Guardian Article today - bullying of GC women

[PlateSpinnin]

Hi,

I've name changed but I'm an occasional poster. I regretted closing my account (worried about security after someone made a veiled threat about being able to trace any poster a few months ago) but there have been so many interesting discussions of late in which I was desperate to get involved. I have learned so much from everyone. Thanks so much. I've also been feeling a bit isolated - I think some of my friends think I'm obsessed and I have had others keeping their distance.

I'm in the public sector and this issue is completely monopolising my job. I've gone public regarding my concerns - I've had a lot of private support at a senior level but I think everyone is just so shit-scared (and also happy for me to fight it on everyone else's behalf).

Anyway. This is interesting in todays Guardian. I wonder if the headline was deliberately vague as to the nature of the bullying that she was going to discuss. Love that she cites Owen Jones as an example.

www.theguardian.com/society/commentisfree/2017/nov/19/bullies-everywhere-take-delight-in-coming-up-with-new-insults

I was just going to link that article...looks like the Guardian is starting to belatedly get it. The whining Owen Joneses are complaining about an "onslaught" in the press against trans people when all it is is people actually debating it openly. Which is where their unreason and bullying comes into the open.

Well said Catherine Bennett! It is great to see some solidarity emerging publicly between journalists who have concerns about this.

I wonder if the guardian has seen a significant drop in their female readership?

It was a good article and the first time I've clicked on a Guardian article for well over a year.

Well done Bennett. I wish that the Guardian wasn't so scared of comments. I'd love gauge reaction to this article.

Good article.

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/are-you-transphobic-no-me-neither-were-just-worried-about-our-children-kfp6csn0z

This in The Times today as well.

www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/up-to-half-of-trans-inmates-may-be-sex-offenders-26rz2crhs

And this 😁

Good article, like how it references Janice Turner and her articles saying it was "reported brilliantly"

Can anyone share those Times articles with share tokens please?

And this:

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/wrong-gender-feelings-could-be-teen-anxiety-bpr7jr3wd

The Times is amazing at the moment. Finally people are waking up.

Brilliant. And I love Catherine Bennett. She like a terrier on a ratting and doesn't give up.

I’ve just read it. Thank goodness, belated by the guardian, but the penny is finally dropping that we need to have a public debate about the GRA.

Peter Hitchins in the Mail
hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/2017/11/the-transgender-zealots-are-destroying-truth-itself.html

There’s this article in the Guardian/Observer today as well, about the Tavistock clinic Tavistock

Whilst I have some issues with the article (for example, it cites examples of transphobia as reasons for a hostile environment in which to attempt a more discursive approach, but no reference to TRAs’ role in this), it is at least more nuanced than much of the recent debate.

Particularly this, from the Trust’s head of psychology: “We cannot be too sure in promoting physical intervention for young people when we feel there are development possibilities in which they may come to feel differently.”

Unfortunately, Linda Bellos is getting a kicking today@

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5096695/Labour-feminist-hero-faces-axe-transgender-row.html

The right-wing is an ally to women on this issue, the left an enemy. It's an incomprehensible world.

I’m pleased the debate has reached mainstream media.

Love that she calls out Owen Jones - and it is brave of her.

Today's Times article with share tokens:

Trans prisoners
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/up-to-half-of-trans-inmates-may-be-sex-offenders-26rz2crhs?shareToken=c8a34dea3c57d7c0c9ca4696b07cfc49
(stats from: fairplayforwomen.com/transgender-prisoners)

Scottish therapist risking being struck off by going against the Memorandum of Understanding
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/wrong-gender-feelings-could-be-teen-anxiety-bpr7jr3wd?shareToken=f5c18a407870bdc3d08ce586984ebbc8

Children and schools
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/are-you-transphobic-no-me-neither-were-just-worried-about-our-children-kfp6csn0z?shareToken=9567580e1a5416ee51373a499591e074

worried about security after someone made a veiled threat about being able to trace any poster a few months ago

I think that was me under another name - it wasn't a threat, but a warning that the threat exists that if you follow an external link (say to a personal blog), then that person can see your IP address - which in many cases will narrow down to a town, and in some, to a street - which when combined with information you might have put in posts about yourself can lead to a doxxing risk.

It's why I namechange frequently these days. Of course if someone hacks mumsnet (as they did a couple of years ago) then your email address will likely be exposed, if someone paid to put up a malicious advert up, bad stuff can happen etc. - The internet is full of nasty people (as I frequently tell my kids), so it always pays to be careful. Closing your account and creating a new one is extreme, but not a bad measure (assuming you're using a new, dedicated email address)

Great article! Love the highlighting of misogyny and the actual naming and shaming of Owen 'call women transphobes' Jones.

the degree to which this debate has legitimised intolerance, targeting and recently, the physical harassment of women surely indicates a responsibility, on the part of undeviatingly debate-averse progressives, to do more than offer synonyms.

and

To suggest that transphobe makes the more acceptable insult is like saying the Telegraph should have written slightly different words over its target practice; that the Daily Mail should have called its three pilloried judges something a wee bit nicer than enemies: the intent to bully remains.

“Stop, speak, support”, then. Though not if the banter has only escalated as far as transphobe. That’s just the progressive way of telling women to shut up.

That's a fantastic last line.

I almost wish the article was shorter so more people would make it down to it though.

''LGBT Labour said that Ms Bellos’s views and perceived threats of violence were seen by many as ‘deeply offensive’.''

Oh really? What about Ada Wells tweet to Jess Philips? Will Labour be investigating those?

Catherine Bennett's article is good - it's the Observer rather than the Guardian, which may be significant. Part of the same brand, obviously, but different editors.

She makes loads of good points, and it's fantastic to see her taking a pop at Owen Jones, but I think it could have been clearer. I'm not sure how much of it would be understood by people who haven't kept up with the debate so far.

I was a bit disappointed in the Observer's article about the Tavistock - they didn't quote any dissenting voices.

The Times's trans prisoners piece is excellent.