A Message from the Silent Majority

[smugaboo]

To those of you that post in this topic time and time again. Who challenge bigotry, misconceptions and sexism where you see it. To posters like StewieGriffithsMum, Dittany, HerBex, AyeRobot, Himalaya, garlicbutter, seeker and countless others who take the time to post insightful, thought provoking comments that challenge deep seated mysoginistic views. I just wanted to let you know that there are many of us out here who don't post much (due to time restrictions/willingness to learn rather than talk right now etc) who support you and learn more all the time. And pass it on.

You take a lot of shit but I think you are making a difference. You may not be waving placards, jumping in front of horses or 'burning bras' (I know, a myth) but this (the internet) is the new medium for thought exchange and activism and you are making a difference. And the MRA know it too, or they wouldn't send in their trolls in every now and then.

Don't let the bastards get you down.

Sorry if that seems 'crawly bum lick' but I have nothing to gain for giving you support. Just needs to be said sometimes.

I have just googled this years uk feminista summer school and I am free on those dates and it is easy for me to get to and I have relatives in Bham I could stay with.

IC....Are you on twitter under a different name?

UKFeminista summer school? What's that, sounds great.

ooh yes, let's have a huge meet-up in York. Everyone loves a weekend in York. I am away a lot over the summer but if we do it when I'm around you can all stay with me

for coming up with the idea of York.

seriously, connections to York are very good - the trains from London or Glasgow/Edinburgh are v fast and there are direct cross-country trains from the south-west that are slow but straightforward.

and if anyone has to bring dps and dcs who don't want to join in they can all go to the railway museum while we hang out.

York does have the advantage of being pretty small, so we'd be less likely to get lost!

Oh I like York, and I think there's someone I could stay with, maybe.

I also thought this was going to be a bashing thread. "A Message From The Silent Majority - we all hate you feminists" :o

Also def on for a London meetup, any time. We were thinking of doing a proper dinner meetup at some point, or maybe lunch, possibly coinciding with Reclaim the Night which is still tbc but November sometime.

Thanks for the namecheck. I don't want to do mentioning really, because everyone who posts on here (and with feminist stuff all over MN) contribute so much. :)

I'm pondering. Nothing like the holy grail I don't think; for daytime there are 2 good places, the Spurriergate Centre (huge coffee shop in church on Coney St) and the library cafe, but both close earlyish - library cafe is open to 8 on weekdays but 5 on Sat.

lots and lots of bars, cafes, pubs etc which are fine for kids in the daytime but change their character somewhat later on.

Oh me too, me too. More of a lurker and occasional poster on this board but it has genuinely changed my life in many small ways. It has altered my outlook, and it had given me the words to say what I have always sort of felt but been a bit unsure about.

Oh no, hang on...

What a lovely change to read something positive about the Feminist section. I love it here.

.. this is a lovely thread.. I haven't seen MillyR's name can I namecheck her? may be a duplication but am a bit scatty today!

can I come to a meet up too? York with the dc's sounds lovely!

If we do it we'll call it the Meet The Lurkers meet-up to make it quite clear everyone is welcome

Well done OP for starting this thread - I wholeheartedly agree. So many articulate and intelligent posts by suchg a variety of posters.

I'd like to single out dittany - cos it seems dittany is a regular for being singled out in some shape or form! Her posts are hard hitting and direct and I have, in the past, found them hard (as in painful) to read but the clear language and thinking has helped me enormously especially with:
(in no particular order)
-expressing my discomfort at finding out my husband uses porn and having him clearly understand, and agree with, my point of view.

-understanding my discomfort at how my boss operates
-talking through the issues aound the KC / 'serious rape' comments with my 14 year old daughter who totally gets it in a way that makes some posters on mumsnet look really fucking obtuse.

Holds hand up, lurker here. Due to mostly reading on phone and taking bloody forever to type anything.

Returned to MN after baby-centred hell break and extremely chuffed to find this section.

Have often thought would love to meet up and talk with you all in RL. York is a great choice. Also happy to chip in for venue.

Happy-happy-lurking-MrsK

Brilliant thread. Made me tear up.

(SF that was me, it's such a coincidence)

Doncaster is also fabulous for transport connections and cheap.

I lurk, and find this place so interesting.

I am a feminist who is very bad at articulating my thoughts - but just love hearing the intelligent arguments on here, and being challenged in my thinking.

Child-friendly later on would be a problem, the town centre can be terrifying after dark.