To think men have no right to stand outside abortion clinics and do this.

[QuestioningStuff]

Posted before about my pregnancy. I am having a termination today. This is not a decision I've made lightly.

I've arrived at the clinic and there is a middle aged man and his young teen son standing outside with camp chairs and flasks. Putting up awful pictures and signs. Trying to hand out leaflets.

I think women who do this are also scum but how on earth could a man think he has any right to do this? Turn up at a place where women are at their most scared and vulnerable and try to bully them?

It's really really upset me. I hate them so much right now.

I want to go and tell them exactly what I think of them but don't think that would be helpful at this time.

"That isn't what you are doing pirate, we both know that.

Your agenda isn't welcome on this thread."

You know nothing about my agenda, presumptuous random, and what is telling me I mustn't post? Did you not read my suggestion we do elsewhere, or are you trying to goad me into a response by being a bit rude?

In any case, as I already suggested, if we are going to have the ethical debate and call people scum (which reasonably demands a response), let's do it in another thread.

Handsoff - respect you asking the question, happy to discuss it in another thread, so the OP can ignore it.

op if you're reading this still.

Are you alone? I'm sure the clinic can arrange for an escort to accompany you as you leave. I know the damage of these fuckwits has already been done but an escort will be supportive presence to shield you on your way out.

Wishing you the best . Take care of yourself.

Your agenda is perfectly clear, TBF, Pirate.

Well we live in a free society and you have the legal right to do what you are doing. The other side of that coin is other people have a right to have an opinion on abortion and as long as they are behaving legally, not trying to prevent you going into the clinic or shouting abuse at you then they have a right to protest. I know it must be hard but if we start to take away rights where would it end?

LikePirate - I find it very hypocritical that you suggested not debating on this thread, and then proceeded to do exactly that. If you wish to debate then take your own advice and start a new thread. Leave the OP's alone. OP - I'm so sorry for your situation.

Where would it end?

Well, outside parliament for starters, where it fucking well should be in the first place.

I have been the woman who had to go to the clinic on her own and terrified. Fortunately there were none of these vile humans outside. I was already in bits about the situation I found myself in, and the fact I had nobody to support me. If I'd have had to sit in that place hours on end knowing these bastards were going to be outside with their appalling images and banners it would have sent me absolutely over the edge.

Yes, they might have a legal right to peacefully protest, but for me anyone who does this is the scum of the earth.

Thinking of you Questioning

You have a right to feel they are vile but if they aren't being abusive or physically interfering with people they do have rights. We can't be selective about this, we can't say oh yes we believe in free speech except when we don't like what you are saying.

Sending you OP. Be kind to yourself over the next few days/weeks.

We can be selective, and we are, in fact. There is not absolute free speech in the UK and for very good reason. Sometimes other rights are more important, and I would suggest that the right for a woman to attend an abortion clinic without fear of harassment is more important than the right of anyone to, well, harass them.

It is already illegal to protest in a variety of places. Anybody with an ounce of compassion could see that outside an abortion clinic is not an appropriAte place to hold an anti abortion demonstration.

But compassion is a virtue lacking in every forced-birther I have ever encountered.

Personally I wish someone would give those gate side anti abortion protestors a piece of their mind right in their face. The lives of these women going in are NOT their business and their circumstances are not known to them, so f... Off.
OP, I would be shaking with fury if I were you, or accompanying my DD or a friend etc.
Of course they have the right to oppose abortion, BUT is this honestly even slightly effective? Is it anything more than intimidatory, upsetting, even intrusive? What the hell business is it of theirs to sit there with placards.

Yes, to an exclusion zone from me, and if you want to be effective about running an anti abortion campaign, challenge the concept of abortion rather than the individual. Take your fight to MPs, European Court, meet with people with power, people who run Rape Crisis centres, GPs, hospitals etc - people who will lock horns and argue back with you....But these people don't do that do they? Instead they set up a nice cosy little protest PREYING on vulnerable girls/women who are not exactly able to hit back.

These protestors make me SOOOO angry (in case anyone was left in any doubt!)

the right for a woman to attend an abortion clinic without fear of harassment is more important than the right of anyone to, well, harass them.

Quite.

I really think that no male has any right to a view about abortion. Hard to see how anyone could have an informed view without having experienced pregnancy imo.

In Belfast the Marie Stopes clinic is in the same building as alot of other offices. I was visiting a recruitment agency and was acosted outside - they demanded to know was I visiting the clinic - I pointed out that it was none of their business! but that actually no I was visiting another business in the same building. I found them - standing there with placards and wearing Go Pro camera's very intimidating and I wasn't even there to visit the clinic. My heart goes out to anyone who finds themselves in the situation where they feel they need a termination.

It would be fun to march up to one of them with adoption papers and demand they adopt my (totally made up) baby. And film what they say.

Assholes.

Good point Aussiemum78. I can't even call these protester "pro-life" as they don't give a shit about the life of the woman in question or what would happen if she did go through with the pregnancy. They're pro-birth and that's about it as their interest in the potential life ends there.

What KidLorne said: If the protesters wanted to actually try to change the law, they should protest outside parliament, lobby their MP's etc.

And However: outside parliament for starters, where it fucking well should be in the first place.

I'm all for free speech, but they don't change they want to bully women.

They are hideous cunts, total scum I agree.

Take care of yourself today xxx