Why are feminists so aggressive?

[BertrandRussell]

This, or something like it, it always being asked. People say that the FWR board on here is scary and hounds out people whose faces don't fit. That women are always being told they can't be feminists if.......And so on. And so on.

In my experiences, you are much more likely to get an aggressive response if you express a feminist point of view than the other way round. Is it just me? Or am I missing something?

There have been plenty of interesting feminists threads recently, where everyone seems to be holding their own- but the same old accusations keep coming up.

"there are thread after thread demonstrating sarcastic or stroppy responses."

There aren't, you know!

There are. It would be like someone saying aibu is full of balanced pleasant discussion. It isn't. People feel strongly about something they respond heatedly, mockingly. Get your head out of the sand and own it."

I would be happy to own it. But many people have begged to be shown examples of the aggressive, snippy, sarcastic feminists,......

And no, I don't know why Greer said that. You'd have to ask her. The rest of the discussion is very interesting, though.

As for Greer ... I happen to agree with her over the trans issue BUT she has always been known for being, for want of a better expression, a bit of a GF. Back in the olden days there is no way she would have been seen as a radical feminist. In fact, she was often seen as ecclectic and a maverick who defied all categorisation (for better or for worse). She often says absolutely outrageous things. Maybe she wants to provoke discussion and debate or maybe she simply seeks publicity. But, whatever whay you look at it, she doe snot speak of all feminists.

I made a post of statements from this thread alone that reverberated with sarcastic contempt....

Well I can't 'ask Greer' can I? But thanks for that helpful comment . I'm interested to hear if other feminists cringed at her making such crass comments on TV

Feminists have been cringing at Greer for decades now. :)

I have never cringed at Greer. She's a maverick and totally her own person. I don't agree with all she does, but then, I don't agree with everyone on this forum. However, I think she wears the variables. (Goodness, women have views like men, gasp).

Mind you if she came out in favour of Brexit and Donald Trump, I'd change my view pdq.

Have they? that was what I was asking really, she always seems to be able to be featured in the media when she has something to say. I wondered who her fans were here and why

Greer is always featured in the media because she will say outrageous things that sell newspapers. I neither like nor dislike... I've just watched her now for over three decades since I came to feminism and I file her under 'hmmmm'.

I have never cringed at Greer

I gues I remember her asking women to taste their menstrual blood (full confession - I think this was Greer), when she started to lose her youthfullness she refused to speak to younger women and she does often deliberately say very provocative things ... I do cringe because often I think this is more about the limelight for Greer and less about feminism / good of all women. I know I am not the only one.

And Greer in Bloody Town Hall on feminism and why it isn't an instant cure.

So what? People have been frying their placentas for decades.

She is who she is. Controversial and feminist. And still men think that if you're feminist you must be like Greer.

And I find the fact that you think she aged badly and therefore became bitter distasteful.

nd I find the fact that you think she aged badly and therefore became bitter distasteful

If you are referring to my comments then you really need to brush up on your comprehension skills is this going to be staunchgate all over again?

Also I think an IRONY FLAG might be needed at some point.

Gosh. You're falling short of calling me hysterical

Gosh. You're falling short of calling me hysterical

Er yeah. Very far short actually.

"My point was when the op asked why people think feminists are aggressive, you have a high profile feminist making misogynistic derogatory comments about someone who is dead"

Well, one derogatory comment in amongst a lot of interesting, thoughtful comment. But why let the facts get in the way if a good story?

And incidentally, if you think "you'd have to ask her" is a snippy response to being asked the motivation behind a statement made by someone I don't know, have only met once on segment of a programme that I have no idea of the background to' then feminists are, indeed, held to a higher standard than other people!

Mephistopheles- I can't speak for other posters. But you picked me up on "It's political correctness gone mad, I tell you!" - Sarcastic contempt."

This was in response to a poster who had quoted a completely ridiculous urban myth. Was I supposed to nod wisely and say "well, you might be right........."?

I actually agree with some things Paris Lee says. Shoot me.

What I don't agree with is her almost biblical defence of gender and trans.

Pope Francis has a lot of good things to say too, but he's a total shit when it comes to women's rights regarding abortion and contraception.

I'm so aggressive I have to be trussed up like Hannibal Lecter in a mask and straightjacket before I can be allowed out in public

And I have no sense of humour. Feminists don't. We take out the fun part of our brains and replace it with piss, vinegar and aggression.

Sorry, Bertrand, I'm probably lowering the tone, but...god I get fed up of the Aggressive Feminist trope. Sometimes there is snippiness on here, sometimes it is feminists doing it, often there is a good level of debate, and sometimes there is a very poor level. It does amuse me the perception that this place is inhabited by some sort of professional feminist class. I don't think there's much of a living in it...

As to my position on the Greer-o-meter, I sometimes agree with her, and often I don't. She says a lot of provocative things and quite enjoys the publicity, I think. She takes a lot of flak for that, and has done for forty odd years, and I suspect her field of fucks to give is now entirely barren.