You don't have to be feminist to post here, but it helps...

[MrsReasonable]

I've noticed that whenever a 'non-feminist' view is brought up, there are occasionally some posts along the lines of 'this is a feminist board, why come here if you aren't...', etc.

Genuine question - is this a feminist board, or a board about feminism? Obviously the majority of posters are feminist, but I'm not sure whether that is because feminists (surprise surprise) like discussing feminism, or because it is seen as a feminist 'safe haven'?

Oh well if something doesn't engage you Reject there's no law saying you have to post here. That goes for everybody btw. If you don't like or have no interest in the concept/ethos/whatever stay away. Isn't that how chatboards work?
I also don't think the section is scary or unwelcoming. I lurk more than I post, I often don't have much to add and the discussion can be quite high minded at times. There are plenty of places on the web I can go to for light hearted miscelllany. The section is what it is. It can't suit everybody nothing does. But it's not fair to stamp the feet and demand the ethos change to suit you. Like going into an Indian restaurant demanding pasta, and getting all arsey cos it's all rice.

Contribute if you fancy it, but be aware it's more of a debate forum than a chat forum.

Look, we get that stupid unpleasant some people are terrified of feminism and want to Make It Stop. But feminists are not going to stop and therefore anyone who comes over here bleating and whining about how HOWWID feminists are is going to get told to fuck off, over and over again, until they do.

i've enjoyed many discussions in the feminist section, it is well informed and perhaps the only place where Mnetters are prepared to debate politically as well as socially on here anymore.

I think its awful to suggest that becuase some feminists in this section behave terribly to anyone who dare disagree with them, that that they are terrified of feminism.

no, on the contrary there was a brilliant discussion in the chat section yesterday. Lots of people participated that wouldn't venture here. not beucase they are scared of feminism. becuase they are scared of the really unpleasant posters that spew vitriol if you dare disagree with there assertions. This was noted by people who called themselves feminists too. So its not just non feminists.

So it is clear to me that it is down to a few unpleasant posters - rather than feminism itself, chasing off feminists and non feminists alike and stifling debate and conversation until the circle of respondants and commentary is specific and to their liking.

That is particularly rubbish on a number of very obvious levels, some that i noted personally....but also becuase this board might be the first place wehre women stick their toes into a political field and feel they can comment.

Well what do you suggest Custardo? Ban unpleasant people? the best I can do is not be unpleasant myself. Can't control others, either the unpleasant feminist regulars, the unpleasant MN dropper-in's or the unpleasant trolls.

There are unpleasant poster on many of the boards not just in feminism, regular and shit-stirring ones.

i thought it was our collective responsability to police this site.

you are obviously refering to somone or something inparticular when you are discussion rubbing to MNHQ - but this reference is lost on me.

I think that yes, there are unpleasant people on other boards, but there should be a recognition that it seems any different POV on this board inparticular seems to be pounced on.

Thats what i am looking for, a recognition that this behaviour is happening. instead i get defletions and 'well it happens in other areas too'

only in AIBU to this extent and even then imo - people are more scared of posting here than there.

'A different POV is pounced on'.

You could say 'challenged', there, either. It would be true. It's a political debate board. Not fluffy bunny chat.

Have you ever seen a discussion here where someone doesn't come on to say It's All a Load of Nonsense, or This is Why I Don't Like Feminism, or My Husband Doesn't Do That, So What's The Problem?

It pisses me off, and i'm not even on here that much.

As has already been said, there is a huge range of people that post here, or lurk but don't post, or avoid altogether.
Obvious trolls and those intentionally looking for a fight aside, it's the others that are 'floating voter' types that seem to cause a lot of angst here.
It does become self-regulating for many people though.
Either you learn to predict which posters are the ones that you personally can have a discussion with, and which posters are too ideologically different for there to be grounds for a discussion to take place rather than a fight, or you end up getting frustrated and annoyed.
When I read a debate here, it's a bit like facing 32 flavours of icecream. all the opinions and beliefs are different. Which makes it very interesting and complicated to follow.
Or you decide that it's too complicated, there can be no room for your opinion without scorn or being dismissed, and you back out.
But likewise, I don't understand why many on the feminist board get upset and defensive about how they are perceived, rightly or wrongly, by some other posters on MN. If you are doing something that challenges others, their thinking and the foundations of their own beliefs, you are bound to upset people. That's what happens.
So you either keep going and shrug off the complaints, or you spend a great deal of time trying to persuade people that you are lovely and open-minded, which may well be a total waste of energy. And then getting stroppy when people don't believe that this section is approachable.
I suggested being opt in a long time ago, but now I think that the MRA would not be deterred, and the section would lose out on the casual browser, some of whom stay and become truly interested in the subjects under discussion.

Quite, Lenin.

To contine my analogy from earlier - Come in and have a curry, or saunter on down to Luigi's. Whichever you prefer.

I wouldn't call the reception I've had so far welcoming at all... in fact I'd say you'd have to be blind to think I've been welcomed in anyway shape or form... one of the feminists has even chosen to take her nasty judgements of me and slag me off to another poster on a part of this board that isn't about feminism...

That says something about the members of this board... something not nice.

It's good to see you again, dittany, sailing under your true name.
I think you and other radical feminists are essential components of this board and would be very sorry to see you leave, even though I often don't agree with your positions, I respect them.

dittany wrote:

Feminists disagree with an anti-feminist position in the feminist section. Who would have thought that could happen.

That's nice... care to tell anyone what I've said that's anti-feminist?

Oh No that's right... I haven't posted anything that is anti-feminst... I am judged because I dared to point out that much of what is being passed of here as feminism is really no more than hate speech.

So nice try, but that isn't going to wash.

Bullshit reject - you posted this on another thread:
"There are issues... 44 years of having members of your gender use and abuse me, lie to and manipulate me... there are bound to be issues really aren't there? Which is why I'm afraid I won't have members of your gender in my life anymore... too many of you don't give a toss about anything but your own thoughts and feelings and are prepared to screw anyone over to have what you want... so yes there are issues... and if you and your sisters don't like that I can give you the name and address of the last woman who decided to screw me over... and you can take it up with her... cause TBH I'm not interested enough to care about anything a woman thinks or feels anymore."

So you're only here to troll.

Dittany!!!!!