Why are feminists so aggressive?

I'm coming to this thread late because it took me ages to read it so apologies if I'm skipping back to previous points.

I'm with previous posters, it's bizarre to see this board described as aggressive when it doesn't have a fraction of the aggression of AIBU, which seems to exist now purely so that people can get their aggression out as fast as possible. I'd never direct any new post there but I would tell them the debates here make interesting reading.

anti male vitriol
I suppose in a way it's natural to be defensive if you're a mother of sons, but taking statistics personally isn't going to start many interesting discussions.

Why are feminists held to much higher standards than any other group on Mumsnet? They're not. I think you all take yourselves far too seriously.

Top feministsplaining though I think that sums it up. Or the opposite.
No explanation at all. I once asked about the differences between radical and liberal feminism and was told to Google it.
I'm a practical person. I like to hear about real life examples of how people apply feminism and see where they have made real change in every day life. It's all very theoretical here.

I don't care if people are aggressive because it will never usually upset me and I never respond in kind.

Sorry Titania you probably think I have derailed it again. You might think it was a silly tangent. I don't. Ignore if you like. I still think there has been a Humpty Dumpty attitude to language.

The argument about 'staunch' is weird and pointless IMO

It has certainly been weird.

What I find weird is that on trans threads here there is the insistence that words have meanings; words can't change just to suit the user. But apparently they can depending on the user.

Seachangeshell used this word in the normal dictionary sense and in a sense in which one will find tons of examples, on Mumsnet itself, on all manner of subjects, by posters using it to describe themselves.

AssignedPerfect decided it has a far more limited and pejorative use and piled on to Seachangeshell for using it. Elendon apparently doesn't know how the search function on the forum works(but can see imaginary references to the Daily Mail)

I found it hypocritical- not pointless. Aggressively insisting they were right, and presumably every other poster on Mumsnet who has used this word was wrong. And no one, including you, who described yourself as a staunch feminist saying anything.

Might have been nice to have given Seachangeshell a bit of support when she was having a strip torn off her for using the same expression as you did - but possibly you missed her posts.

Gallico refers to "arguing logically". I am not seeing any logic here. I am seeing arrogance and hypocrisy.

Thanks Gallicos for getting this back on track!

We aren't aggressive just passionate in my view, but as I have said people expect us to be complete witches so take any sort of a disagreement as proof of that and cannot see that they are the rude aggressive ones. That's my experience on YouTube anyway.

What is the definition of 'aggressive', though? Aggressive men beat people up, pull knives, kill, take over countries. Aggressive feminists answer back, argue logically and stand up for their convictions when challenged. That's exactly the same thing.

DV not fb

Oh Lordy lord we off on a silly tangent again....

Just wanted to add in reply to an earlier post was thinking about it and sometimes handmaiden and cool wife is the only way to describe some women accurately. Like all the cool women on another gender neutral bathroom thread who have to make their point that they have no problem sharing a loo, or striping off naked, or changing tampons etc with men around and the rest of us are just so silly and pathetic and need to grow up. It's not even what the thread was about, the point was turning all the female bathrooms gender neutral and keeping the men's the same. So that's the cool wives/ friend.

So far as handmaidens are concerned I encountered plenty of this type while I was part of an extremely strict Islamic group and experiencing domestic violence. These are the type who would say about fb that they don't blame the man for hitting some women and if you spoke to them about a problem would tell you to please your husband or go and inform on you. Handmaidens is the perfect word for those silly bitches.

So now I have gone off on a tangent too!

The argument about 'staunch' is weird and pointless IMO.

Certainly staunch does have sectarian and/or negative meaning, in my experience. I can accept that it has less provocative meaning to other people in other areas. Language is like that.

This has been quite a charged discussion. The point I was making that using such language in the context of aggressive feminists, was itself aggressive. I still think that. Others disagree. OK then

Elendon - there are loads of posters on Mumsnet calling themselves "staunch...." Do a search of the board.

Sparrowhawk called herself "a very staunch radical feminist" in a thread yesterday.

And why are you going on about The Daily Mail? I haven't mentioned or quoted it.

Give over Lass

You are being a little staunch in your argument.

ES and DM are the same and the BP is a right wing rag like the other two.

I would have thought you would look beyond that? Lass

Um the Campbell link is the Evening Standard. The other is The Bristol Post and other searches I've done are of MN. So no idea why you are going on about The Daily Mail.

Elendon- MN is littered with posters calling themselves staunch Labour voters, staunch Conservatives, staunch Republicans ( ie no monarchy) staunchly anti- abortion, staunch feminists (yes) staunch Unionists (as in No to independence) staunch Remainers

None of them (and Alastair Campbell) think staunch means what you think it means.

The word staunch is an odd one. If you write staunch feminist, it has a slightly negative connotation. But that's largely because it's followed by the word feminist.

Yes, it implies commitment and dedication to whatever cause, but it's the word feminist, afterwards that seems to make it not exactly positive.

As an aside, my newspaper said 30% of young women consider themselves feminists.

I don't know whether they are staunch, though.

Of course the DM are going to say staunch because it knows exactly what it means.

I would have thought you would look beyond that? Lass

shrugs shoulders>

Give it up Lass

There is no such thing as a staunch republican anymore. It simply wouldn't get them votes. That boat has sailed.

Not that I'm being aggressive or anything by disagreeing with you.

If you do a search on "staunch" on here the place is heaving with "staunch Labour supporters" !

Elendon I appreciate you might have had to endure the people you associate with that term but it is not synonymous with that type of politician.

All this twisting of people's words does nothing constructive, it really pees me off.

There's such a clear vested interest in discrediting feminists (talking generally now).

I've just listened to a podcast on gender equality in CEOs with a brilliant woman trying so hard, and I thought "they just don't want us in their gang". That's what we're up against.

I have no intention of leaving.

I disagree about "staunch" only being applied to Scots or Northern Irish politics. It isn't a meaning I would have thought of.

Republicans (both meanings) Unionists (all types) Communists can all be staunch.

www.standard.co.uk/comment/comment/alastair-campbell-even-as-a-staunch-republican-i-am-full-of-praise-for-the-young-royals-a3554471.html

Given I've apparently questioned you and you're still here Lass, I'm not much of a gatekeeper am I? I don't expect you to leave just because you irritate me.

Lass is a non feminist, woman's rights supporter.

Can't get aeriated over a pink hairband, but can get scathingly eloquent over prostitution.

She may disagree with that.

Lol (non ironic).