Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Feminism: chat

Arlene Foster suing Dr Christian

818 replies

MissyB1 · 14/04/2021 16:26

Apparently he tweeted that she was having an affair (without any proof), and the way he put it was a spiteful little jibe about her being a “sanctity of marriage preaching woman” adding “it always comes back to bite them on the arse”
Now I understand he might have an issue with her as I think she was against same sex marriage. But this man always strikes me as an arrogant twat and a nasty piece of work.

I tried to post the link but I’m such a technophobe! it’s on BBC news website

OP posts:
Thread gallery
20
MrsBunHat · 29/05/2021 18:44

In fact it is arguably even more vital that someone with political views that are seen as conservative and illiberal still gets to succeed in their very valid defamation case. That we have courts and judges who still - mainly - act on the bases of the law and reality, and not on "ooh, you're not right-on so we don't like you."

Have you even thought through the logical consequences of only supporting or having any time for those you 100% agree with? Society would not be able to function.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 29/05/2021 18:44

I think that's the single most glorious thing about this case. He knew nothing about NI politics except that the DUP are dinosaurs. He knew nothing about Arlene Foster. The fact that she has a law degree and used to practise as a solicitor presumably not only passed him by but never even occurred to him. The fact that one of the most successful libel lawyers in the world is based in Belfast and AF probably already knew him was unknown to him and again would never have occurred to him. Even when a person with a blue tick tweeted him and told him to take that tweet down he ignored it, and then (disastrously) tweeted 'lol' to another person who did respond to the blue tick man. Presumably he didn't even hover over the tweeter's bio to see who he was - either that or he assumed a NI lawyer must be of negligible importance.

I'm Scottish, not Irish, but the sheer arrogance of this Englishman is making my blood boil.

ArabellaScott · 29/05/2021 19:05

@MrsTerryPratchett

I suspect that the plopper is more of a flocon de neige than a Bouledeneige.
[bows]
DeRigueurMortis · 29/05/2021 19:06

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g

Nuance seems to be a tricky concept for some who disapprove of FWR.

Let's try to spell it out in short, simple terms.

I am pro same sex marriage/civil partnership. On this issue I expect I would disagree with Arlene Foster. There will be a great many more. Politically and socially, I am poles apart from the DUP. I expect most here are in the same position.

However, I don't feel CJ had any right to repeat a particularly damaging allegation which he must have known if he gave the matter more than a nanosecond of thought could destroy her political career, without apparently taking any pains to find out if it was true. He must have known it was defamatory. The only defence to defamation is that it's true. It wasn't.

If you want to destroy someone's political career, go against them with reasoned arguments. Find a true scandal, supported by evidence, they've been involved with, and expose it. This actually wouldn't be hard with the DUP. But don't make things up. That plays into their hands.

He could have saved himself by deleting the tweet promptly, apologising, taking more care in future. He didn't.

He ignored all the correspondence about the legal action. He had no reasonable excuse. He eventually had to attend the court case and standing up in court (on oath, I assume) he came out with one ludicrous excuse after another. His legal team must have been in despair.

This is not about being pro Arlene Foster and what she stands for. This is about being delighted about a huge humiliating defeat for a notable misogynist who thought he could say what he liked about a woman from Northern Ireland, because in his world view women are the support version of homo sapiens, not full people in their own right with feelings and rights, and Northern Ireland isn't important and nobody from NI, especially a woman, could touch an English/London-based celebrity.

👏👏👏👏👏

ArabellaScott · 29/05/2021 19:07

And don't forget the imaginary ping-pong!

Eyesofdisarray · 29/05/2021 19:29

👍 @DeRigueurMortis
And @MrsTerryPratchett 😄

Eyesofdisarray · 29/05/2021 19:30

oops sorry 👍 @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g
😔

RedDogsBeg · 29/05/2021 19:34

@Bouledeneige so only people whose politics you agree with are considered worthy enough to obtain justice?

Also could you confirm that you personally agree with all of Dr Jessen's views, particularly those around men in Niger marrying 12 year old girls (or younger), showing porn to schoolchildren, a women only being allowed to choose to have an abortion if he, personally, considers the reason a valid enough reason?

and that's just for starters...

SchadenfreudePersonified · 29/05/2021 19:38

What about the man she was falsely accused of having an affair with?

I have no idea who he is, but the likelihood is that he, too, has a spouse and family, and that his relationships have been damaged by this scurrilous tweet.

Is he likely to sue, too?

It may not have damaged his political career, but it must have been embarrassing for him and hurtful for his partner. Or was he not "named and (wrongly) shamed" as she was?

OneEpisode · 29/05/2021 19:45

I don’t think the supposed affair partner was named. Arlene’s statement expressed sympathy for her 4 close protection officers and their families (all men, all married)

teawamutu · 29/05/2021 20:56

This is not about being pro Arlene Foster and what she stands for. This is about being delighted about a huge humiliating defeat for a notable misogynist who thought he could say what he liked about a woman from Northern Ireland, because in his world view women are the support version of homo sapiens, not full people in their own right with feelings and rights, and Northern Ireland isn't important and nobody from NI, especially a woman, could touch an English/London-based celebrity.

