J.C.MacSwell

argumentum ad hominem, is a fallacious argumentative strategy whereby genuine discussion of the topic at hand is avoided by instead attacking the character, motive, or other attribute of the person making the argument,

OK. You persist with ad hominem arguments. That's fine. I will do the same.

So you already understood all that? I didn't need to tell you? OK. Thank you. Moving on.

Always good to see a gladiator enter the Coliseum...

Let's break this down so I can be precise and clarify, since much of this included insinuations I don't agree with I am in fact essentially stating that is generally the case...only a climate change denialist level thinker would try to dispute it. Pointing to exceptions, especially strong women or cold days don't change these objective truths. I wasn't saying that. That was not the point I was making at all. That, however, does not mean it's not true. In some career fields it is true. However, I also find it disingenuous to imply that was a point I was trying to make, if that was what you were trying to do. Nor would I dispute this. I agree with this, but take exception to the "ignore" part. It is disingenuous to suggest I'm ignoring it for the motive you suggested, again if that is what you are trying to do. So now that I have made that clear, is that acceptable?

I can agree with that.

Can that not include their sex?

It comes down to this: Accepting objective truths does not make you sexist. Nor does denying them...it just makes your judgement weaker...and it makes you wrong.

Roughly 25% of our work is at Shipyards/Dockyards. Another 10% on construction sites. Personally it would be a little higher. We are now saying the same thing with regard to lifts (you weren't earlier). With respect to comfort levels and the topic, would you expect the average woman to lift the same as the average man? Would it be safe to assume they were, on average, equal? Or do you totally exclude that consideration in your judgement? Stated another way, are you willing to ignore objective evidence in your pursuit of what you see as equality.

Have you worked on a construction site? A shipyard? Lumberyard? These places are constantly requiring assessment of individual or paired lifts. Sometimes, but less often, team lifts. How much can you carry? If I take this and that, can you take the rest? Or should we make two trips? If I get this end and you get that one, is that OK? Should we get the forklift? There are guidelines and techniques for personal lifts. We always stress they are guidelines and to err on the safe side. You best do this by understanding that not everyone is equal. Sex being one of many factors.

You might be surprised how much it is appreciated. I get every bit as good a reaction to it in the US, as I do in Canada. Even if it is not reciprocated and/or someone believes it absolves them of any blame I usually don't care.

I don't do that.

I don't do that. I'm from Canada, 99% of the time we both say the same thing. It's simply being courteous. I believe it is less common in the States.

I do this all the time. It is a statement in a manner that conveys respect for someone's feelings, without implying I feel I am responsible. Say you inadvertently bumped into me in the supermarket. My first reaction would be to say sorry in a polite manner, even if it was 100% sure it was your mistake. If I thought you were being reckless I might say it in another way, more likely "excuse me", with the tone depending on circumstance up to including obvious sarcasm.

If for instance it was a male complaining that women should lift as much as men? Or a woman complaining that she felt no one should lift more than anyone else, despite there being obvious discrepancies in lifting capability ? I don't know where you work, but where I do these could be legitimate examples. Fortunately this hasn't come up, and everyone generally uses their common sense. Everyone is expected to err on the side of safety, I did specify for that example for Ten oz to assume my context inferred the objective science that men are on average stronger physically. I would be tactful, but if I was of the opinion that someone I was in charge of was making an unsafe lift I would intervene...even if I felt it was safe for someone else to do it. As I said, I would adjust my language where practical.