Nick Cohen on TRA bullies in The Spectator

It is shocking. These organisations are supposed to support writers.

Melroses, I heard this item too and from the beginning. Jenny was allowed to explain what had happened in her own words. It could have done with a longer slot, in my opinion, but was interrupted by the 3pm news. However, Jenny came over well. Mariella asked her about support and she explained how organisations such as PEN which purport to support writers and free speech have done nothing to back her up - the opposite in fact. I find this one of the most shocking things of all.

Jenny Linday was just on Times Radio with Mariella Frostrup.

I didn't get to hear all of it because I was in the middle of something, but it was refreshing to hear a proper discussion on this, just like you would with anything else.

Thanks Mariella x

I don't know him and it could be true of course. The bullshit bit is throwing out a random claim on Twitter that he can't even respond to but hundreds of people will automatically believe (or pretend to believe because that suits their purposes.) I guess I see it as a baseless accusation because of the context, but you're right that it could be true. I tend to be sceptical of what TRAs say in response to articles about this topic.

I'm pretty sure I live in one of the wokest places on earth, and people here are brimming with zeal and fervour for the authorities to stamp down on thoughtcrime. I feel like they really, really mean it.

You certainly notice this zeal in wider politics with the worship of the Nicola Sturgeon by SNP supporters - no logic is required and no critical thinking allowed.

The writer for The Skinny she was objecting to was "Cathy Brennan" , who went on to attempt to assault Julie Bindel.

Is that the transwoman who's taken the name "Cathy Brennan" as a deliberate bait aimed at Cathy Brennan, a prominent US lesbian-feminist activist?

irvine welch has hinted that he is gc or at least pro free speech a couple of times i think.

I think they're all looking at JK and thinking they don't want to be in her shoes (for once). I will say, though, that I'm pretty sure I live in one of the wokest places on earth, and people here are brimming with zeal and fervour for the authorities to stamp down on thoughtcrime. I feel like they really, really mean it.

That's awful queen of knives. I am a writer in Scotland - unpublished but agented - and I wouldn't shun you. I take heart from seeing other writers starting to take tentative gender critical steps, such as following GC people on Twitter, the odd like here and there. But I wish some more big names up here would speak up - surely they haven't all fallen for it?

That should have been a question mark.

What about Irvine Welsh? Hasn’t he said anything!

I don't think a single Scottish writer has spoken out.
I have. But no one knows who I am! I signed the letter in support of JKR.

But you're right. It's dire here. Other writers shun me.

Gillian Philip tweeted in support of JK Rowling, and was promptly dropped by her publisher. She spoke about it at Speakers' Corner in Edinburgh:

Archive of the Spectator article where it can be read in full is here: archive.vn/c2jhN

And, just for completeness, the before and after versions of the Skinny article where Brennan's comments about violence were amended:

The Nick Cohen article is illuminating. It's noticeable how few on the Scottish arts scene have spoken up for JK Rowling. Not even on a qualified "I don't agree with her, but she's got the right to speak and the attacks on her are awful" basis.

Can't think of anyone other than Robbie Coltrane. I don't think a single Scottish writer has spoken out.

I'm sorry but I think that's bullshit. She's accusing someone of sexual assault but where's the evidence? Did she go to the police? Was there any witness? I don't think you can casually just go about accusing men of being sex criminals just because you happen to disagree with them.

Much of the skeptic community is wholeheartedly TWAW. It's weird. As others have said, it's like they rejected one religion only to take up another.

It is so bizarre. Surely the first rule of being a skeptic is that you have to be, well, sceptical? How can you believe in something like a woman being born in a man's body, which is right up there with water-into-wine, rising from the dead and transubstantiation as a nonsensical idea?

Much of the skeptic community is wholeheartedly TWAW. It's weird. As others have said, it's like they rejected one religion only to take up another.

I think I need more evidence than "he once grabbed my bum and ran away" tbh.

The tweet is from Rebecca Watson, who's quite big in the atheist and skeptic communities, and who was famously attacked (verbally) by Richard Dawkins when she complained about a guy inviting her to his hotel room. (More complicated than that but you can google the story.)

Disappointingly, Rebecca, who knows first-hand what misogyny is like, is full on TWAW. Go figure.

The tweet is potentially libellous, as is linking to it.

[quote Kit19]Just for clarity linking to tweet making allegations about NC

twitter.com/rebeccawatson/status/365618638578909184?s=21[/quote]
Hmmmn. It's not much to go on is it? I note that the person she's replying to has had their account suspended, so I've no idea what they said.

Bloody hell. I had no idea this was going on, although I do know of some of the Edinburgh poetry crowd and they are unbelievably awful. Good for Jenny Lindsay for standing up for women, and another great article by Nick Cohen, too.

On googling her I came across a collection of poems Jenny Lyndsay wrote: "This Script"

I just ordered it. Due to arrive Friday - I'll let you know how I get on.

Just for clarity linking to tweet making allegations about NC

twitter.com/rebeccawatson/status/365618638578909184?s=21

www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-hounding-of-a-scottish-poet-by-trans-activists

This should be ok