This right here is why I skim the news quickly, then come here for the FWR take.

Feminism that only supports naice women is not feminism.

TalkingtoLangClegintheDark · 29/05/2021 21:34

@MrsTerryPratchett

I suspect that the plopper is more of a flocon de neige than a Bouledeneige.
Well played, madam!
TalkingtoLangClegintheDark · 29/05/2021 21:35

@ArabellaScott

And don't forget the imaginary ping-pong!
Grin Grin
youvegottenminuteslynn · 29/05/2021 21:46

@teawamutu

This is not about being pro Arlene Foster and what she stands for. This is about being delighted about a huge humiliating defeat for a notable misogynist who thought he could say what he liked about a woman from Northern Ireland, because in his world view women are the support version of homo sapiens, not full people in their own right with feelings and rights, and Northern Ireland isn't important and nobody from NI, especially a woman, could touch an English/London-based celebrity.

This right here is why I skim the news quickly, then come here for the FWR take.

Feminism that only supports naice women is not feminism.

Absolutely bang on 💫
nauticant · 29/05/2021 21:53

I wonder how many of the current intolerant progressives would understand, or be willing to recognise, the symbolism of this.

Arlene Foster suing Dr Christian
AuntyFungal · 29/05/2021 22:03

If the judge has determined that CJ was lying - is that not perjury?

junipertree2 · 29/05/2021 22:55

@Bouledeneige

Pretty surprised that a feminism board would be so wholeheartedly supportive of Arlene Foster. Apart from being personally embroiled in the green energy saga and mis-spending claims, she was leader of the party that led the Save Ulster from Sodomy campaign in the 1970s, which opposes gay marriage and is against abortion except for in the few cases of life ending disabilities. Okay a few of their policies may have been cosmetically softened under her leadership but she's not someone I'd want to be in alliance with. Very shocked.
Live in NI, would never vote DUP, but AF had nothing to do with Ian Paisley's party in the 70s - she was a child then, her background is Church of Ireland/Ulster Unionist. She was one of the more moderate Ulster Unionists who defected to the DUP about fifteen years ago as their own party was seen as making too many concessions to Sinn Fein.

She has never really fitted in with the Bible bashing, flag waving tradition of the DUP - she is socially conservative and devoutly Christian, but in a way that differs significantly from evangelical Protestantism. If she resembles anyone, it is probably some churchgoing Englishwoman of the 1950s.

I profoundly disagree with her views on abortion and her determination to deny even civil marriage to gay couples (what churches do is their own business, imo). And it is frustrating to see how this case has deflected attention from another very important high court case in Belfast which has been brought by human rights activists to secure abortion services for women, which are still not properly provided. But she deserves to exist as a woman in the public eye without having her character and morals traduced by some fucking idiot like Jessen. That's why most of these posts are broadly supportive of her.

Branleuse · 29/05/2021 23:11

I still cant see how this is a feminist issue. Two misogynists arguing.
I know dr christian is a sleazy TRA and Arlene is a homophobic, anti choice, forced-birther.
How do you choose which is worse.

Triphazards · 29/05/2021 23:14

@Branleuse

I still cant see how this is a feminist issue. Two misogynists arguing. I know dr christian is a sleazy TRA and Arlene is a homophobic, anti choice, forced-birther. How do you choose which is worse.
Why does anyone have to "choose which is worse?"
AlfonsoTheMango · 29/05/2021 23:18

@Branleuse

I still cant see how this is a feminist issue. Two misogynists arguing. I know dr christian is a sleazy TRA and Arlene is a homophobic, anti choice, forced-birther. How do you choose which is worse.
It's not about "which is worse" it's about libelling someone.
Branleuse · 29/05/2021 23:23

But arlene foster seeks to undo and restrict womens rights. These arent just private opinions either. Shes a politician. Shes anti feminist, so why applaud her?

powershowerforanhour · 29/05/2021 23:28

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/29/did-homophobia-lead-to-arlene-fosters-downfall

This article is worth a read. Arlene is one of the more progressive, moderate figures in the party and was stabbed in the back by a cabal of dinosaurs. Now we've got Edwin Poots. Those who do not follow NI politics probably don't know who he is but trust me- it's not an improvement.

Viviennemary · 29/05/2021 23:28

I've never liked her. But she stands up for what she believes in. If people dont agree then dont vote for her.

Triphazards · 29/05/2021 23:32

@Branleuse

But arlene foster seeks to undo and restrict womens rights. These arent just private opinions either. Shes a politician. Shes anti feminist, so why applaud her?
Applause for a just verdict. Simple eh?
youvegottenminuteslynn · 29/05/2021 23:34

@Branleuse

But arlene foster seeks to undo and restrict womens rights. These arent just private opinions either. Shes a politician. Shes anti feminist, so why applaud her?
Applauding the decision for this incidence of libel to be confirmed and the perpetrator fined isn't applauding her as a person. It's applauding that the case had a fair outcome.