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

Gave up on "Esther" when I hit the "bad hair day" comments and "transitioning for a few years now". Another one incapable of cogent discussion.

There is a small minority of trans people genuinely struggling with their identity, and this lot of gobby arsewipes, don't speak for them. Different true agenda entirely. Time and again people in authority terrified of challenging them. Speak up for goodness sake.

"Esther" / "Adama". Yet another privileged con merchant trying for fifteen minutes of fame, whilst applying lippy, flicking their hair, and doubtless ensuring that their penis remains intact.

Because this is what I see. The reality is that these are a bunch of inadequate (mainly) male, (mainly)students, in frocks, willy measuring at Women who are genuinely and rightly, worried about Safeguarding.

You don't see these same frock wearing protesters on the front line challenging brawny bullet headed EDL rallies. I wonder why?

Thanks arranfan

From the article:
"Allow me to end with possibly the most important point personally speaking:

The biggest reason I regret my participation in the protests against “We Need to Talk” is because I genuinely made people feel like I was a danger to them. I may be a trans woman, but I’m still bigger than most women and I’m still scary when I’m wearing a balaclava and shouting at you. I remember standing a few steps above Julie Bindel and Heather Bruskell-Evans and screaming down at them whilst Dr Bruskell-Evans tried to hide in the corner and looked absolutely terrified. I have played this memory through my mind many times and asked myself, “what was I thinking?’’ I was on track to becoming not only the sort of trans-activist, but also the sort of person, I don’t want to be"

Heather Brunskell -Evans wrote about the effect this had on her shortly after the event in the Morning Star May 2018:

"An assault on free speech and free thought"
(extract)
'TWO weeks ago I was invited to an event in Bristol organised by a campaign called We Need to Talk to discuss my view that extreme caution should be exercised in the medical attempt to sex transition young people — and was met with a noisy and aggressive political protest.

Activists dressed in black and wearing masks entered the building and refused to leave, in an attempt to prevent the meeting taking place.

I’m no stranger to highly charged political situations.
In 2005, I stood in solidarity with Palestinian villagers as they demonstrated against the Israeli government grab of the territory surrounding their village.

I am a Quaker and I had taken a three-month sabbatical from my university to volunteer in the summer period as a human rights observer in the Palestinian territories. (continues)

Why do I tell you this personal story? First, to let you know that I have a certain fearlessness, plus a strong, lifelong ethical commitment to resisting injustice and to the peaceful resolution of conflict.

Second, to illustrate the complexity of my feelings about the political protest in Bristol. I found myself trapped in a stairwell by masked trans activists who believed me to be the oppressor, equivalent to Israeli soldiers, and who believed transwomen to be actual women and the most victimised and oppressed of all social groups.

I appealed to the activist nearest me but he refused eye contact. I have subsequently been informed, perhaps erroneously, that he self-identifies as a woman.

Because I do not accept that transwomen really are women, identical with other women, although of course with rights as individuals to identify how they wish, he felt morally justified in using his superior physical strength and slurring me as a transphobe and a nazi.

I feared the injuries I might sustain if pushed downstairs; I looked down on myself being obstructed from speaking by a man almost young enough to be my grandson.

Parents, medics, social commentators and psychotherapists critical of transgender doctrine have far more to fear however than masked 20-year-olds using masculinist tactics of intimidation.

They fear being accused by social services of not safeguarding their own children, of losing their licence to practice as medics, of being no-platformed in their universities, of being expelled from their political parties.

I stand with other women, and with the men, transsexuals and transwomen who are my friends and colleagues critical of the proposed reform of the Gender Recognition Act 2004." (continues)

morningstaronline.co.uk/article/assault-free-speech-and-free-thought

Esther Betts is the person who asks the two extended questions the Heather B-E in Bristol last week (from about 30mins on the video)

It does seem like a genuine attempt to engage in dialogue.

Https:twitter.com/brunskellevans/status/1066641006886641666?s=19

Heather B-E in her tweet this morning says that Esther said sorry to her in person about how Esther acted at the Jam Jar, and they hugged.

It also looks like Esther is part of the Free Speech Society that hosted the Heather B-E talk. I guess they were surprised to see one of their members masked and violently opposing free speech! www.facebook.com/groups/1560775530901215/permalink/2057842744527822/

It is good, I think, that this young person is exploring and rethinking their position. That's what university should be for.

Their online apology is grudging and ungracious but its a start.

Whilst I can see that this article could be about damage limitation. How really very erm... silly would you have to be to include in it the fact that you and your group were attempting to storm a room in order to smoke bomb it. The result of which could have been a massive impact on someone' health, potentially their life and also cause panic. I wonder how long the article will stay up considering what they are admitting to.

If Esther really believed this the language would be different. They still believe in their superiority over me.

which documentary was this?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3430608-Stella-OMalley-Trans-Kids-Its-Time-To-Talk

I agree with previous posters who said this whole article is about the author trying to look better. I don't think they've actually really had a change of heart, just been caught out and realized they look bad.

