I am worried

YY Battleax. My thoughts exactly.

That's a good point Shoes. If anybody comes across as vulnerable and influenced (although equally obnoxious) it's that Adrie character.

OP - I'm the same as you, I always worry for these people who seem vulnerable - even when they're doing the most unspeakably stuff on Twitter! We are socialised to care for young, vulnerable-seeming people.

I'm not so worried about Lily actually - I have a feeling they're not quite as vulnerable as they make out... some of the others in the gang though, I'm not so sure about

Lily Madigan is literally leading a 'TERF' witch hunt in the Labour Party - it's like Salem over there at the moment - and has already got one party member suspended (that we know of) and caused another to resign. It's really unpleasant stuff.

I am finding all this stuff terrifying - my mental health is ropey at the best of times.

I'm more concerned about you than about Lily. Please take care of yourself. This is very challenging stuff. Some days I find it very distressing and my family feel the same about these issues. There are other women voicing the same distress on here if that helps. We have to support one another and be strong together.

If it gets overwhelming, take some time out and look after yourself. There's a whole wonderful world out there with lots of good people working to make things better.

I just researched his past to try to understand why he is psychologically the way he is, and now his narcissism makes perfect sense to me (I have a psych degree).

Any pointers to resources that explain how to raise boys to be the total opposite of this dreadful little numpty?

Look, OP. I know you're genuinely concerned.

But it's a matter of relative harms.

Lily may well be vulnerable, even mentally unwell. Lily may well be the pawn of MRA types within the Labour Party.

But Lily isn't sufficiently unwell to not understand the difference between right and wrong.

Lily needs to be held to account. And, if Lily ever sees the error of Lily's ways, perhaps then we could all say that Lily is young and has perhaps been misled and yes, there is a chance for rehabilitation and forgiveness.

But Lily isn't doing that. Lily is doubling down. To the detriment of thousands upon thousands of women.

I'm past giving quarter. And that's final.

I started work at 16 and was a parent at 20.
Look, this little monster would chuck all of us in the Gulag without so much as a backward glance so don't be taken in.

Ha, that'll teach me to at least read the full post before replying

Glad to hear it's been reported.

His henchman Adie took this info and started a Hit List which was posted publicly yesterday. LM posted about "beating" terfs and Adrie provided a list of terfs to be beaten.

Good grief, where?

I assume the police are aware?

OK let's get a few things straight here!

1. It's not true that nobody knows who LM's folks are. I know his entire family history, who his parents are and where they are now. His parents are both married to new spouses. I won't be giving this information away, I just researched his past to try to understand why he is psychologically the way he is, and now his narcissism makes perfect sense to me (I have a psych degree).

1. LM has started a secret Facebook group called Labour Against Transphobia which sounds benign EXCEPT it isn't because its purpose is to keep female members under surveillance and keep a dossier of their (made up crimes) which, in some cases, have been logged as "clicking like on a radfem trans critical post". His henchman Adie took this info and started a Hit List which was posted publicly yesterday. LM posted about "beating" terfs and Adrie provided a list of terfs to be beaten. The police have been informed. Given that LM is being aggressive and threatening to ordinary women, why should we care a damn about his welfare?

1. Like the above, by age 20 I had supported myself and paid rent on a flat for four blood years! LM is not a child. He is 50% aggressive male youth and 50% simpering Poor Me faux-victim.

I dont think you are wrong OP, Lily appears to be very immature and there seems to be someone in the background. I dont believe Lily writes everything that is published under their name.
At the same time, Lily has made choices for themselves.

We can protest Lily's behaviour while at the same time being concerned that kids are being recruited and directed.

And, OP you are in no way wrong to express concern and feel charitable to someone, for any reason: its perfectly valid and shows a laudable kindness of your character

eg the hotel freebie blogger in the last week

That was just

The hotel had more social media followers than her.

I was 20 - had a degree, left home, started a post-grad and had my own place (600 miles from mum and dad).

I didn't make rapey jokes, think the world owed me anything or try to bully anyone who wasn't me.

And I was actually quite the feminist back in the day... (for women)

TBH I don't think it's appropriate to start a thread in order to speculate on an individual's mental health and family situation.

Seems too personal, and God knows this issue is bigger than LM.

I have the same sympathy I have for any person undergoing a very public 'car crash' in the press or on social media - eg the hotel freebie blogger in the last week

I will not make personal comments or denigrate the individual but I am allowed to have an opinion on and make my judgement of the situation on their own documented actions, including the ability to take ownership of their choices and responsibility for their behaviour.

Perhaps soul searching and concern for any fallout from this situation needs to come from those who encouraged LM into a position of responsibility LM is manifestly unsuited for and continue to flatter and encourage LMs behaviour.

Try to remember that twenty is actually an adult. Many twenty year olds around the globe manage very well independently.

Even those without ten thousand hand maidens and fetishists on hand to wipe their nose for them!

I was fending for myself at 20.

Notably I didn't make rape jokes, chuck my weight around, suffer from stinking narcissism or photograph myself incessantly or witter on inanely all day.

But then I was fitting FT working hours around FT study.

Maybe Madigan should try it instead of sitting on twitter, hand extended.

Lily and get pals tried to out people and get them kicked out of the Labour party. Possibility to lose your job etc. Why should anyone have sympathy?