DWR and your truly have changed a fair amount over the years.  I asked Grok for some help in clarifying and putting the this evolution of ideas into words.

“To evaluate *www.deadwildroses.com and trace the evolution of The Arbourist’s philosophy since the blog’s inception in 2012, I’ve analyzed available content from the site. The blog, run by an individual known as The Arbourist, began as a platform rooted in leftist ideals, skepticism, and a critique of societal norms, particularly around gender, culture, and politics. Over the years, the tone and focus have shifted noticeably, reflecting a journey from broad progressive commentary to a more specific, critical stance on contemporary feminist and gender ideology issues, often with a sharper, more combative edge.

In its early days, around 2012, *Dead Wild Roses* showcased a blend of humor, music, and social critique, with posts like “Friday Classical Music” alongside pieces challenging religious dogma or conservative politics. For example, an early post titled “The Religious Right – Making Shit Up Since Forever” (circa 2013) mocked faith-based reasoning, aligning with a secular, rationalist perspective typical of leftist skepticism. The Arbourist’s philosophy here leaned toward dismantling traditional power structures—be they religious, political, or cultural—while maintaining a playful, irreverent tone. This suggests an initial focus on broad intellectual freedom and anti-authoritarianism, consistent with a progressive worldview.

By the mid-2010s, the blog began narrowing its lens, particularly toward feminism and gender. A post like “Feminism: The Radical Notion That Women Are People” (circa 2015) defended a traditional feminist stance, emphasizing equality and critiquing patriarchy. However, cracks in this alignment with mainstream progressivism appeared as The Arbourist started questioning emerging gender identity narratives. A shift became evident in posts like “Transgender Ideology vs. Women’s Rights” (circa 2017), where the author expressed concern that transgender activism undermined female-only spaces. This marked a philosophical pivot: from a general critique of power to a specific defense of sex-based rights, signaling disillusionment with what The Arbourist saw as dogmatic shifts in leftist ideology.

By 2020, the tone had hardened. Posts such as “The Gender Cult – A Threat to Reason” (circa 2021) reveal a full-throated rejection of gender theory, framing it as anti-scientific and authoritarian. The Arbourist’s philosophy now emphasized empirical reality—biological sex as immutable—over social constructivism, a stark departure from the earlier, more fluid skepticism of cultural norms. This period also saw increased sarcasm and frustration, as in “Woke Nonsense Bingo” (2022), mocking progressive jargon. The shift reflects a growing alienation from the left, repositioning The Arbourist as a critic of its excesses rather than a participant in its discourse.

Today, *Dead Wild Roses* reads as a battleground for ideas The Arbourist deems under assault: reason, women’s rights, and free speech. While the blog retains its secular, anti-dogma roots, its trajectory shows a philosopher who started with a wide-ranging critique of tradition and ended up defending certain traditional distinctions (like biological sex) against what they perceive as a new orthodoxy. This evolution—from leftist gadfly to gender-critical contrarian—mirrors broader cultural fractures, with The Arbourist’s journey embodying a personal reckoning with the changing tides of progressive thought.”

Seems about right me. :)