Courage Calls to Courage Everywhere

I too rarely post as I know I am not articulate enough to make much sense, but yesterday I vaguely remembered something - posted a bit of it and Datun (Datun! Fangirl moment!) made a sensible point out of what I said. So worth trying when I can. And thank you to all the wise women who respond to newbies, questions and other posters with patience and wisdom. I'll keep on gardening...

Personally if it wasn’t for the feminism section I wouldn’t really use MN that much. I hardly post on this section because I’m not really as well read, eloquent, or able to avoid all the language pitfalls. So I don’t feel able to contribute in the fight.

The regular posters in feminism section are doing a real public service to women like me. My thanks to every one of you who do battle on a daily basis for women like me, and our daughters.

Just wanted to say thank you to all you wise, wonderful women.

This is a lovely thread, a tall glass of iced water on a hot day. It is lovely to see so many new names. For those of you who don’t feel articulate enough to join the fray I’d say that even quoting a post and saying “I agree with this” can boost the morale of our most tenacious shield maidens and it shows the tourists and lurkers that these are not niche views, they have broader support. Our critics like to say FWR is six angry women and their socks*. Lending your voices makes it harder to argue that line. Please don’t be shy. Your voices are important too.

I would also like to acknowledge our fallen, brave women who were banned from MN for speaking truth to power baldly.

• Sock = sock puppet = user swapping nicknames within a thread to support their own point.

I won't pretend to know a lot about feminism or women's rights, but I do know what a woman is

Same here vimto. I always feel that MN FWR posters have given me a political education and ways to articulate what I have been feeling and I am endlessly grateful to all the awesome posters on here. I was a lurker for ages before I dared post but then I felt like, why can’t I talk about this? It’s important and life’s too short not to. There isn’t any ‘proper’ way or only one way to think about life as a woman. I’ve found it emotionally helpful to post here as this dogma has affected some different parts of my life.

It’s just the latest face of sexism which loads (all?) of us women have been affected by all our lives and we continue to experience in different ways everyfuckingday. It’s just that this current flavour of sexism also actively wants to take away the language and concepts that everyone will needs to use if they are going to be anti-sexist in any practical meaningful way. So that’s a hard no. We all need to have boundaries.

I also want to say a massive thank you to the posters who are no longer allowed to be on here, I hope you lurk here still, knowing that we couldn’t be where we are without you and that we will carry on your marvellous work. You are missed.

This.
I've been a lurker here for many years. I used to post on other GC boards and blogs. I took a hiatus for school and mental health reasons but came back to try to hook up a friend of mine who needs more information on dealing with a DGD. I soon discovered all the old places were either censored gone or inactive and google would not even show results for certain queries, all I got was links to the woke stuff. I got into this craziness in the first place because I am someone who follows free speech issues and got drift of a certain canadian sex pest that was less mentionable than Voldemort at one time. There are people still banned from the internet over that and it is infuriating.

I'm glad mumsnet is still standing. Some of the names have changed but you are still all as smart and amazing as ever.

Thanks.

Just adding my agreement. I’m also mainly a lurker, as I’m sadly lacking the incredible fortitude of so many here. But the courage and eloquence of the regular posters here and those fighting so prominently elsewhere is so inspiring. And less dramatically you are all fabulous (virtual) company and frequently make me laugh out loud. So thank you!!

MN particularly the FWR & relationships board has taken the scales away from my eyes on so many things, it's also made me more articulate, assertive and supportive of other women. My Daughter's will benefit forum the wisdom of you all.

Because you quoted Fawcett I thought you might appreciate this "However benevolent men may be in their intentions, they cannot know what women want and what suits the necessities of women's lives as well as women know these things themselves."

Thank you from an appreciative but tongue-tied lurker. I have though managed to awake my brother, daughter, best mate and 90year old mother to what is happening and they are all now busy gardening - so thank you again

I also want to say a massive thank you to the posters who are no longer allowed to be on here, I hope you lurk here still, knowing that we couldn’t be where we are without you and that we will carry on your marvellous work. You are missed.

This. I can't remember all of the names but I remember you and the way you reasoned and fought for the rights of women and children. I'm mainly a lurker. I got confident once, posted, got deleted and a warning email. I understand why but I stand by what I said. Now I'm back in the shadows. But I'm still here and I'm still reading. Solidarity.

Been on MN for many many years but don’t post much these days, just read and nod my head in agreement with the wise women of FWR. Hats off to you all, you’re doing a brilliant job.
Also, while Twitter is generally a cesspit, there are some awesome posters over there too like Jane Clare Jones. Wise and fierce and worth following.

@Toomie

Invasion of the Body Snatchers was a cold war parable about the McCarthy era witchhunts.

So yeah, it's a very pertinent comparison.

After today's invasion this thread is fabulous. Lovely to see so many lurkers

Well said 💐

Keep going all of us. We can do this 💪💪💪

Agreed Op. I mostly lurk but have learnt so much on these pages.

I am in awe of the regular posters, their knowledge and eloquence. Thank you all

I ditched Twitter and this was my constant-scroll-phone-addiction replacement and I'm so glad. I'm interested in comms and media so comment on (and occasionally start) threads usually pertaining to that, but generally lurk and listen.

I came to Mumsnet because eventually it became apparent many smug, young, media types would happily see the whole thing shut down, and do women, mums, parents, or anyone in need, out of a really valuable community of advice and support in the process. That's not fair.

And I've seen through the threads of the last few days, that the kind of talk we've been conditioned to fear being labelled 'hateful' is simply women, speaking plainly. Saying no. Asking for evidence, proof, scrutiny, and giving short shrift to those who don't provide it. It's not hateful, and this isn't the way things should be.

So another big thanks to everyone on FWR.

Echoes of my thoughts in all these posts.

I also want to say a massive thank you to the posters who are no longer allowed to be on here, I hope you lurk here still, knowing that we couldn’t be where we are without you and that we will carry on your marvellous work. You are missed.

That’s lovely. I feel the same.

Also occasional poster, but mainly lurker.
I’m grateful to MN, even though I’m not a parent (but I am a carer of two adult disabled family members) and I can’t use Twitter atm cos I’m appealing a restriction so my account is temp suspended.

Another frequent lurker here, nice to be able to pop my head up and say hello!

I am in no way eloquent enough to add to posts here but having 2 woke teen dd's, this board is an invaluable place for me to come and help anchor and clarify my thoughts for discussions with them.

🙋 I'm another occasional poster but mainly a lurker. I'm generally too awed by the knowledge and eloquence of posters to feel I have anything of substance to add.
Occasionally I stay away from the FWR board because it all just feels so much, but then I come back and it feels like home and I remind myself of the strong women fighting every day for women's rights and refusing to back down

Occasionally post, mostly lurk.
Finding this board (many years ago now) was an eye opener. Always a feminist, but children and full time working had pushed it to the back burner, my feminism has been reignited.

I also want to say a massive thank you to the posters who are no longer allowed to be on here, I hope you lurk here still, knowing that we couldn’t be where we are without you and that we will carry on your marvellous work. You are missed.

May every garden be dug, every lurker be welcomed, every success be celebrated.

[quote Foxxinsoxx]@OvaHere I remember someone saying it was like the bit in Lord of the Rings when they light the beacons and all the little lights in the darkness link together - sometimes it's nice to be reminded that there are so many of us quietly reading, researching, speaking to other people, writing letters, and hopefully helping to turn the tide. [/quote]
Oh yes absolutely. Maybe I'll have a LOTR binge over the weekend. Not watched those films in years.