Thinking about the troll threads

Definitely. There was a particularly weird post about underwear on last night's 'ask questions' nixed thread where I grimaced and thought 'urgh, 100%, that poster is definitely typing that with one hand'.

This. The midnight misogynist has a brand new bag.

Much of it now is merely poking women with the same tired old stupid provocations to watch them dance. Which is why it's so pointless; it's not discussion it's entertainment and keeping kleenex in business.

I second that - absolutely not boring. I really admire your persistence, and have learned a huge amount from you, which I try to pass on when appropriate & relevant.

Not boring. Your contributions are invaluable and the reason your posts are studiously ignored by TRA's is because they are so difficult to refute.

It's mainly a sortie from Reddit (one poster is notorious for this) to 'own' the terfs and gather out of context screenshots. It's always screenshots, never a link to a thread for obvious reasons. It's deeply tedious, particularly the 'ask questions' (but only the first 10) thread last night which was clearly populated by said poster and his pals on a day trip from the actual echo chamber.

It's a chance for men to scold women. It's misogyny distilled.

I think the main thing they’re looking for is our attention, which is why I very rarely respond.

I believe a few are to gain knowledge about single sex spaces arguments in order to counteract the arguments with employers etc.

For my part I always try to be as factual as possible and provide justifications and references.

If the Good Law Project researchers are on here, I know a lot about toilets but single sex ones with door gaps are better for everyone health and safety wise. Always willing to explain why.

Bit annoying I don’t get paid though - just do it as I know it will help to raise awareness for medically vulnerable people, women and children.

It’s also annoying when I try and debate that they ignore me :( and my arguments.

It also must be very boring for everyone else to hear me repeat everything. I bore myself going over the same ground. Health and safety isn’t that exciting but it’s a necessity.

Interesting questions OP and I agree there was an element of trying to generate proof of concept in that thread and others like it. Although I think the concept is "mumsnet is full of hateful bigots who are transphobic". Eta - which theoretically discredits any activism that emerges or is discussed here.

As @terryleather says there's also an element of posters getting supply from the threads, either to prove their superiority (intellect/compassion) or victimhood.

I have to admit I find them really irritating, so I suppose they do fulfill that purpose! But I also like how some posters will take the time to patiently explain or counter the arguments, not for the initiator of the thread but for anyone reading it who might be new to the discussion points.

Also allows comments to be taken out of context and reposted elsewhere. "Go away, we don't want to talk about that" meaning "don't detail this thread" can be taken as GC are no debate.

Never forget that the TRAs employ DARVO at any opportunity. Anything they do and say is often reflected back as GC behaviour.

Reviving old threads also prevents conversations continuing with new people, as often we don't click beyond the first page, assuming those are all older threads.

I agree, all disagreement is repackaged as hate.

I know. It’s all they’ve got. A comedian years ago used to do a very funny routine as an English tourist abroad, not speaking the local language, painstakingly repeating everything v e r y s l o o w l y when people couldn’t understand English. Then trying TALKING LOUDER. And T A L K I N G L O U D L Y A N D S L O O O O W L Y .

Transactivists remind me of that, though they’re not funny and usually get nasty pretty fast. They’ll never get through, because there’s nothing wrong with the listeners. It’s their talk that doesn’t make sense except to people like themselves.

Some of it is about entering a space that is used mostly be women and getting a reaction/ supply from those interactions - any reaction is welcomed, good or bad.

For some the more negative the reaction, the greater the pleasure...