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AIBU?

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AIBU to want to express support for women who were assaulted at a political conference?

386 replies

Warmlight1 · 08/09/2026 21:41

To want to send out support to the two women visibly assaulted at a political conference.
I am concerned about the other protesters too and actually anyone who was hurt. But having to listen to jeering from the podium plus the crowd chanting in live TV at the same time must have been so traumatic and the publicity will die down and coverage move on but that can't be easy. Just want to send love and support.

OP posts:
CreativeGreen · 09/09/2026 12:49

LuckyHazelFox · 09/09/2026 12:47

That's the whole point of them being there isn't it? That and wanting attention. John Prescott's agitator once found out the hard way.

I'd say the point was to make a very clear objection to the racist and violent rhetoric that Reform are putting out. And to many people, they have achieved exactly that, albeit at a physical cost to themselves. Brava!

Everanewbie · 09/09/2026 12:49

I have two thoughts at the same time.

This woman pretended to be a Reform member to disrupt their conference and she should not have been there in the first place, and could expect to be physically ejected. No one there wanted to listen to her, she was being self-righteous and self-indulgent.

This woman should not have been struck and received forceful blows, and the way the that she was assaulted was disproportionate. These men and Reform should hold themselves to a higher standard than this, and those who landed blows should face criminal action.

HandPulledNoodles · 09/09/2026 12:48

LuckyHazelFox · 09/09/2026 12:43

No but it does mean emotions are running high and tone deaf agitators might want to have a rethink.

aka - People who protest Reform should be quiet or risk being assaulted? Great

Shakeoffyourchains · 09/09/2026 12:47

OneLilacHedgehog · 09/09/2026 12:33

Yes this is the truth. If a white woman had been physically attacked and jeered at by brown men at a left wing conference, the reform UK would have been up in arms. Reform supporters would have been saying this is what happens when you have men coming to this country from countries that don't respect women.

But reform UK supporters assault and jeer at women, and the response on this thread is they deserved it.

Tbf the majority are very much appalled by both what happened at Reforms conference and the response from their supporters.

It's just that their supporters are incredibly active on these threads. I mean 16.5% of all posts on this thread have come from one particular poster, who is also averaging around 7posts an hour over the last two and a bit days on these topics 🤯

LuckyHazelFox · 09/09/2026 12:47

CreativeGreen · 09/09/2026 12:44

What if the protestors' emotions were also running high?

That's the whole point of them being there isn't it? That and wanting attention. John Prescott's agitator once found out the hard way.

ilovesooty · 09/09/2026 12:46

hattie43 · 09/09/2026 06:06

Well here’s the thing . Don’t disrupt and enrage people and the chances are you won’t get your hair pulled .

Didn't take long for the victim blaming to start.

CreativeGreen · 09/09/2026 12:44

LuckyHazelFox · 09/09/2026 12:43

No but it does mean emotions are running high and tone deaf agitators might want to have a rethink.

What if the protestors' emotions were also running high?

LuckyHazelFox · 09/09/2026 12:43

emuloc · 09/09/2026 12:40

That does not mean, that those people who violently attacked her, had any just cause for doing so.

No but it does mean emotions are running high and tone deaf agitators might want to have a rethink.

CreativeGreen · 09/09/2026 12:43

LuckyHazelFox · 09/09/2026 12:35

So you don't understand that you are obliged to abide by codes of conduct within certain spaces?

And so, for example, whilst I would be perfectly entitled to "talk slightingly or contemptuously" of a Reform member, or to "treat with scorn or disrespect" or "despise" them, I would not be entitled to drag them around by their hair, or hit them with a stick, no matter what they were doing. Great, we agree.

LuckyHazelFox · 09/09/2026 12:42

Have I just read that women come running to the attention of little bells! Absolutely priceless. No, women can post on whichever threads they want.

emuloc · 09/09/2026 12:40

LuckyHazelFox · 09/09/2026 12:36

Yes, this is how I feel. The timing of the disruption was also ill judged.

That does not mean, that those people who violently attacked her, had any just cause for doing so.

LuckyHazelFox · 09/09/2026 12:36

WildWindySeascape · 09/09/2026 12:34

The assault was appalling and shameful.

