, after “coming out as...

unherd.com

The difference in why men play better:
1. Numbers, more men play, maybe stigma, maybe something else.
2. Risk taking, really stroking the balls
3. Peeing standing up. Men know how to aim from a young age.

That's about it.

 

[Wolven]

The difference in why men play better:
1. Numbers, more men play, maybe stigma, maybe something else.
2. Risk taking, really stroking the balls
3. Peeing standing up. Men know how to aim from a young age.

That's about it.

Hand eye coordination is superior in men; pool, shooting, or whatever the activity, it is genetic.

 

[buckshotshoey]