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AIBU?

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Original poster

To really want to say something to these abortion protestors?

999 replies

Crocodileclip · 07/03/2014 18:10

Firstly, I know I will probably never say anything as I appreciate that the protestors have the right to protest but it really pisses me off.

A small group of people have been protesting outside the Marie Stoppes clinic in Belfast since it opened in 2012. They stand outside the door on the days it is open holding anti abortion posters and trying to gather signatures for a petition. I pass them on my way to get to the station at home time and every time it annoys me. I can't imagine how offputting they would be if you were young and scared and just wanting some advice. Lots of pics of aborted foetuses etc. I find it intimidating enough myself and I am just walking past. I actually put my head down and walk quicker so that nobody asks me to sign the petition.

I'm currently pregnant with my second and am lucky never to have been in a position where abortion was an option but am of the opinion that there are situations in which it may be the best option available.

The clinic itself operates within NI law so only offers abortions up to 9 weeks and as far as I know is the only such clinic in Northern Ireland. I think I would be ok with the protestors doing their stuff elsewhere in the city centre it is the fact that it is just outside the only entrance to the clinc that makes me irrationally angry. Does this happen at other Marie Stoppes clinics elsewhere in the UK?

OP posts:
anothernumberone · 08/03/2014 23:38

Bumbley I told you to come see the protesters from youth defence who show vile posters of abortion on the busiest thoroughfare of one of the supposedly 'civilised?' countries in the world not to have abortion and you reckoned you didn't need to because you had you own vile friends just like them. These people could not care if you or I die, like Savita Hallipanavar died, just so long as we don't have an abortion. There are actually people who do not believe in abortion for any reason, life is in God's hands, and you not I likened them to your friends who are vile. You seem happy enough that there are people who can beat rape victims with placards so I guess it is unsurprising that you still view anti abortion protestors in such a positive light.

I agree that not all women who are having an abortion are vulnerable but I have had the misfortune of only meeting women who have been vulnerable, a 16 year old with no family support and a woman who was raped by a taxi driver as she went home after a night out so yes your friend's protesting unwittingly against these types of women are vile. The ones who are completely happy with their choice and are not vulnerable well I say good luck to them.

differentnameforthis · 08/03/2014 23:45

I'm just wondering why people continue to call them vulnerable. I think that's a bit patronising tbh. Do they not know their own mind? Have they not made their decision? It's within the law - why should they all be 'vulnerable'?

Do you know the definition of vulnerable

Just in case

vulnerable
?v?ln(?)r?b(?)l/
adjective
adjective: vulnerable

1.
exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.
ravenAK · 08/03/2014 23:55

I think bumbley's use of 3rd person is highly disingenuous.

MandatoryMongoose · 08/03/2014 23:59

Please correct me if I'm wrong but I thought the law in the UK (mainland) was still that abortion can only be performed for medical reasons (including the mental health of the mother) which have to be certified by 2 doctors.

I noticed a couple of references to abortion here just being a choice but that isn't strictly true. Personally I'd rather it was a valid choice to not have a baby simply because you don't want one.

somedizzywhore1804 · 08/03/2014 23:59

YANBU it's the height of heartlessness in my opinion.

Thank god NI has a clinic that can offer abortions to women who need them but shame on the compassion less bastards who protest outside.

anothernumberone · 09/03/2014 00:01

Raven I think it is very useful otherwise we might be breaking Mumsnet guidelines on personal attacks ;-).

freerangeeggs · 09/03/2014 00:19

Reminds me of this video of a father confronting activists while his wife has an abortion

NoodleOodle · 09/03/2014 00:51

Why can't people just be pro life for themselves? Why.must they try to control the beliefs and actions of others?

Don't believe in abortion? You'll never have to have one. Simple

This.

NoodleOodle · 09/03/2014 01:04

I just happen to know a few people who protest against abortion. They are not cunts,

That's your opinion, which I think is wrong; my opinion is that they are cunts. Each to their own, eh? :) In my opinion, the people you know who protest against abortion are CUNTS! I don't know anyone who would be or admit to being such a cunt in my or any of my friends' presence. The people I know and associate with wouldn't knowing associate with such cunts on a pleasant social basis.

Not only do I think abortion protesters, like the ones you know, are cunts, buts stupid cunts to boot. If I ever read a peer-reviewed journal article or similar robust research that suggests these cunt-protesters are achieving something positive for humanity I will reassess my opinion, but until then, I am happy and secure in the knowledge that anti abortion protesters, including the ones you know bumbleymummy, are stupid cunts.

manicinsomniac · 09/03/2014 01:34

I agree that people who protest outside clinics lack compassion. They know nothing about the people they see going inside that day and what they may be going through. It's awful, unchristian behaviour.

I personally am pro life. I believe that life starts at conception, that each foetus/embryo has a soul etc. But I don't believe in making that decision for other people. If free thinking adults can't choose what to do with their own bodies then society is in trouble imo. And, as another poster said, there are worse things than never being born.

