Deep breaths...

[LostSight]

For the first time, I posted something on Twitter this morning, to whit the Susan Dalgety article from The Edinburgh News. I expected it to go unnoticed, but it already has three retweets. So I guess this is me, publically putting my head above the parapet as a PERF.

Well done!
I can't ever do that on Facebook book because of the abuse. Especially the abuse from "nice" People.
If twitter is more anonymous (?) maybe it's safer. Or maybe more people have peaked!

I am surprised it is not circulating widely already. It is a good article and straightforward.

That’s why I chose it Melamin. I felt it was straightforward, easy to understand and not too obviously TERF territory.

To take this forward requires that we reframe the argument and the only way I can imagine that happening is to be (painfully) reasonable at all times. I’ve noticed the same when arguing with men on a discussion forum. It makes it much harder to argue that you’re an irrational woman if you are there arguing your case with facts, figures and undeniable logic. They then make irrational statements and become angry and as soon as they make you start to look like the underdog, people come to your aid.

The problem I see with the current argument is that the TRAs have framed themselves as the underdog, even though they are obviously pushing their way forward in a way that belies that.

Its scary, isnt it. I have one account under my real name, so far I haven't had any abuse. But I think a few people might have muted me.

Well done op, it's an excellent article and the more people who see it the better. It was factual and reasoned, I don't see how anyone could judge you for condoning it (hope I'm not being naive).

Nice one. I'm not on Twitter so I'll cheer tyii from here!

Yey go Lost! The more of us do this, the better.

It's a great article to share because it is so direct and clear. And funny!

Let's face it, there's an element of absurdity to the notion that 'self declaring' anything makes it so, and women shouldn't be afraid to mock it. Only men could come up with the idea that declaring 'I am [thing which I obviously am not]' means everybody else should reverentially pretend to believe it too.

You are brave. I'd be interested to hear if you get any pushback. Or more retweets or likes

well done. i'm not brave enough yet.... yeah for the underdog some tra peeps sure do have remarkable clout with social media / politicians / bbc / guardian / dept education etc etc

the extremely vulnerable young people i work with would love to have someone advocating for them with this kind of access to the structures of power. instead their lives (and that of their families) get made progressively bleaker and crapper under austerity.

Have you had an replies yet?

Jeremy Corbyn, who identifies as a future Prime Minister :)

Nobody has replied. Eight likes, three retweets. But I am now following some interesting people. I’m not that surprised it hasn’t started any major discussion. I presented it as ‘An interesting article’ and didn’t comment further. It’s also not my usual thing. My normal feed is full of animals and scenery.

A small step, but every journey starts somewhere.

Absolutely Lost. Great stuff.

I've started a new account just for PERF stuff. Made loads of connections with other gender critical women almost instantly. It feels like maybe the tide is turning?

I hope so Zoe. I didn’t actually think about starting another account, though I suppose that might be an option. But isn’t it really sad that that is necessary? It’s shit to feel you can’t be yourself and say you agree with this stuff. I’m reluctant to jump in with both feet because there’s a chance it could affect my career, but I’m going to feel my way in, I think.

As someone said in another thread, people follow the herd, even when the herd is behaving illogically, but it might only take a few people demonstrating common sense to turn the tide.

Oh and, I don’t know if she’s on here (and obviously I’m not looking for anyone to out themselves). But probably the most coherent voice I’ve seen (and now followed) on Twitter is LBLouis @lblwcri who is a lawyer. She has a fantastic pinned tweet about the history of abuse towards women and why we have to be allowed to centre our arguments on our reproductive systems. She’s eloquent, which is difficult on Twitter at the best of times.

Sorry whats perf

Oh I was just going to ask that!

I am going to guess....
Is it "Penis Exclusionary Radical Feminist" ??

Any other guesses?

It is Penis exclusionary radical feminist.

It makes more sense than trans exclusionary, because this descriptor totally ignores how feminists welcome and include transmen in female territory seeing as transmen are female, and so called terfs even mostly consider including transsexuals that have undergone full reassignment surgery. So is inaccurate and another example of transmen and transexuals being ignored in the whole Transgender debate.

It's people with penises in women's territory that are the problem.

It's a very anatomically specific label. A Google search didn't reveal much. I wonder if it will catch on. If someone said "I am a PERF!" I might think they were doing a Inspector Cluseau impression.

And of course you will be immediately be labelled "Penisphobic"

I read the thread by LBLouis that you linked. Wow.

There is now a debate on my twitter feed. It’s a very odd discussion. The person is civilised, but obviously much more rehearsed and aware of the issues in hand. I am also having to continually point out that my words are being twisted to mean things I did not say.

I don’t really understand the aims of women who shut down debate by yelling bigot at other women.