APRIL FOOL.

Presentism leads people who should know better to make the kinds of statements that are so foolish only an academic can believe them.  Apparently when swimmer and women's rights advocate Riley Gaines went to Pittsburgh, she had some fun with anthropologist Gabby Yearwood, who teaches something called Activist Anthropology, and who didn't have a good answer ready to go to a simple question.  "A crowd broke into laughter as an anthropologist denied differences in people’s bones based on their biological sex." Let's watch:

.⁦@Riley_Gaines_⁩ to anthropologist: "If you were to dig up… 2 humans… 100 years from now, both man and woman, could you tell the difference, strictly off of bones?"

"No."

*CHAOS*

"I'm not sure why I'm being laughed at if I'm the expert in the room. ... I have a PhD!" pic.twitter.com/YYW76ISevI

— Vince Coglianese (@VinceCoglianese) March 30, 2023

The professor is being laughed at, because nowhere in his rambling discourse does he suggest that anthropologists might not know enough about tenth-century androgynous practices, if there in fact were any.  More from the Examiner.

“I actually have a question for you. You being an anthropologist, which anthropology is the study of human civilization,” Gaines said as the anthropologist noted that his area of study includes a focus on biology.

“So if you were to dig up a human, two humans, in 100 years from now, both man and woman, could you tell the difference, strictly off of bones?” Gaines questioned.

The anthropologist said, “No,” as those in attendance burst into laughter.

“I’m not sure why I’m being laughed at if I’m the expert in the room,” the anthropologist said. “Have any of you been to archaeological sites? Have any of you studied biological anthropology? I’m just saying, I’ve got over 150 years of data. I’m just curious as to why I’m being laughed at.”

As Gaines began to explain that she had “put a lot of research into this,” the anthropologist cut her off to say: “I have a Ph.D.”

The crowd once again began to laugh.

Arguments from authority only work when people respect your authority, and this guy pissed all of his away. He could have shown his audience some respect, perhaps reminding students that on many essay questions, the best answer is "it depends."  But he was so used to craven careerists in woke anthropology, or to cowing students by grading for agreement that he lost the good of the intellect, and was promptly brought up short.

Even physical, biological sex is merely a construct. Said an anthropologist.

The students laughed at him. Because of course, he was lying, and they knew it. Sex has a concrete reality, whatever critical theory claims. Unfortunately, the room is filled only with people who actually cared to hear Gaines, and far too many are led astray by the “authority” of the professor.

He, by the way, was very offended. He is an “expert” after all. The students should defer to his authority, despite it being based upon lies. He is supposed to have the power, after all.

If you're going to deny coherent beliefs, everybody else has to be in on the con.  A gratifyingly large cohort of current students is not.  Nor should they respect anyone, holder of a terminal degree or not, who is condescending, disrespectful, or too full of himself.