To leave MumsNet because it's becoming RadFeministNet?

[SigmundaFraudina]

Had enough of their agenda being forced down my throat whether I want it or not. Major recruitment drive going on lately, and serious opression of other posters views. Just gets worse and worse. This was not what I believed MN was supposed to be about.

I'm off.

I'm not arguing about anything clothes, nor do I think its a big deal.

Why do you think I am arguing?

I don't think that follows at all catgirl. It's quite possible to have an intelligent or otherwise conversation with a person about a subject, whatever views they might happen to have of someone else. It's about sticking to the topic and not making it personal. Unlike this thread for example, which in large part is about bashing rad fems on Mumsnet.

What differing views within feminism are you thinking of in particular? You keep talking about them but seem a little coy about naming them.

I have no idea why you are arguing! Probably a question for a therapist of a priest, not a random stranger on the internet.

Nyac.

Yet again you are not making any sense. I do not keep talking about differing views within feminism. I have said in one or two posts that it is a broad church.

Do you disagree with that? You yourself have made reference to radical feminism, liberal feminism etc so I am not sure why you are trying to make an issue here?

I dont think there has been much bashing on this thread, certainly not from me but you do seem to be implying that I have. I really do wish you would stop doing that.

I'd really like to see an example of the horrible bullying that people claims happens all the time in the feminist section. Cos people keep referring to it, but we're a bit short on examples.

Also, if it's as under-used and irrelevant as some people say, why get so aerated about it?

Nyac is making sense to me. I don't see what's so hard to follow about what she's saying.

Clothes, from your tone I can only assume you have not read my posts.

Perhaps Nyacs unfounded suggestions that I had been critical of radical feminisms has stuck or something. I really don't know why you would think I am arguing anything.

Oh flippinada there you go again, asking people to actually point to specific examples...

the only specifics that have been provided in this thread, was the one where someone said women were pathetic for being afraid of going out alone after dark and most of the regular feminists, reproved her for her victim-blaming stance.

SGB fabulous as she is, isn't a radical feminist either. So why she's being used as an example for anything about rad fems is beyond me.

I don't understand what point you're making either catgirl

I was busy earlier nyac so didn't have time to post but the idea of sgb identifying herself as a radfem made me :o

And to be clear, I don't mean that in a derogatory way at all, I think it would make her chuckle too..

See - there is an example of a woman who is a feminist but with whom I profoundly disagree with on a number of issues. I haven't seen any evidence of her feeling bullied or sidelined or any of the other wild accusations that have been flying around.

You wouldn't patti as you too seem to be under the misapphrension that I have been in some way critical of feminism, radical feminism or the FWR boards.

I haven't been. So trying to work out my argument against it will be confusing as I haven't made one

Basil - she is asking the wrong person. I haven't referred to any horrible bullying on the FWR boards.

Nyac - I don't think this thread is about bashing radical feminists on MN. Some people have raised a concern that among a minority of passionate feminists, the distinction gets elided between 'feminists' (quite a wide and diverse group) and 'radical feminists' (a subset of feminists with, I am told, quite a clear and easy to define set of beliefs). It's more in the nature of pointing out a category error than bashing as such.

Oh right. I thought that this post:

"I am saying that feminism is a broad church. If you do get a poster who belives there is only one narrow view of feminism which must be subscribed too otherwise you are not a feminist, then it is very difficult to have an intelligent discussion with that person."

was meant as a criticism of FWR. Were you just directing that at one person in particular?

No - not at the boards or at anyone in particular. Just that you can get people who are totally inflexible and will not hear anyone elses opinions and such people are difficult to have discussions with. You get them in every topic and every board - not specific to the FWR boards.

Basil I know. You'd think there would dozens of examples, what with it being so prolific and all.

Catgirl I wasn't addressing you when I was asking for examples of bullying. Why did you think I was? Several posters have referred to it upthread.

I don't know flippin - must have mis-read your post

Loving the notion that all of MN rallies round on these threads to vent their spleen at the feminists.

These threads always, always look the same - with the same old names (whatmeworry and Catgirl, I would always anticipate your names, for example) taking the opposing side, arguing back and forth for 10s and 10s of pages with the odd additional bit of help from other posters, while the rest of MN looks on a bit bemused.

It seems to me that there is actually only a rather vocal minority which has a massive problem with the alleged 'agenda' and 'bullying' on the Feminist board, and they always use these threads to argue that point.

I don't post in Feminism very often, but I do lurk. I am a liberal feminist and there are probably more radical feminists who would take strong issue with my stance on certain topics.

So what?

I am happy to analyse and argue my point where disagreement occurs - why can't others just do the same, without resorting to calling 'bully' just because someone disagrees with you? Have the courage of your own convictions - think about them, dissect them, own them and argue them.

There is so much throwing out of the baby with the bathwater when it comes to feminism - 'I disagree with random feminist X over random topic Y, therefore feminism is irrelevant to me'.

OP - if you feel that MN is becoming a Rad Fem bolt hole, and if you feel that you don't belong in such a place then no, you are not being unreasonable to want to leave. What an odd notion that that you should think you shouldn't. [/martyr-ish in the extreme]

Clearly you were looking for a bunfight.

I don't really get the big deal if someone is inflexible with their views anyway. Some people are very passionate about a lot of stuff.

DH thinks golf is great, I think it is wank but we still live happily in the same house.

Interestin post slinking

Could you tell me why you think I am taking "an opposing side"?

I would really like to know as a couple of people seem to have made this assumption, but I have no idea what it is founded on.

Maybe someone could clear this up for me?

The bullying/hectoring tone is there at times, which is why some people who identify as feminist stay away from the feminist section

Catgirl has been trying to explain all day why she feels the OP has a small point, not slagging anyone off but has some empathy with how the OP feels

She has done well, usually people who try and show how some feminist discussion can be seen to be off putting would have given up long ago. The trouble is people give up and walk away, which then makes some of the feminists think they have won the argument when in fact the other person has thrown the towel. It's a shame as it means an important section isn't used as much as it could be

During one of the other long threads on this subject someone said that feminism goes from the palest of pink to the deepest magenta and most women are on there somewhere. Pale or dark, we are all feminists and ultimately we all want the world to be better for women as a whole

I also believe that you don't suddenly wake up one morning a radfem, it's a journey. So alienating those people who are just starting the journey by hectoring isn't helpful to the cause.

Yes, I think you did Catgirl as I was not specifically asking you for examples of bullying.

If on the other had you do have any examples, please feel free to elucidate :).

Examples of bullying/hectoring please MsCellophane.

People do keep mentioning it, so actual, concrete examples would be helpful.

Perhaps give posters who have been accused of bullying an oppprtunity to explain and defend themselves? It could open up a whole new avenue for debate.

Thank you MsCellophane - although I would point out I have never at any time said the OP has any sort of point. I have no affinity for the views of the OP, nor have I expressed any empathy for how she feels

My only issue was with another poster caling her a moron and then a load of other posters telling her to fuck off which I felt was out of order. I felt that was bullying, but I did not think it was bullying from feminists, radfems, or on the FWR boards. I just stated calling another woman a moron was wrong. Which I stand by.

I am not sure why people think I share the OPs view in any way I has have never posted anything that would support that view. Nor have I criticised feminism, the FWR boards or rad fems.

But people seem fairly certain I have, so I really wish someone would tell me why that it