Like when they smoke bombed the Metro offices...and were online laughing about how the staff were panicking about it as it was just a smoke bomb.

As if that is totally normal behaviour.

I came here to say what FlippinFumin has already said - smoke bombs kill people who have compromised breathing, or people who cannot leave quickly.

The BNP used to let off mace/pepper spray in enclosed spaces. Its a tactic used by Fascists who don't care about the consequences or actively want to cause harm.

which documentary was this?

Can they not see how dangerous that could be and how it could potentially cause breathing problems and also panic. A panicked reaction when all the exits are blocked by your group may have ended very badly.

But as an aside, if they had let off a smoke bomb, and I had been in that room, it could have killed me. I suffer from COPD,...Smoke bombs are not to be trifled with, in some circumstances they can be lethal.

Both of these. In an emergent situation like that, it's not clear that it's a smoke bomb rather than a fire or a threat of a device. It's not reasonable to expect civilians to know the difference or to be so accustomed to such things that we know what the best course of action is.

I just googled what to do if someone throws a smoke bomb and there was no advice.

Pages and pages of how to make smoke bombs (I'd no idea they'd become such a staple of football matches in some areas). And even some rather sweet advice on how to make them without damaging your pans and other kitchen items. And earnest discussion about making them non-coloured because even organic food dyes aren't good for your eyes if you get the air dispersal right rather than just have the dye burn up with the fuse.

I can't help but be cynical. Not keen on some of the tone/language either.

Smoke bomb info interesting though.

I'd love for this to be genuine contrition and a move forward to open debate.

But, the fact that they are basically saying "sorry for how I tried to silence you last time, I'll try and silence you differently next time" makes me doubt the authenticity.

I think many of us have been burnt by the narcissistic cycle of abuse and are wary of being burnt again.

Why do I have in my head the 'Neil, Neil, orange peel!' scene from the Young Ones with Rik wringing his hands in faux remorse

One thing that I must thank transwomen for, is that I'm no longer so quick to forgive, no longer so quick to say "oh it's okay, I know you didn't mean it" and no longer so quick to trot back to the kitchen.

That had been a completely unexpected side effect to the bullying attitude of the TRAs and their brainwashed woke crowd. Until I peaked, I was always concerned about being ‘nice’, not offending, people pleasing, behaving. Now I say NO and stuck to it, don’t tell lies in case I ‘hurt’ someone’s feelings at the expense of my own. It’s liberating. It must be what it feels like to grow up with male socialisation. Oh dear, does that mean I’m a transman? 😉

But as an aside, if they had let off a smoke bomb, and I had been in that room, it could have killed me

Yes I too have a health condition that it could have put me in serious danger and possibly killed me too.

Should have pressed preview.

There seems to be little realisation that it is the intimidation that led us to this point.

After an event where "cis people" were "given an opportunity" (so, allowed) to ask questions, the author's trans friends were actually surprised that gasp! when you don't try and intimidate women they might actually want to discuss things with you.

Also, thanks to the PP that posted the rule of mysogyny, I was thinking about that!

It literally is 'we can't stop them so we will attend their meetings and destroy their social space'.

It's exactly that and I really recommend that everyone doesn't allow their female socialisation make them fall for it.

It looks like this person is a young student. People that age wheher male or female do all sorts as they are not quite mature. I hesitate to say men tend to be about 2 years behind girls at growing up in their teens but it's true a lot of the time and then men catch up in their 20s and it gets fairly even. It must be even harder if you are trans. That does not mean you can risk lives with smoke bombs that could even as stated above cause death and it is not sensible to stop people discussing issues.

I tihnk we would need more evidence to show someone was asked to leave presumably a shared student house because they transitioned as most students are more than happy to share with their friends whether male or female but if that did happen and it weren't a residential place segregated by gender then that sounds wrong and I'm sorry.

I would just concentrate on getting high degree results and pursuing a good career and if not already done full gender transition under current law if you are sure.

I am torn on this. I am absolutely of the opinion they only apologised because they looked like the complete male thug they don't want to be. But I can also see that they see that. They saw they looked like a thuggish bloke and it was hard for them to handle, as they now see themselves as a woman. Perhaps I just want to see the good in them.

But as an aside, if they had let off a smoke bomb, and I had been in that room, it could have killed me. I suffer from COPD, and any irritant in a room which I could not escape from, well, perhaps this is something you TRAs reading could take on board, Smoke bombs are not to be trifled with, in some circumstances they can be lethal. You do not know the health concerns of anyone in that room. Grow the fuck up.

*Binglebong" I wondered about that, too.

Phase 2 of #nodebate rolling out.

It literally is 'we can't stop them so we will attend their meetings and destroy their social space'. Just like in the guidance that Jess Bradley has indicated in the T*RF talks recently held.

I hope that they also realise that this is male patterned behaviour.