The Amy Schneider thread

There is a lot of hullabaloo about Amy Schneider breakings lots of Jeopardy records for female players. Here is one example of an article on the topic: Amy Schneider is the first woman to win $1 million on ‘Jeopardy!’. For those who don't know, Amy is transgendered.

Mrs. Wizard has very strong feelings about this to the point she refuses to watch Jeopardy, which she normally does, until Amy loses. She says it's very insulting to women that a man needs to come along to help them break records. She adds she would be proud to see a woman shattering Jeopardy records, but doesn't want to be patronized in a man doing it. Please keep in mind these are her words, not mine. However, as liberal as I think I am on matters of gender, I think she has a legitimate point.

I know there are not many women on the forum, but I would be interested in hearing other opinions on the matter, especially from other women.

Mrs. Wizard is right. This is just a guy acting as a woman. Interesting to see it is not just athletics where this is happening but even on a game show. Now, men should not have the same physical advantage on a game show as in say swimming. Just interesting that the same thing is happening.

Feminists seem to defend these people, if they keep doing so eventually no women's records will be held by actual women.

Quote: Wizard

There is a lot of hullabaloo about Amy Schneider breakings lots of Jeopardy records for female players. Here is one example of an article on the topic: Amy Schneider is the first woman to win $1 million on ‘Jeopardy!’. For those who don't know, Amy is transgendered.

Mrs. Wizard has very strong feelings about this to the point she refuses to watch Jeopardy, which she normally does, until Amy loses. She says it's very insulting to women that a man needs to come along to help them break records. She adds she would be proud to see a woman shattering Jeopardy records, but doesn't want to be patronized in a man doing it. Please keep in mind these are her words, not mine. However, as liberal as I think I am on matters of gender, I think she has a legitimate point.

I know there are not many women on the forum, but I would be interested in hearing other opinions on the matter, especially from other women.

Amy Schneider is a person, one with a skill at winning Jeopardy. This is not some weight lifting competition. Gender is 0% the issue. Pride in a member of the same gender winning, or disdain that she does not fit a gender profile is a sad reflection on those that reflect such deeply ingrained gender related views.
I could share misgiving if it were a weight lifting competition.

White / Black
Christian / Muslim
Male / Female
Young / Old
Conservative / Liberal
Rich / Poor
American / Asian.

Where does it end?

Who gives a 5h1t. Cheer for the skilled. Cheer for the tenacious underdog. Cheer for the ginger haired one. Whoever.

But to BOO (shun) anyone because of an unrelated prejudice? Nooooo.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-59372522

You wife has AZDuffman's endorsement. That counts for a lot. $:o)

Quote: OnceDear

Gender is 0% the issue.

I can probably produce evidence upon request, but I don't think any follower of Jeopardy can deny with a straight face that the vast majority of the top players are men. Why is that, do you think? I'm not claiming men are smarter, but there is more to winning at Jeopardy than knowing the answers.

Personally, I don't think there is any need to break down Jeopardy champions by gender or any other category. Perhaps even Amy would agree. I've never seen her draw any attention to her gender.

Quote: Wizard

I can probably produce evidence upon request, but I don't think any follower of Jeopardy can deny with a straight face that the vast majority of the top players are men. Why is that, do you think? I'm not claiming men are smarter, but there is more to winning at Jeopardy than knowing the answers.

I chalk it up to the same reasons men do better on the SAT. Men are better at on the spot answers. Men are not as afraid of giving a wrong answer, figuring they will just get the next one right. Plus men just like trivia more than women.

Quote: Wizard

I can probably produce evidence upon request, but I don't think any follower of Jeopardy can deny with a straight face that the vast majority of the top players are men. Why is that, do you think? I'm not claiming men are smarter, but there is more to winning at Jeopardy than knowing the answers.

[controversial]
It may be as simple as greater tendency of men to be the breadwinner, interacting mostly with adults while ladies get to spend time raising families and doing domestic chores...... Not saying everyone fits a stereotype, nor that skills or knowledge are not equal..... Just that there are often some differences in life experience between 'the average man' and 'the average woman'. I also SUSPECT that production teams deliberately, or subconsciously select or reject contestants to stress such stereotypes. Have we all seen the dipsy blonde on a quiz show being thrashed by a more balanced competitor? So often, I yell at TV quiz shows aghast at how dumb some of the competitors are, almost as though the qualifying factor is to give a stupid answer to the qualifying question in the early phone audition.
[/controversial]

Much ado about nothing
In a game where gender has no advantage
Its kind of dumb to have gender records
As meaningful as say highest scoring blond or highest scoring below 5 feet 8 inches in height or highest scoring wearing glasses

Quote: AZDuffman

I chalk it up to the same reasons men do better on the SAT.

Do they? Yeah, probably? Read the abstract...
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED562877.pdf

Men are better at on the spot answers. Men are not as afraid of giving a wrong answer, figuring they will just get the next one right. Plus men just like trivia more than women.

Quote: Wizard

Personally, I don't think there is any need to break down Jeopardy champions by gender or any other category. Perhaps even Amy would agree. I've never seen her draw any attention to her gender.

That would be my position and is the reason I don't care if others try to classify it as I don't believe it matters. Who cares if a woman, man, or other holds a record, just appreciate the feat.

Quote: OnceDear

Do they? Yeah, probably? Read the abstract...
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED562877.pdf

In my day they always did. Men did better on any multiple choice test and they always got done faster. Feminists complained for years that the test was "biased." They kept demanding tweaks to the test until things got evened out.