HOWEVER,
I do think that some pro choicers can be as hurtful as pro lifers in their views. All these comments of 'these people expect women to carry their rapist's child' etc are very cruel and unthinking. I have a 6 year old little girl who was conceived as a result of rape. She is beautiful, perfect (to me!) and very much loved. The vast majority of my friends and family encouraged me to abort her and worried about me when I wouldn't contemplate it. It's horrendous for me to know that there are so many people out there who think my daughter should never have been born. I know someone else who has encountered the same problems concerning her severely disabled son. The woman knew her son would be born with the condition he has. She made the informed decision that she wanted her son and it's awful that people think he shouldn't have been give a chance at life either.

Yes, Pro Life can be termed Anti Choice in its more extreme forms. But, equally, Pro Choice in its more extreme forms seems to fit the term Anti Life.

ravenAK · 09/03/2014 01:38

I would agree, NoodleOne, that the protestors who behave in this way are cunts, & I think that it would be pretty cuntish to post as an apologist for them.

aurynne · 09/03/2014 05:29

I think they have all the right to be there, as long as they are happy to have a bunch of strangers holding huge posters portraying the corpses of women who died after having back-street abortions at their house's door every day of the year. I would be happy to volunteer.

pommedeterre · 09/03/2014 07:28

I think manic that the rape example is bandied around bizarrely. The majority of women having abortions are already mothers iirc.

If you are really pro choice then the reasons why don't matter. If a pro choicer is talking about reasons, situations or rape then they are not really pro choice.

bumbleymummy · 09/03/2014 07:39

Moomin, I don't think it's legal for you to stand outside their house. Why would you photoshop images of their children to look dead? I'm struggling to understand what you would actually be protesting by doing that.

Mad, you are entitled to think that they are doing it to control women or make them suffer because they are 'slutty'. Can you consider the possibility that they may actually be doing it because they don't agree with the destruction of the foetus/the ending of a life.

HadABadDay, again, they consider that there are two bodies involved.

bumbleymummy · 09/03/2014 08:02

different, there are plenty of people on MN who discuss their abortions/having an abortion/advise other people to have an abortion and say 'it's just a bundle of cells'. You can call it a parasite if you like but that is not biologically accurate.

another, I don't know who the youth defense are. I know people from different churches who protest against abortion and they are not 'beating rape victims with placards'.

raven, we're talking about protestors and I've already said that I'm not a protestor so the third person is the only way I can refer to them. HTH

That's fine noodle. You can feel that way if you like. I prefer to make informed judgements about people rather than just sweeping generalisations but each to their own.

That's a really good post maniac insomniac. I hope it gives some people on this thread a bit of food for thought.

aurynne, you may also be confusing the idea that the protestors are just protesting against the abortion clinic. They are protesting against abortions in general - including back street ones.

For whoever it was that asked earlier, yes, there are atheists who disagree with abortion.

differentnameforthis · 09/03/2014 08:04

HadABadDay, again, they consider that there are two bodies involved.

When?
When they are shouting obscenities at women seeking terminations? When they fail to understand that the woman is more important than what is growing inside her?
When they tell she will rot in hell for what she is doing.

They consider 2 bodies.....my arse!!!

differentnameforthis · 09/03/2014 08:07

I haven't heard it called that from anyone I personally know, is what I meant.

what is a parasite
A parasite lives in a close relationship with another organism, its host, and causes it harm. The parasite is dependent on its host for its life functions

Tell me again it wasn't a parasite. You would be wrong.

bumbleymummy · 09/03/2014 08:17

different, my point was to HadABadDay who asked why they think they have the right to tell a woman what to do with her body - they consider that the foetus has a body and that she is deciding what to do with its body.(ie another human's body)

bumbleymummy · 09/03/2014 08:17

A parasite is a different species to the host different.

SauceForTheGander · 09/03/2014 08:24

it's within the law, why should they be vulnerable

For many reasons Bumbley. Reasons they shouldn't have to share with judgemental protesters who don't give a flying fuck about anyone but their own feelings on this issue. You're right about one thing - it's within the law so they shouldn't have to put up with these attacks. But it comes as no surprise to me that anti abortionist protesters consider themselves and their agenda superior to the law.

bumbleymummy · 09/03/2014 08:25

It's within the law for them to protest Sauce.

ifyourehoppyandyouknowit · 09/03/2014 08:27

And its within the law for me to call them ignorant, judgemental cunts.

bumbleymummy · 09/03/2014 08:29

Indeed HopAlong.

ifyourehoppyandyouknowit · 09/03/2014 08:33

And this morning wholew devils advocate thing is tiresome. Since you aren't a protester, how exactly do you claim to know what they all think? Just cut the crap.

differentnameforthis · 09/03/2014 08:36

Say what you like, in my head it was just that. Your opinion of what it was isn't my concern.