Who have we lost?

Delurking here too.
Like many others I was on MN for general chat and support. I slowly, vaguely became aware of the trans threads but didn’t read any because I thought of myself as open minded and progressive and thought I already knew my stance on the issue. I thought it was all probably a bit of a storm in a teacup and maybe even a little bit reactionary and man-hating and as I didn’t think I was ‘one of those reactionary man hating type of feminists’ I stayed away.

Then eventually one of the thread titles caught my eye (can’t remember what it was) and I thought ah well I’d better at least check out what all this fuss is about.

That was about 6 months ago and I have been avidly reading ever since. Am still astonished on a daily basis by the craziness of it all. Now realise that I agree am more of a radical feminist that I thought and am thirsty for more information.

Reading posts by Uterati, the Bewilderness, Datun and others has been so illuminating and offers what feels like taking a long cool drink of crystal clear water when the world currently seems addicted to the kool aid.

It is SO important that these issues continue to be discussed here by you eloquent and informed women. You continue to enlighten people like me on a daily basis and help us out if the dark and give us the words to understand and articulate our instinctive concerns. I would never have found, or engaged with these discussions on another forum. I dint know the problem existed, let alone where to look for intelligent discussion.

I will do my best to contribute from now on (though feel like I still have so much to learn) I will find more courage to speak up in real life (no one I know is talking about this stuff!)
Am now actively looking to attend events and see how u can become more involved.

Big thanks to all you amazing women for the education. I know there are many like me who you have encouraged into the light. Please, please stay if you can!

Delurking as well. Please don’t leave. And echoing what others have said about targeting advertisers. It would be far more effective if they had a mass deluge of emails quietly thanking them for their continued support of a platform for mothers, (who tend to hold household purse strings) despite a lot of immature noise from a tiny minority

Lisa's brilliant, even if she doesn't think Wales exists. 😆

It was Lisa Muggeridge.

I also follow Lisa on Twitter. I haven’t seen her talking , I’ll have a look at at that. She is an amazing woman.

Was it Lisa Muggeridge - she's amazing. I follow her on Twitter, but didn't realise it was her.

Hats off to her. I like to hear "We Can Win This!" - because sometimes it feels like we're going to donning the red cloaks and white bonnets soon...

This is what we're dealing with - narcissistic rage.

We really are. It's not pretty.

I won't be doing any personal attacks but it will be a cold day in hell before I call any man by a term that has woman in it. And I won't sneak off like a thief in the night. MNHQ will have to ban me.

Fuck yeah ✊

Btw - I recommend anyone who hasn't already done so to watch Venice's WNTT meeting on FB.

There was one woman on there - I'm sure loads of people on here know who she is, but I hadn't seen her before - Lisa B (I think). Talking about narcissistic rage - and how once you see it for what it is, it doesn't affect you anymore.

This is what we're dealing with - narcissistic rage.

Mumsnet rules stop them shouting us down as they do in other parts of the web.

While we can continue speaking calmly, logically, about the impact of this nonsense on women and children, lurkers will still become inspired and informed.

This is such a good point.

I don't feel afraid on Mumsnet - because threats and attacks aren't allowed to stand. I'm anonymous here - it's a safe space for me.

I am upset by the latest moderating guidelines - but I think we can continue to protest them, continue to discuss the issues (carefully continue to raise awareness.

I'd be very sorry indeed to lose the articulate voices here, who speak as much to lurkers as to regular posters. I've lurked here for years and learned a lot. Haven't posted much since NCing. We can find ways to talk about the necessary. We shouldn't have to resort to Private Eye-style euphemisms but we can.

And I agree with pps who don't want to indulge in hatred. We can say No withoit being nasty, though it's worth bearing in mind the 2nd rule of misogyny:
Women saying no to men is a hate crime.

Eternal thanks to bewilderness for these rules

And who posts here regularly changes over the years.

We have to keep the conversation going here. We reach more people if we keep this up than if we disappear behind closed doors for our conversation. If it’s not the wonderful and established posters then it will have to be those of us who mostly lurk coming out of the shadows. The language is always a challenge but I am sure that we can manage to still speak out. What we must not do is abandon this space to those who support our silencing.

Pratchet I meant a Women's Place. Sorry for confusion. Fair Play for Women have a website though. And RadFem Collective have a monthly emailed newsletter.

Maybe if people are getting close on strikes they can post and empty post with a fullstop or something to show they support but have been silenced.

I once worked out how to do a post which was apparently empty but actually contained a link ... maybe that's a bit too subtle though! Making a post with just a full stop which is actually a link is trivial.

And for radical feminists who don't know anyone, the radfem social weekend is great fun. Next one is in Sherwood Forest in February next year.

Been lurking here for a few months to learn about the issues facing women. I don’t feel confident enough to contribute to the discussion as yet - the reason being that I’m not very eloquent, but want to say thank you to the posters here who have raised my awareness of issues.

Can I echo a pp?
Do go to a live event if you can!

It really engages you to meet other women who really do understand what they are talking about, can give you clear and concise statements to use in debate.

You will feel strong and able to carry on

But mumsnet is read by women who do not see themselves as feminists. It is important that women stay here.

I agree.

And to lurkers - come along to a talk or event. It is different hearing women speak in real life.