I was one of the transactivists on the channel 4 documentary, I regret what I did — this is why

I've been on and debated, and it actually went quite well. Pleased to see I'm getting far more upvotes than my TRA opponent. Unfortunately it cut off at six and the other person got the last word. What I would've liked to add was:

You say feminists have no right to tell trans people how they can define themselves. But by defining themselves as women and making that definition mainstream, they have changed the definition of woman for everyone. It no longer means biology, it's an identity that transcends biology - and in that case what have they signed us up for?

I couldn’t be bother to wade through the usual hot treacle that is the gruniard comments.

I’m sure I did see a few little gems that had the Mumsnet tone on a few posts!

Wow, I've just gone back to look and there is at least one good comment:

'Indeed, it is curious that women who talk about their safety are castigated as "as bad as the Nazis". Yet women who talk about their safety have never, as far as I'm aware, physically harmed, hurt or attacked a single individual - far less committed mass murder and genocide.

'Meanwhile, the actual transphobic men (and they are all men) who DO attack and even kill transwomen get a free pass. They are not called Nazis. Only women who fear for their own safety are called Nazis.'

I wonder if that was one of us? Only a few months ago, a comment like that would not have got through.

On an article celebrating a transactivist for realising gender critical voices shouldn't be suppressed.... the moderators are suppressing gender critical voices?

Exactly so. The Guardian are going to look so utterly stupid when this all blows up in their faces.

It really doesn’t matter whether this person is genuine or not.

The reason for not ‘engaging in debate’ with them is that they are just some random balaclava wearer.

Like the person who said they wore a face covering to the poll tax riots. If you took it off, said sorry, would you then expect to be debated as some kind of special anti poll tax spokesperson?

If they want to debate they can post on here or Reddit or wherever like all us other nobodies. They don’t get a special seat at the table just because they regret threatening some women.

They are not the Ronnie Kray of staircase disputes.

Hmm... for the Guardian to pick up on this so quickly when they wouldn't touch the original incident is a tad suspicious I will grant you.

I wouldn't post what you wrote on the Guardian here unless you're capable of being seen across forums if they then decide to let the comment through.

The Guardian didn’t report the harassment when it happened, only now, when they’ve found a token TRA who has apologised. So the only coverage of this even manages to spin it into something positive.

Guess what, Guardian? The threatening behaviour didn’t suddenly become wrong because somebody apologised, it was wrong all along, and you don’t get to ignore threatening behaviour for months then use an apology as proof of good behaviour.

The Guardian is so ridiculous. At least a few decent comments got through. Don't bother panhandling at me because you're not getting a penny, Guardian.

I started a thread about suppressed comments here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3435060-Comments-deleted-for-being-transphobic-feminist-on-media-websites

Sorry, but I'm not buying the apology.

PilarTernera possibly.... there was a whole conversation on twitter yesterday where people said if you are sorry, stop calling us TERFS and Esther said 'ok'. So if it had appeared in the Guardian today it would have been baaad.

Knicknackpaddyflak I'll start a thread...

I'm not sure what you expect from the guardian?

My critical but polite comment wasnt posted. I'm guessing some heavy bias here.

hackmum so the Guardian are shutting down convo's about abusive men you say?!!!

I thought we'd come so far, now for no freedom of speech on men who abuse women, and will do anything necessary to get into women's spaces.

There was me thinking that the press were all for freedom of speech, ah, yes, just for 'them' then

candid It was probably a Guardian subeditor who changed the wording to gender critical feminist, rather than EB herself.

Brilliant idea, Everybody

In fact a running evidence thread is needed of 'comments deleted for being 'transphobic' (guardian, twitter, etc) none of which will be actually transphobic in any way. Should demonstrate nicely how truth and facts are being made taboo.

Can people post here what the Guardian are suppressing so there's a record?

So, let me get this right...

On an article celebrating a transactivist for realising gender critical voices shouldn't be suppressed.... the moderators are suppressing gender critical voices?

I got that right didn't I? (Not doubting my comprehension skills - it's just the hyprocracy is fucking mind boggling).

Slow hand clap, Guardian.

oops .... pronoun failure....

At least Esther changed "big name TERFs" to "big name gender critical feminists"

At least he changed "big name TERFs" to "big name gender critical feminists"

I've now been put on the Guardian's naughty step for a comment (not published) stating that the problem was not that trans women posed a danger to women and girls, but that abusive men would go to extreme lengths to gain access to victims, and that could include claiming to identify as trans. That's it. They are so fucking thick that they won't allow through a comment about the behaviour of abusive men because they think it breaks their moderation rules. Morons.

Comments on the Guardian are being heavily moderated. Sigh.

It's so incredibly fucking annoying that this person is being hailed as some kind of hero for expressing regret at taking action that was dangerous and terrifying, whereas those of us who have been polite and civil all along get no credit at all. Has the Guardian ever allowed one person from the other side of this debate to have the space to express their views on the comment pages?

The Guardian is allowing comments! :O