Courage Calls to Courage Everywhere

Daily lurker here, inspired by and in awe of all the wonderful posters. Thank you.

Another lurker here. Totally agree with you OP. I found this place by accident and now it’s my, first coffee of the morning, go to place. I’ve learned so much from the wise, intelligent women who post here. My views have been challenged, I’ve learned about stuff that barely hits the mainstream media, I’ve started gardening and have laughed out loud on more than one occasion. At first I couldn’t make head nor tail of the Bunbury threads but have come to really enjoy them. Most of all, the posters here inspire me and have given me the words to be able to express my concerns more eloquently than previously. Thanks 💐

Lurker, occasional poster and ardent digger with my spade. I write letters and emails as well but it isn't enough I know.
That's why I am in awe of the women on here who take on the MRAs, TRAs and hand maidens.
BRAVA.

Apparently something I said wasn't allowed!?! Oh well I will carry on reading this board quietly, and speaking to people in real life.

I used to naively think that in the west the need for feminism was dying. This board really helped open my eyes. I now proudly identify as a feminist, and have a better understanding of the challenges women face locally, nationally, and globally. Thanks for the education.

Big thank you to the women here, I never used your describe myself as a feminist before but I do now. Women's and girls rights are important and cannot be pushed aside. I may not always post but I do read/listen to what is said.
I've been over to Twitter and it is people who want to silence women and don't believe there should be a space for women to discuss these kind of views.
Thank you for standing up for women, this needs to continue

I'd like to add my gratitude to all the educators on FWR. I've learnt so much and have lost quite a bit of sleep over the knowledge you've all imparted. I've donated to all the campaigns that have been brought up and finally feel that I'm doing something positive rather than pulling my hair out and sitting around feeling frightened of the way the future seemed to be heading. Thank you so much xxx

The fight for women’s rights can be exhausting and there are so many brick walls but just by talking about these issues you are making a difference.

I'm a veteran of a feminist CR group (consciousness raising group) - the idea that women talking together can be a part of the political work of feminism is very powerful.

I think MN is a huge CR group!

Lurker and occasional poster here too. Eyes firmly open and in awe of the amazing women who are leading the way. Thank you

What a lovely thread!

One day, I hope some of the anonymous stars of this debate can tell us who they are! I know some high profile women occasionally post with their own name, I'd love to know who everyone else is, though. One day!

the women on this board are kind and wonderful, I didn't post for many years, but read and considered. What I have become aware of if you do post, is that is takes a lot of energy and time. So to those who regularly do that I think they are amazing. To those just coming in, all voices are welcome as MNHQ keep saying. Really the more voices there are the better. So glad you are here.

Another long time FWR lurker, occasional poster here also adding thanks to the amazing and brilliantly articulate women standing up for our rights. It must be bloody exhausting but know that the silent majority of us here really appreciate it

As for the trolls over the last few days, all I can day is that they've scored a massive own goal. From what I can see most of them seem to just throw out goady and unintelligible garbage that proves what the brave FWR posters are pointing out. They've probably converted quite a few fence sitters, but not in the way they hoped!

I feel like I will never know enough and never be articulate as everyone else (see failure thread) but I still post. I post even if I am ignorant of issues (see incel murderer thread) but then people put me straight or guide me to research etc. I don't post often, but I post.

Another lurker popping up to say thanks.
I'm finding out how many women are fighting silently and not so silently in the background to protect our rights and keep the ones we have.
It shouldn't have to come to this. It's a shame our rights are being taken away to facilitate the rights of a minority of other's.

I am another lurker and occasional poster. So grateful for all of the wisdom and relentless bloody calm rationality from so many posters on here. I often copy and save posts for future use. The eloquence displayed here is beyond what I can usually muster.

I have been feeling a bit down about it again since yesterday. I recently met a woman who thought could well be a GC ally. Science background, very down to earth and sound. Yesterday she posted on Facebook that she is running yoga courses for 'pregnant parents'. I checked through and she definitely means pregnant women. Sigh.

I know it's been said multiple times before but when this happens it feels just like being in a scene from Invasion of the Bodysnatchers. A sinking sense of bafflement and despair that someone you like and respect is blatantly onboard with the woo.

Will try to find a gentle way to ask about it when we can meet in person again sometime. Could be that she just hasn't thought it through 🤞

Anyway what I mean to say is that having this space and all the wonderful posters on here gives me hope and strength in the knowledge that I'm not alone. I'm learning all the time and feeling more confident to express myself in real life too. Thank you.

Another frequent lurker, occasional poster here. Thank you for this and for all the reminders on this board that I'm not completely on my own and there are others out there who think like I do.

Seconded.
Some absolute legends on here.
The TRA's have so missed a trick.
By coming on so hard and destructively they have missed out on women who could have been their strongest, most effective supporters.

Imagine if trans rights didnt mean the removal of women's rights. But that's the way they've framed it. I have no idea why. We're 99% in support of "The Trans Agenda" - just leave our language and certain limited spaces alone, and tread a lot more sensitively with gender non conforming kids.

It could have been a dream team.

Hello Lurkers! It is a joy to see you.

I have found this place to be such an inspiring place, full of amazing intelligent women. I have certainly had my eyes opened by the standard of analysis and argument in here - it took me a while of lurking before I started posting :-))

Now I feel that I have a better understanding of the issues and their implications and I have been writing letters here there and everywhere - I wrote to Jacob Rees-Mogg as Leader of the House of Commons this morning :-)).

Things are definitely moving forward and I’m glad we’ve got this opportunity to discuss things together

I don't post on many of the fast-moving threads, as I'm just not quick / articulate enough. I do "borrow" a lot of phrases, perfectly reasoned rebuttals etc.. for use outside of MN, tho. Thanks to those who say what I think without having ever met me!

I'd like to thank some of the trolls though!

They shine a powerful light on women's rights. They don't mean to but they vitalise each and every one of us to refuse to be silent, to be patient, to not let them spread their disinformation and utter tripe without being challenged on it!

Without them some of the most energetic, fact filled posts just wouldn't exist.

Mind you without htem those posts wouldn't have to exist!

So maybe I don't want to thank them after all!

Read you all elsewhere sometime soon

Yes thank you to all 💐
My DH has listened to me talk about this for a few years, but it's actually the trolling being reported on twitter that really made him see that there are those who hate women discussing things together.