AIBU to be extremely proud of Justine Roberts & Mumsnet right now?

[EmpressOfJurisfiction]

Open access link. www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mumsnet-founder-justine-roberts-transgender-activists-try-to-curb-free-speech-on-site-z3sr3nf6q?shareToken=ade388be59ac427155003eff83c5158c

“Transgender activists have contacted Mumsnet advertisers and said they will be organising a boycott of their products if they don’t remove their advertising from Mumsnet,” Roberts said.

“A significant minority of our users feel very strongly about women’s rights and very uneasy [about the proposals]. This is an issue that needs to be discussed and that’s why we’re prepared to take any potential advertising hit.”

I’ve just worked out how to turn my adblocker off and done so.

Oh..... and might actually subscribe to times online now. Well done Times!

I won't be happy to support any advertiser that pulls out because we want a discussion with my custom.
That makes 2 of us.

Thank you, Justine!

Thank you Justine.

Thank you.

That's great, thanks Justine!

I agree significant minority was a poorly chosen phrase but maybe that's nitpicky.

“The FWR board is not hidden or muted. It is simply that topics from that folder do not appear in the Active list.”

Isn’t that a definition of “hidden or muted”?

Actually I don't see that Justine could have made a different decision.

It's a divisive issue, but a nuanced one. And freedom of speech is so important - and I would expect her to recognise that.

And it's hardly on the same level as the Stop Funding Hate campaign, which I supported.

BRILLIANT. Thank you MN. This matters.

Isn’t that a definition of “hidden or muted”?

No.

Just realised that i only have to register with my email to read all Times online content, no payment required, which I wasn't aware of before. Either way, I shall take Times Online as my go to News source replacing the BBC for now.

Well done Justine

I'll be boycotting any advertiser that pulls out of MN due to TRA threats

I think it's more important that I applaud the sentiment and the direction of travel.

I agree. Thank you, Justine.

And OP - YANBU!

I'll let any pro-woman advertiser know that I have also turned off my ad blockers so I know who they are.

@justinemumsnet

Thank you

This is good to hear. Any attempts to stifle free speech should always be resisted. Thank you Justine!

Only read first page. Off to turn off my ad blocker

Thank you @justinemumsnet

Free speech is so important, and so valued

Thank you @justinemumsnet

Free speech is so important, and so valued

And people rushing to start reading the Times as a news source on the strength of one article - not even an opinion piece - neutrally reporting a piece of news - really don't understand how journalism works.

Thank you Justine - and MNHQ generally, as it would be showing wilful ignorance to think that the threats that have been aimed at anywhere allowing women to discuss this topic will just vanish after this statement..
I too will boycott any firm withdrawing advertising because of this, as it is vital to allow discussion of a topic with such huge repercussions for women. I will also support any firm that states its support for MN, if you would publicise anyone that does this.
Free speech (as long as it is civilised and non-threatening) is a vital part of our society - so I will also add my voice to those who are requesting that the Feminist.threads reappear in active convos. To hide them implies that anything in there is 'not of interest to most users' - and I can think of nothing that could be further from the truth.

Thank you Justine for going on record.

Thank you MNHQ for the moderation, and the space.

I for one am happy to be part of a “significant” minority. One of the very standard ways this debate is shut down is when we’re told we’re a minority, we’re “fringe”, it’s hysterical to have concerns. No one IRL cares, everyone is tolerant, there’s nothing to worry about. Over the legal definition of “woman” changing...

I signed the petition to ask for consultation. I frequent MN because it values free speech (& I don’t have an ad blocker). I wouldn’t if it didn’t. I’ve been fed up the last few days about the comments MNHQ have made about pressures and ‘the tone of the debate’ - it sounded like the writing was on the wall and just as the petition reached 10,000 signatories the conversation would be squashed online for good.

I’m really happy MNHQ consider us a “significant” minority, TBH. Sign the petition and make women’s rights a majority issue, if you haven’t already:

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/214118

40 to go to 10,000. The rights of women and the definition of ‘woman’ in law deserves a conversation.

Excellent.
It shows the sheer arrogance of these people and their misogyny
Are they targeting the thousands of internet forums that are not perceived as Women's?
I doubt it.

Its all about shutting the bitches up.

And people rushing to start reading the Times as a news source on the strength of one article - not even an opinion piece - neutrally reporting a piece of news - really don't understand how journalism works

Except we are not. As reported on in FWR the Times has, over the last few months, consistently run well-written and researched articles on this topic displaying real thought and insight, and challenging the hackneyed TRA view of 'anyone who is against us is a bigot'. Perhaps you might like to drop into FWR and have a look? There are lots of share tokens.