To really want to say something to these abortion protestors?

[Crocodileclip]

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?

Report away - there's nothing there that's 'vile'. The one thing you are focusing on is a question that I asked one pp. Shall I report the posts accusing protestors of being abusers of the elderly and perpetrators of domestic violence, calling people cunts etc...

RE not empathising - I explained why I couldn't empathise and I offered sympathy when it was made clear that the person posting was sad about their situation. Prior to that, I thought sympathy would be misplaced given the tone of their post. (Kind of like offering congratulations to someone with an unwanted pregnancy)

Do you always demand empathy from people regardless of their circumstances? If I was a victim of a violent sexual assault would you insist that I should still be able to empathise with people who enjoy BDSM or something? I think you might be lacking a bit of empathy yourself. I doubt that you'll see that though.

Thanks for posting amother - I think it's good for some people on this thread to see that not everyone thinks like them.

There were some people outside the department of health last week, with a big poster of a prem baby in special care and another of one not alive (to represent a late abortion.

Really upsetting.

bumbley that's because most of it is offensive. Oh and this dr didn't sign off on my termination. 2 drs at the hospital did, so don't jump to conclusions. The whole practice are aware of happened too.

He knows it happened because I ticked the box thatvallowed the hospital to inform my dr.

only truce it is

blumbley, the reason he is against it is religion. Which has been discussed here. Her problem goes deeper than her husband, to be honest. He is following his beliefs, which are very much ingrained in him. Those who ingrained those beliefs are also at fault.

I'm not sure why it would ranked as a bigger deal above abortion - but maybe that's just me!

It's a bigger deal because it is one thing not wanting anymore children, or terminating an unwanted pregnancy, but it is a whole other thing completely, knowing that you can't & won't ever have any more.

One of the procedures, you are making a choice for what suits you/your family at that point in your lives.

The other, you are completely changing one of your body's fundamental functions.

it would not have occurred to me that lots of women in the UK want to get sterilised just because they don't want more kids.

it is conceivable that for some people making the decision to terminate a pregnancy would be harder than making the decision to be sterilised As somebody who has had both (termination was surgical), I can't rate them in a 'decision easier to make' scenario because for me, no more pregnancies was a given, so it wasn't a choice to have a termination.

I will tell you that I felt immense relief after my termination, so much so that I cried because it was all over.

Before my sterilisation I cried because it all seemed so final & unknown. My recovery (mentally) was easier after termination too.

If I was a victim of a violent sexual assault would you insist that I should still be able to empathise with people who enjoy BDSM

People who are in that lifestyle are not violently sexual assaulted. They do so because they like it, they love the sexual gratification. It's between two consensual.

There is nothing consent on any sexual assult

Offering congratulations for an unwanted pregnancy would be crass and insensitive- offering sympathy to someone who has miscarried even if that pregnancy wasnt wanted is kind, caring and recognises that even if the pregnancy was not wanted that woman has still suffered a loss. How you can even compare the two just shows how utterly lacking in compassion, common sense and decency you are Bumbley.

Different, why are you trying to twist an abusive husband into an argument for abortion? Not being allowed to have an abirtion is the least of her worries by the sounds of it.

Different, in your opinion it's a bigger deal. The people i know who decided that their family was complete were happy to make the decision to sterilise. Your opinion that abortion was less of a big deal than sterilisation does not mean that everyone feels the same way. Amothersplace posted just slightly up thread saying that she would have found abortion would have been a bigger deal to her. Remember, not everyone thinks/feels the same as you.

Had, I didn't say they were. I asked if another would demand that someone who has been violently sexually assaulted should be able to empathise with someone who enjoys BDSM. She has shown herself to be a complete hypocrite - criticising me for not empathising with someone while showing no empathy herself.

Nobody, that's your opinion. When grey clarified that she was upset by the miscarriage I did sympathise (more selective reading). It seemed misplaced originally given the tone of her post.

If I was a victim of a violent sexual assault would you insist that I should still be able to empathise with people who enjoy BDSM or something?

BDSM isn't the same as sexual assault, so you cannot compare the two at all! People who practice BDSM do not want or need your empathy.

I didn't say they need your empathy.

So him following his religion makes him abusive? refusing her a termination because of religion makes him abusive.

You solved the argument on the religious aspect.

Those protesting & wanting to deny women access to terminations are abusive, if doing so in the name of religion. Which more protester do.

Argh, cocked up the last sentence.

Which most protesters are doing, in the name of their religion.

Those protesters are not much better than the Westbro Baptist Church nutters. Hideous, hateful people.

I support a woman's right to choose, right to term. Supporting that right doesn't necessarily mean I agree with it, or that I'd ever do it.

Counter protest? A lone voice can be stronger than the biggest crowd.

If I saw one person standing there I'd stand with them for a bit.

You can think it's a bad example if you like - I don't think much of your 'abusive religious husband' as an argument against religion / for abortion - it doesn't make sense given that she is being denied much more than abortion!

My point is that another was being a hypocrite.

Different, are you arguing against religion now? You do know that some secularists are against abortion too don't you?

Comparing them the Westboro baptist church now?

bumbley do you believe women should be allowed any autonomy over their bodies when pregnant?

You really are tying yourself in knots! I didn't say anything about giving them MY empathy. You asked if you should be able to emphasise with people who partake BDSM if you were the victim of sexual assault.

I said they didn't need YOUR empathy! They don't need you to be able to empathise with them.

If you think they do, you know noting of the practice of BDSM.

Of course I do. Just picking up on you saying he is abusive because he doesn't believe in termination due to his religion.

Oh yes. Absolutely.

I'm not Catholic, so I can't say for definite, but I thought the Pope wasn't all that fond of contraception.

On that basis, I'm surprised to see sterilisation being suggested by bumbleymummy as a preventative measure to avoid the need for abortion.

Am I missing something?

Twofingers - um, yes.

Different, no knots, you just missed the point - I didn't say they need yours/ mine/ anyone's empathy. In fact, does anyone need empathy?

" Just picking up on you saying he is abusive because he doesn't believe in termination due to his religion."

Where did I say that? I said he was abusive full stop - nothing about termination or religion.

Bragmatic, I guess you're entitled to your opinion. If you think people protesting outside abortion clinics about abortion are the same as people holding anti-homosexual protests outside military funerals then so be it.

Japanese, no he's not. What makes you think that the pope's views have anything to do with me? It's not only Catholics who object to abortion.