To think that many of the people shouting about Gary Lineker's "freedom of speech" are happy to shut women down?

[Qbish]

It's marvelous, isn't it, "freedom of speech". It's marvelous when it's something nice and progressive that you agree with.

But if it's something you deem to be unacceptable... then shut it down! Cancel her! No platform her! Burn her books! Get her sacked! Picket anywhere she's booked to speak! Many of the same types who support Gary wouldn't hesitate to tell a woman to keep quiet, sit down, shut up. And they can't even see that.

Freedom of speech really only seems to flow one way.

Do you have any examples or is just pure conjecture?

YANBU.
However I had a breakthrough moment at the weekend with DD, who is now I think moving towards being GC. Firstly she's a professional scientist, so that helps. But the free speech double standards argument did see a light flicker ever brighter.

Do you have a particular woman in mind?

It's just a current thing issue, likewise those cheering for Lineker's freedom of speech also are wanting people to be sacked because of something that was said over 10 years ago for instance, or if Lineker came out in favour of Tory policy the roles would reverse.

It is just the current thing to get worked up about, next month it will be something else, it is all becoming a bit tiresome.

Many, many women.

I imagine Op has JKR and Kathleen Stock at the top of her list.

YANBU
Why is FB being hounded for something she was legally obliged to say?
www.theguardian.com/media/2023/mar/13/fiona-bruce-to-step-down-as-refuge-ambassador-over-stanley-johnson-comments

Yes of course. It's one of the reasons Liz Truss was so pilloried. Do you really think the markets would have reacted in quite the same way if Johnson had done the same thing? Her policies were very stupid, but women are assumed incompetent until proven otherwise; it's the opposite with (white) men.

Was she legacy obliged to say it though?

Because she is disliked by the Twitterati for being a "Tory mouthpiece" (and a woman) and the powers that be pander to it all instead of telling the professionally offended to shut up.

Maybe her wording wasn't the best, but QT is a pressurised environment, and I doubt any her detractors have never made a mistake. Much like the sanctimony that occurs on MN on a regular basis, in fact.

In what way was she obliged to say it?

She was not legally obliged to say it was a "one-off". I can't believe anyone, let alone a woman, would say that as if it were relevant.

My point is, that many of the people who are so happy with their decision to support Gary Lineker's freedom of speech, do not hesitate to shut down women who they disagree with. And it's infuriating me.

I mean let's look at The Guardian, for a start. Fawning over Gary, silencing their own journalists.

YANBU

This had occurred to me.

However you’ve also got the right wing wanting to shut down Lineker and being quite fine with their supporters saying what they like (not saying the women OP has in mind are part of this group, I’m just saying it’s more complex than that!)

So there’s quite a lot of hypocrisy all around really.

I’m also 100% behind both GL and, for example, gender critical women being allowed their say - and also the less progressive people who I don’t agree with!

I agree with you OP. I think what Fiona Bruce said is a different issue and domestic abuse should never be minimised.

Because she was only legally obliged to say that Stanley Johnson had not commented publicly.
Maybe even to say friends say it did happen.

However the one off comment was the problem.
As an ambassador of Refuge she should have pointed out that this was,

1. Not what Charlotte Wahl had said.
2. Even if it was true it was minimising domestic abuse

Womens Aid called the comments unnecessary and irresponsible.
And just for clarity as someone who has been in an abusive relationship the comment was tone deaf and I would have expected her to refuse to say it.

Agree

Correct.

I have already, in my mind, moved past the "Oh I wonder if they would support a BBC star spouting something right wing" feeling.

It's all the "progressives" supporting him who have, and will, denigrate women for daring to try to have their precious freedom of speech.

I was disgusted at the Tory party trying to shut down Gary Lineker by reporting him to his employer. I was disgusted at the Tory MP trying to shut down Lisa Townsend for retweeting JKR by reporting her to her employer.

They're skanky bastards who use all means available to them to shut down criticism of Tory policy.

Kathleen Stock who has been in the national press every day for nearly a week, was on Woman’s Hour last week, was on Lorraine a few months ago and even had a book published? The one so tragically silenced that she’s absolutely bloody everywhere? 😂

Well, yes. He’s never been convicted of DV so no BBC lawyer is going to allow an accusation to be made without some sort of attempt at balance (even if we all know it’s true).