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Original poster

Exasperated and worried.

62 replies

FloralTeacup · 02/09/2020 15:08

I've followed a few threads on here around gender, the trans agenda, JK Rowling, etc. It's been the only place to keep me sane!

I was truly (albeit, naively), shocked at the negative, and often violent responses to JK Rowling speaking out in June. I honestly didn't realise that so many people believe that being gender critical is transphobic or hateful. It wasn't until I spoke to a good friend about it, mentioning that I disagreed with all the vitriol towards Rowling that I realised that people like me, and those of you on here, are actually in the minority.

I feel afraid to publicly speak up about the harmful agenda of many TRAs. The blatant misogyny, disregard for women's safety, dismissal of women's rights, and even safeguarding of children, are just a few things that deeply concern me.

What can we do to be heard? Are we allowed to express our views without being reported for hate speech?! (Meanwhile, TRAs spew all sorts of threats and hate speech, which is apparently deemed as ok).

OP posts:
IHeartSusanDey · 02/09/2020 15:59

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yourhairiswinterfire · 02/09/2020 15:59

I suppose I might feel in the minority because I’m mid-twenties, so a lot of people on my SM are in the “woke” category

I'm 27, and there's only 1 person in my friendship group that has been sucked into the whole ideology. The rest of us are completely wtf about it all.

Not everyone in our age range is a wokester, I promise.

And don't forget, social media is just a 'look at meeeeeee' opportunity for a lot of people. Full of posturing and virtue signalling for a quick pat on the back and easy likes. A cheap ego boost. Not an accurate portrayal of real life at all.

BovaryX · 02/09/2020 15:55

@FloralTeacup

Ah, I’m sorry for suggesting us being in the minority! It’s really comforting to know otherwise, and given me a bit of a boost.

I am surrounded by a lot of “woke” types on SM, so their views are skewing my overall outlook. The discussion I had with my friend turned into a bit of a disagreement, where we eventually agreed to disagree for the sake of not compromising out friendship. Hmm

The best antidote is to have a look at media sources you don't usually frequent. Maybe the Spectator, Unherd, have a look at Douglas Murray, James Lindsay. Then you will see that perhaps the views your friend is suggesting are mainstream are nothing of the sort.
Jellyeggs · 02/09/2020 15:54

My impression is the majority of people won’t say what they think and will leave it up to loud mouths to sort it out. I have five very vocal TWAW friends and one very vocal GC friend and the rest give you that look (you know that look 😳) if it’s mentioned. I don’t believe my views are in the minority, from speaking to people face to face. It’s just all a bit “don’t mention the war”.

Original poster
FloralTeacup · 02/09/2020 15:48

Ah, I’m sorry for suggesting us being in the minority! It’s really comforting to know otherwise, and given me a bit of a boost.

I am surrounded by a lot of “woke” types on SM, so their views are skewing my overall outlook. The discussion I had with my friend turned into a bit of a disagreement, where we eventually agreed to disagree for the sake of not compromising out friendship. Hmm

OP posts:
FleetsumNJetsum · 02/09/2020 15:45

I suppose I might feel in the minority because I’m mid-twenties, so a lot of people on my SM are in the “woke” category

My friends are 35 and up, so yes not uni generation. But my two mid-twenties DD are not in the "woke category", happily.

FleetsumNJetsum · 02/09/2020 15:40

It wasn't until I spoke to a good friend about it, mentioning that I disagreed with all the vitriol towards Rowling that I realised that people like me, and those of you on here, are actually in the minority.

I assure you this is not true. I have spoken to many many friends about this-- not one agrees with the trashing of JKR. One that had disagreed with me in the past about the threat to women's rights and the safeguarding of children ("why can't you just be kind?") watched what happened to JKR and now agrees with me. I hear that happened to a lot of people who would have called themselves "allies".

I was out with five friends last week. I knew the views of three of them. One of the other two brought up JKR, was definitely on her side, and he wondered how any of this can be happening in a sane world. And yes, every person there disagreed with the hate directed at JKR or any other person for stating such clearly reasonable views (not hate speech, no matter what Twitter says). We are not the minority.

BovaryX · 02/09/2020 15:34

that I realised that people like me, and those of you on here, are actually in the minority

No. We are not. The people in the minority are the fanatics who want to take a battering ram to sex segregated spaces, to deny the existence of external biological reality and enforce Newspeak dictionary revisions of words everyone understands. The Robespierre faction is in the minority. And the resistance to their totalitarian dictates is increasing every day.

Original poster
FloralTeacup · 02/09/2020 15:32

I get the impression that many people are choosing to keep out of it. That, or they don’t fully understand the issue!

It’s nice that you know people who are equally puzzled by the hate towards JK Rowling @Deliriumoftheendless. I suppose I might feel in the minority because I’m mid-twenties, so a lot of people on my SM are in the “woke” category.

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Deliriumoftheendless · 02/09/2020 15:27

I don’t think we are in minority. I spoke to a woman at work who is a huge Potter fan (I was discussing the Ickabog being free online) and she raised “all these things people are saying about her” and expressed disbelief that anyone would take against what she’d said. She then said “she’s a lovely woman.” Ive also heard parents at the school gates discussing new Potter books (I assume new editions? I’m not a Potter fan) and they seemed excited. No mention of bigotry. Plus her books are still flying off the shelves so, no I think most think it’s all a bit confusing and are keeping out of it.

I’m not sure how you spin “I know and love trans people” as transphobic but hey ho, brave new world an all that.

Original poster
FloralTeacup · 02/09/2020 15:21

@Kit19

Good points. I wish more people realised that while we don't object to a transwoman who has committed themselves to surgery and hormones, we do object to any Tom, Dick or Harry choosing to self-identify as a woman.

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Kit19 · 02/09/2020 15:17

Honestly I don’t think we’re in the minority, must people have no idea eg that the vast majority of TW retain Male genitalia or that we’re meant to accept TW are literally women and so it’s fine for them to be in female prisons for example or for them to play rugby against women

Most ppl pay scant attention and think we’re talking about a tiny handful of men who’ve undergone a long & painful process of surgery & hormones, they have no idea that self ID means somone must be accepted as a woman just because they say so

Most ppl will not have read what JKR wrote and just gone off what their friends have said or the odd news headline

It’s why sunlight is so important