Breitbart on suspension of Labour activist for saying 'Women Don't Have Dicks'

[AssignedPuuurfectAtBirth]

www.breitbart.com/london/2018/01/26/labour-suspends-feminist-campaigner-saying-women-dont-dcks/

I hold no joy in sharing an opinion with Brietbart. But it's a good article and pro women and pretty balanced.

Fucking Labour party, I really despair of it now

I'm not saying that, but I do think freedom of speech involves allowing questionable voices to be heard. They are shown for what they are by letting them speak and arguing against them, not by pretending they don't exist. I don't want to be cocooned against views I dislike, I want to hear them so I can pull them apart as illogical and immoral.

There is a difference between reading to argue against and promoting. I read Breitbart articles on and off because I am interested in the activities of the extreme right. If I post something about them I do so in a critical way as a commentary on a group of people who stand for everything I am against. I do not and would never post something of theirs for praise and adulation, because that would be giving praise to far right extremists.

I am not saying and have not in anyway said don't ever read. I am saying think before you jump to praise an organisation that actively wants to oppress you as a woman, because that's not supporting free speech it's shooting yourself in the face.

I posted this article. I am very aware that Brietbart are scumbags.

But the Labour Party are declare themselves Pro-women and look at what they are supporting now. So it is an interesting juxtaposition.

Just because I posted an article, even one which was surprisingly well written and on point, doesn't mean that I support the publication. But it is interesting that they have printed it, and as far as I'm concerned, if it makes more people aware of the issues surrounding the trans agenda, then all good for that.

For God sake, we are capable of processing more than one thought in our heads. The tribalism is what created this bloody mess. I read a great deal of writing from the left and the right and I read to educate myself and challenge my views. I don't do it for confirmation bias

If tribalism is refusing to praise the words of the extreme right who only seek to remove women's right then I am not ashamed to be called tribalist. Standing up to extremism didn't cause this mess, but not standing up to it and normalising it's propaganda outlets sure as hell has caused a lot of mess. Mess that is right at this moment allowing hard won equalities legislation and women's rights to be removed.

Your praise for this piece only serves to allow TRAs to point to Breitbart and say "see, this is what these people believe". They can claim that we don't care about women at all, the only thing we care about it that someone speaks against trans people. There is a difference between being an anti-trans bigot and someone seeking to protect women's rights. Breitbart is the former, I cant speak for you, but I am most certainly the later.

The only reason to raise this piece should be to condemn the attempt by the extreme right to co-opt this cause for their own gain. To actively seek to distance our fight for women's rights from a group who aim to remove our rights.

Luner These are the people who want the patriarchy not just kept in place but bloody fortified, and you're going to help them do.

Oh, ok then. I'll side with the people who are ready to undo all sex-based protections in one swoop, who think that woman are such nonentities we can't even have a word to describe ourselves (good luck fighting the patriarchy with that!), and who are so delusional they reject material reality in favour of appeasing the feelings of abusive, predatory men.... and all this whilst making things worse for the group they claim to be fighting for.

Or, maybe we can accept that even a stopped clock is right twice a day...

I don't understand this tribal mindset, it's very concerning. I recently stuck my head above the parapet regarding trans issues, and the chief argument against me was that apparently I agreed with right-wing ultra conservative bigots. This was from someone who once upon a time taught me a lot about politics and critical thinking... I could have wept. It is a cult.

Did you even read my post?

They can claim whatever the fuck they want, doesn't mean it's true (oh, where have I heard that before?)

I wasn't 'praising' the article either. But I will read what I want and post what I want and I am not going to be dictated to.

Oh, ok then. I'll side with the people who are ready to undo all sex-based protections in one swoop, who think that woman are such nonentities we can't even have a word to describe ourselves (good luck fighting the patriarchy with that!), and who are so delusional they reject material reality in favour of appeasing the feelings of abusive, predatory men.... and all this whilst making things worse for the group they claim to be fighting for.

I'm pretty sure there are other options between this and praising far right extremists. This isn't an either or situation. It is perfectly possible to distance ourselves from the far right while still arguing against the imposition of gender based ideology on women. If you keep saying how wonderful far right bigots are than don't be surprised when you get accused of aligning yourself with them.

Nobody is praising them. And it is only you that is accusing people of aligning with them.

Just because I posted an article, even one which was surprisingly well written and on point, doesn't mean that I support the publication. But it is interesting that they have printed it, and as far as I'm concerned, if it makes more people aware of the issues surrounding the trans agenda, then all good for that.

Hmm...nope. No praise here at all.

That is not praise, no.

Piss off with your finger wagging. You are not the Director of Feminism.

Oh, I'm not? I suppose i'd better remove the Director of Feminism name plate off my door and pack away my collection of feminist desk toys then.

I'll leave you all to your perusal of Breitbart then. Maybe you should check out infowars next, I am sure Alex Jones has lots of things about trans issue you would like inbetween the racism and extreme sexism, but hey, we can just brush over that.

I post articles from a variety of sources. I am very active on twitter, almost exclusively re. this issue. I circulate articles in order to keep this high on the news agenda. I have lobbied MPs and journalists, all to raise the awareness of this.

Like many other women on twitter and on here, who spend their time writing and campaigning, much of it tedious and much of it without response, they respond again and again to accusations of transphobia and repeatedly state the case for women.

If you read my OP you will see that I am not a fan of Breitbart. Just because YOU have decided that it is criminal to post an article from them, it doesn't mean that other women aren't interested in reporting on this issue across the political landscape. I'm sure they have their big girl pants on and can decide for themselves what they think.

I don't need your lectures thanks.

"before you jump to praise an organisation that actively wants to oppress you as a woman"

I don't recall praising them

Being pro free speech doesn't mean you condone a certain view, and agreeing with one thing someone says doesn't imply you support everything, or even anything, else they say.

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"

I do hope those pieces of silver were worth selling your soul for.

Oh don't be such a drama queen.

BiglyBadgers

I'm pretty sure there are other options between this and praising far right extremists. This isn't an either or situation. It is perfectly possible to distance ourselves from the far right while still arguing against the imposition of gender based ideology on women. If you keep saying how wonderful far right bigots are than don't be surprised when you get accused of aligning yourself with them.

According to transactivists - and their useful idiotsin the Labour Party - anyone who questions their ideology is by definition a far-right bigot. They are the ones who are cheapening that term by using it to tar the millions of ordinary people who disagree with them.

I'm pretty sure there are other options between this and praising far right extremists. This isn't an either or situation.

First off, I'm not praising them in general, just an article, because I agree with it.

Secondly, I'm well aware the situation isn't either/or, but debating issues rather than joining a tribe means people like you pop up to tell us we have to pick a side and never agree with anyone else.

Once again, it's an area where women are treated differently to other oppressed groups. Apparently it's completely fine to agree with people who want to combat racism/support the vulnerable/sort out wealth inequality etc, even if they're raging misogynists. FFS I have protested alongside people who have sexually assualted me.