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Original poster

Mumsnet twitterati revisited

54 replies

Fortheloveofscience · 20/01/2018 09:27

A while ago (can’t remember when, probably about a year) there was a push to encourage gender-critical mn-ers to join twitter and boost support for gender critical voices.

I just wondered how everyone’s getting on? I had a break of a few months for a house move, but am now back and encouraged to see that there seems to be a far bigger radfem community than when I first joined. I now have 275 followers, including some people I really respect which I’m quite proud of considering that I’m relatively new to the scene and don’t have anything overly insightful to contribute.

Has anyone else noticed this? There are a good few people over there I strongly suspect of having originated here, but couldn’t tie handles to user-names (obviously for good reason!).

OP posts:
Teabagtits · 20/01/2018 23:23

I’ve used twitter for years and was referred here from there during pregnancy last year. I followed “feminists” on both sides of the debate as well as trans people through a collective hatred of political events but didn’t pay much attention to TRA or GC debate until far more recently. I have been unfollowed by quite prominent radical activists on both sides for being seen to follow people they disagree with. I’m not sure how that helps. I was told that following someone meant agreeing with them - even when I clearly didn’t. I don’t need that level of drama on what is essentially my Saturday night social scene...

I’d like now to follow more GC accounts but don’t want the drama or backlash from tras so keep it fairly separate from this issue. For now.

MrsDoylesTeaBags · 20/01/2018 22:36

I've just started lurking on Twitter for the last month or so, I've posted once or twice but I find it a bit scary as I use my real name. Don't know why 'cause my employers and most people I know are pretty sensible and gender critical, but some of the TRAs on there can be pretty savage.
I've really enjoyed the discussions though and learning from a lot of feminist posters on there.
I really like Feminist Chat here though as it's taught me a lot and helped me put a lot of my ideas into perspective and it feels like a comparatively safe space.
As many regular posters on here have commented before, it wasn't until I read some of the threads on here that I realised that I'm a radical feminist.

RagingWoman · 20/01/2018 22:22

Also WomansPlaceUK, FeministRoar, AnneRuzyloXX, JessicaEaton are good people on Twitter

RagingWoman · 20/01/2018 22:14

I mention on my bio that i love Bear(but in words), that should be clue enough!!

Original poster
Fortheloveofscience · 20/01/2018 22:13

There are loads: a small selection are 4thwavenow, gendercriticaldad, fairplayforwomen, Magdalen Berns, Jeni Harvey (gappytales), Lily Maynard, Janice Turner, Victoria Smith (glosswitch), Jessica Eaton, Jennifer James (two flames), Meghan Murphy, Miranda Yardley. There are LOADS more though, and it’s easy to see through retweets etc whose views you find interesting.

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Battleax · 20/01/2018 15:06

Who's good to follow?

SonicBoomBoom · 20/01/2018 14:15

I always hated twitter. Never used it.

Until a few months ago when I saw people on here saying about joining in the GC discussions to give women more of a voice. So I did!

Maybe we could put a code word in bios or something so we can all link up without outing ourselves or linking to our MN names?

Elendon · 20/01/2018 14:09

I don't do Twitter though. I could never see the appeal.

Elendon · 20/01/2018 13:59

I posted my name on the go fund me and also put it up on Facebook. Only one person posted intimating I may be transphobic and I asked him to define woman - got no reply. Interestingly, I saw his name later as someone who had donated!

Original poster
Fortheloveofscience · 20/01/2018 11:59

Yes MiMi - it runs from posting your name and private details online and encouraging trans activists to send hate messages, to posting employers details online, contacting employers etc etc - really nasty stuff and people are 100% right to be cautious.

Ekphrasis I’m the same - have become so much more confident.

I find it difficult to tell whether it feels like the GC twitter community has grown because it actually has, or whether it’s just because I’ve been on there longer and so have made more contacts.

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Ekphrasis · 20/01/2018 10:46

I have a Twitter for professional use and a private one.

Ekphrasis · 20/01/2018 10:45
  • after learning about it all from here. I had known the odd thing in life wasn't quite right. I hadn't joined dots or understood the bigger picture. I used to be afraid to post here I was so confused; now I am confident at challenging things on twitter thanks to mn.
Ekphrasis · 20/01/2018 10:43

I didn't know about the push but have become involved.

catgirl1976 · 20/01/2018 10:42

You're a star - thank you

catgirl1976 · 20/01/2018 10:33

I'll have a proper look. There will be a help thing somewhere I'm sure if I can't work it out

Ereshkigal · 20/01/2018 10:32

You might need to do it on a computer rather than the app?

Ereshkigal · 20/01/2018 10:31

I've definitely changed a twitter handle for a work account. And I know other people who have.

catgirl1976 · 20/01/2018 10:29

I can change my name and photo but not my handle it seems. And my handle is my name.

MiMi78 · 20/01/2018 10:09

What would doxxing entail?
Calling your employers etc, can you set up an anonymous Twitter account.
Apologies, I'm bloody awful at stuff like this.

frickfo · 20/01/2018 10:09

I meant I also use my real name and photo on Twitter.

frickfo · 20/01/2018 10:07

Me too. I haven’t got an employer to worry about, and feel ok about owning my opinions. Especially since the Woman’s Place meeting in Manchester where I was alerted to Mumsnet as a place for feminists. I’m in the Labour Party, almost certainly on Lily Madigan’s list despite being terribly polite to everyone, but I figure the Party will not want to be seen expelling people just for saying women don’t have penises. And if they do, it’s their loss.

Ereshkigal · 20/01/2018 10:03

AFAIK it's quite easy to change both your name and your handle. Twitter help will tell you how but I think you just go to your profile. And the photo obviously.

catgirl1976 · 20/01/2018 09:58

Yes I think there has although maybe I've built an echo chamber. it's hard to tell

My twitter account is my actual name with my actual photo which wasn't an issue but now I'm considering going more anon - I just haven't worked out how to do it yet and I don't want to open a whole new account. Awful we should feel so nervous

Original poster
Fortheloveofscience · 20/01/2018 09:45

Yes please don’t out yourself, or discuss anything other than generalities. My twitter handle is very similar to this MN username (which I set up to use pretty much exclusively for gender-critical use) so I’m comfortable with what I’ve posted. But your warning is really important.

Do you think there’s been an increase in gender-critical twitter voices over the last few months?

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