Separately, I do not agree with protestors trying to disrupt events. Yes stand outside with a sign or a banner and make your case known, but actually disrupting events or travel or the lives of other people is obnoxious.

Yes, this is how I feel. The timing of the disruption was also ill judged.

ikeepforgetting · 09/09/2026 12:36

Some posters on these threads must have a little bell that goes off calling them to action. It's so tedious and predictable. Of course women shouldn't have been assaulted. Anyone saying otherwise is a tool.

CreativeGreen · 09/09/2026 12:36

LuckyHazelFox · 09/09/2026 12:35

So you don't understand that you are obliged to abide by codes of conduct within certain spaces?

Of course I do. I just don't know what your point is. I'm not asking permission to vilify you or anyone else, so I don't know why you seem to be laying down some kind of challenge to 'try it'.

LuckyHazelFox · 09/09/2026 12:35

CreativeGreen · 09/09/2026 12:34

No, that isn't clear, sorry - I'm not sure what you mean. (Also I said 'clearer', meaning clearer than my earlier post, not 'clear').

So you don't understand that you are obliged to abide by codes of conduct within certain spaces?

CreativeGreen · 09/09/2026 12:34

LuckyHazelFox · 09/09/2026 12:34

I can't understand what your point is. Try rephrasing it?

You want me to rephrase the OED?

WildWindySeascape · 09/09/2026 12:34

The assault was appalling and shameful.

Separately, I do not agree with protestors trying to disrupt events. Yes stand outside with a sign or a banner and make your case known, but actually disrupting events or travel or the lives of other people is obnoxious.

LuckyHazelFox · 09/09/2026 12:34

CreativeGreen · 09/09/2026 12:33

They could do sense 2a in the OED - "To depreciate or disparage in discourse; to talk slightingly or contemptuously of". Or sense 3 - "To regard (someone or something) as worthless or of little value; to treat with scorn or disrespect; to despise"

I can't understand what your point is. Try rephrasing it?

CreativeGreen · 09/09/2026 12:34

LuckyHazelFox · 09/09/2026 12:30

Go for it. Just try doing it within the confines of the space you're posting it. Is that clear?

No, that isn't clear, sorry - I'm not sure what you mean. (Also I said 'clearer', meaning clearer than my earlier post, not 'clear').

OneLilacHedgehog · 09/09/2026 12:33

Error404FucksNotFound · 09/09/2026 06:22

Reform thugs only care about assaults on women if they are carried out by brown men.

Yes this is the truth. If a white woman had been physically attacked and jeered at by brown men at a left wing conference, the reform UK would have been up in arms. Reform supporters would have been saying this is what happens when you have men coming to this country from countries that don't respect women.

But reform UK supporters assault and jeer at women, and the response on this thread is they deserved it.

CreativeGreen · 09/09/2026 12:33

LuckyHazelFox · 09/09/2026 12:24

So I can expect to support who I want without being vilified - as I said.

They could do sense 2a in the OED - "To depreciate or disparage in discourse; to talk slightingly or contemptuously of". Or sense 3 - "To regard (someone or something) as worthless or of little value; to treat with scorn or disrespect; to despise"

LuckyHazelFox · 09/09/2026 12:30

CreativeGreen · 09/09/2026 12:28

Nobody should abuse or slander you for believing what you believe, but they're perfectly entitled to despise you, object to you, or protest against the things you believe. Is that clearer?

Go for it. Just try doing it within the confines of the space you're posting it. Is that clear?

CreativeGreen · 09/09/2026 12:30

CreativeGreen · 09/09/2026 12:27

No, that's not it. Nobody was taught to put a space before a comma.

Some people may have been taught to put two spaces after a full stop. This is not what we're seeing.

Ihateboris · 09/09/2026 12:29

soddingspiderseason · 09/09/2026 12:01

Its an age thing. People who went to school in the 1960s were taught to put spaces before and after punctuation. Older people are more likely to support Reform.

Oh my God...you're absolutely right! Thank you 😊

CreativeGreen · 09/09/2026 12:28

LuckyHazelFox · 09/09/2026 12:24

So I can expect to support who I want without being vilified - as I said.

Nobody should abuse or slander you for believing what you believe, but they're perfectly entitled to despise you, object to you, or protest against the things you believe. Is that clearer?