To want everyone to stop talking about trolls and hear about the AMAZING event that MNHQ organised yesterday

[MmeLindor]

Cause they really should have a day to celebrate and recover.

I attended the Blogfest yesterday and I hope other bloggers will come along and tell you their impressions.

It kicked of with a short speech from Justine (looking stunning in long black boots that showcased her 'gazelle legs' - Dilly's compliment)

She introduced Miriam Gonzales Durantez, who spoke movingly about the support she received on MN when she refused to be the typical politicians wife. She said 'women's rights are human rights' and spoke about her interest in Anthony Nolan trust.

Then we had a panel discussion with novelist Rachel Cusk, journalists Zoe Strimpel and Zoe Williams, with the Bloggess joining us via google hangout in Texas (in her pjs but fully made up)

The quote of the session was from Jenny, The Bloggess who spoke of being asked about her work as a Mummyblogger. She replied, 'don't call me Mommy, unless you came out of my vagina' to roars of approval from the crowd.

... Will add more. Any other attendees want to join in?

[MardyBra]

It sounds like a great vent MmeL

[MardyBra]

Event

[flyoverthegoldenhill]

nope I was having far too much fun playing with the trolls

[TheDoctrineOfSnatch]

Sounds great, thanks for the report.

[Thisisaeuphemism]

It was great - and you were excellent mme Lindor.
I enjoyed hearing about vagenda and the ideas that were given to the woman who came all the way from Canada to learn how to highlight disabilities.
Jenny was ace!

[MardyBra]

Now where are those trolls?

[MmeLindor]

The panel discussion was about finding your voice. Rachel Cusk talked of writing, and about how having children gave her life a structure which made it easier for her to write in childcare sized chunks of time.

We were told not to edit edit edit but to publish. To be honest and original, not to imitate.

A question from the floor on writing about your children, and what to do when they get older and don't want to be in your blog was controversial. Zoe Williams insisted that you can't let your family members have editing privileges, and then Prof Tanya Byron spoke from the audience.

Judging by the applause that greeted her comment, she wasn't alone in her opinion that no blogger should write about a family member, particularly a child, who has said he doesn't want to be on the blog.

Tricky one for those bloggers who start blogging when their children are little and base their blog on them.

[MmeLindor]

Euph
Amazing - the woman who came from Canada!

There was a woman who came from Canada for this event. She writes and campaigns for children with SN and wanted tips on getting her voice heard. I forgot to get her details so if anyone had them, I'd like to contact her.

Holly from vagenda was ace.

[Thisisaeuphemism]

Yeah, it was interesting to see the stark difference between the points of view; the 'artists' versus 'the psychologists'.
I thought the finding your voice session went off course a little but nonetheless was interesting.

[MmeLindor]

Yes, that's true. I enjoyed it all the same.

[flyoverthegoldenhill]

Mardy one got deleted, after he called us all thick nazi's and I guess his mummy is hanging her head in shame , by the way he was far too intelligent to hang round here. Do we have a symbol for entitled ignorant idle fuckwit ?

[Thisisaeuphemism]

I didn't get her details I'm afraid. It's testimony to mumsnet campaigning reputation that she came.
Caitlin's writing advice was spot on, I think. - asking yourself why' all the time is such a big thing yet easily forgotten.

[flyoverthegoldenhill]

Damn - should have been fuckwits
Maybe he was right after all

[SnowWide]

Mme, who invited Liz Zones? From her scathing article today, I gather she wasnt very enthused about being there....

[Thisisaeuphemism]

I couldn't believe what the panel said about the comments in the guardian online (in the talk about trolls.)
Then I looked this morning To read the review of the blogfest and they were of course absolutely right. It's a nest of misogynists there. Grim.

[TiggyD]

Liz Jones went and she wasn't killed. Therefore, the event was a failure.

[MmeLindor]

Snow
She was invited to talk about privacy and how much bloggers should reveal. Seems she hardly saw anything of the event and didn't even research the article properly.

The blogger mentioned is called CambridgeMUMMY and is a WOHM with her own business. Her dh is SAHD

[giraffesCantLightFireworks]

Sounds Fab

[MardyBra]

Thanks fly

[oranges]

The event was fab. It proved the actual opposite of Liz Jones column.When women begin to write about the details of their lives, for each other and the outside world, their voice becomes louder and more powerful. And it terrifies people who are used to assuming these wives and mothers are content to toil away in the shadows.

[MissAnnersley]

Just read the Liz Jones article. Interesting.

[MmeLindor]

Good point oranges. Which is why my blog is not going to be about Liz jones and why I won't discuss or analyse her anymore.

Who was it who said we should strive to look for positive and not always nitpick? Caitlin, I think.

So no bitching about Liz, but praise for the other speakers who brought far far more to the table

[MmeLindor]

This is the blogger referred to, btw

[Alisvolatpropiis]

Liz Jones wasn't a big fan it turns out. "May as well be wearing burkas,shuffling along" was a choice quote. Well, a paraphrased quote. All the important words are right.

She's such a lovely woman.

[Trills]

YABU - trolls are more interesting than fab events that we didn't go to.

Only kidding, but this isn't really an AIBU question now is it? I'm disappointed, I thought you knew better.