I think I might call this a day

Yep posters can discuss whatever they want. I care not.

Silly to avoid a topic because people think there is only one accepted way to post.

all this boo hoo we are being derailed.i simply cant participate is churlish.on a discursive forum people can discuss anything they want.whether you like it or not.chicking in the metaphorical towel isnt the way either

ISNT don't leave I like your posts.

I don't get all this moaning about there being one way to think. Put forward your views and see if they stand up to debate.

Sorry c&p from the other thread, but relevant here & I really want to know what you think:
"Why be put off? If you think a wider debate is lacking, why wait for someone else to have it for you? Participating will broaden the debate. Refusing to post because someone once disagreed with you isn't doing much to contribute is it?"

I totally agree with SWC and ScottishMummy

There has developed an acceptable 'way of thinking' on this topic, driven by a small number of posters. I happen not to agree with a lot of the posts, and think they do not help feminism (despite their intention), and ironically hinder feminism in many ways.

I think this is one of the,not "problems"because that isn't quite the right word,but I'm not sure what the right word is,with MN.

In RL I can go for ages without meeting someone I can talk to about some of the things I care about,let alone someone who will engage in heated debate about them - but here it is possible to have that sort of discussion at the drop of a hat.Which is fantastic,and a good thing - but also hard work/demanding/upsetting/whatever/depending on the subject,especially factoring in the lottery as to who will appear to "discuss" with you.
If you don't have the self control to just switch off and go away it is more relentless in some ways than RL,all those posters being passionate about stuff 24/7(not to mention all those posters not getting what you are trying to say 24/7!)

(disclaimer - I expect some people's RL is like that,but not mine!)

Not sure I'm making any sense here - so will echo Sakura,and say chin up, ISNT....

Another 1 of the 20 lurkers per poster here to cheer....

Btw, the trafficked British girls - wasn't there a panorama program on it a while back - maybe a year or so. It was utterly shocking.

your premise is flawed you assume feminism only imacts upon women?think again.we live in a mixed society where decisons/ideologies/theory impact upon the many.and if you are talking rape yuo cannot take men out of the equation (since most allegations of rape are invoving men and women)

this ickle preciousness that wimmins issues must be discussed a certain way, follow some determined path and absolutley nae fuckin men is bonkers

men arent a homogenous mass
nor are women.
not all feminists represent my views, i support right to voice a pov,but simply being same gender doesnt mean i have to agree with all women

and if it is doing your head in so much,knock it on the head.take a rest

all this derailed stuff.oh come on so jsut because someone post contentious and/or inflammatory the whole plot is lost?no it isnt it. just makes it a different fight.maybe more robust

chin up ISNT

I have to say I hate a lot of this topic as being too "intellectual" often and talking rather than walking. but I like your often very pragmatic posts isn't. it IS a victim too of the barging in that mm is prone to... "i have a problem with my nanny/bottlefeeding/prep school" etc cue "well you shouldn't have a nanny/bottlefeed/send your child to private school" etc endlessly etc. it's the nature of the beast. don't stop or be ground down by it.

small white cat - just ignoring them is fine in theory but some trolls over the past couple of days have just posted and posted regardless. It is disruptive and done with bad faith and malice. Posters tried to keep the discussion on track but this troll physically pushed it out by filling the whole thread.

Another lurker in total agreement with sixpercenttruejedi. Does this change the lurker : poster ratio ?!i

I am a lurker on the feminism boards, and I have learnt so much and really developed my ideas and thoughts from these discussions and all the posters.

I thought I was pretty well informed and enlightened, but lots of things I thought have really been crystallised. I would say that sometimes the naysayers help me see the rubbish arguements that are put forward in favour of men - so the fight can be useful! Don't go.....

not the one I was originally thinking of but I think it a good post anyway
shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2010/05/more.html

late to respond but agree with all calls for you to stay. I'm a pathological lurker, rage at the screen but can never bring myself to post, and it's great to see others articulate what I can't really express.
It reminds me of when Melissa McEwan at Shakesville talks about teaspoons. It's how about we all have only so much fight in us, but as long as there's enough of us on one side, there will always be others to take up the slack. Will try to find the post.
Take a rest but please come back to post. The fact that this forum is so public and easily accessable is what makes it so important. The trolls always lose in the end here.

Haven't read thread yet but wanted to say a) I know, but b) please don't go.

If it was easy we wouldn't still be trying to get stuff done after who knows how many centuries of trying. But knowing that people like you are out there - and being able to talk to you - is what keeps some of us going. Nothing worse for feminism than thinking you're all alone.

I absolutely love this section and it's what I read most of. I have learnt so much from the posters here and have really had a revival of what I was active in at university and my formative years. I lurk a lot but have so much admiration for all the posters here, thank you all.

I've just come home and switched on to this,and have to join the chorus saying don't go,ISNT!
The MN Feminism Section Needs You....

I too have learnt a lot here,and changed my mind, or clarified my thoughts to the point where I could argue my case if I had to, on some issues.
Before this section started I had got to the point where I was wondering if feminism was still a valid stance,or if I was just an unreasonable harridan and the non-feminists/anti-feminists were right.

The 20:1 lurker to poster ratio is a bit scary though - it is easy to feel that you are online chuntering away in a fairly private setting!

I don't even know what the FOSH thread is - have been far too busy of late to have any space left in my brain for interesting discussions but I really value your posts ISNT and I for one am very glad indeed that this topic is here, even if it does get tired rehashing the same arguments. On another board I'm on there is a Hooters discussion and very few women have even contributed, such is the level of exhaustion of constantly battling on a male-dominated board. So MN feels like a breath of fresh air compared to that.