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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Helen from Mermaids has started a Twitter thread smearing Kiri Tunks, Anne Ruzylo and Woman's Place UK

161 replies

CapnHaddock · 02/04/2018 12:41

twitter.com/mimmymum/status/980755636907659264

Surely this is against the law? It's just a pack of lies!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
R0wantrees · 03/04/2018 13:45

Helen (from Mermaids?) twitter post forms basis of petition calling for the removal of Kiri Tunks as president of the NUT....

www.change.org/p/national-education-union-national-education-union-ask-your-new-president-to-resign-for-her-transphobia

R0wantrees · 03/04/2018 13:47

apologies... meant to write Kiri Tunks president of NEUnion.

Terftastic · 03/04/2018 13:51

A petition based on a smear campaign - are they allowed to do that?

This is getting ridiculous.

R0wantrees · 03/04/2018 14:02

the petition has being created based on Helen's posts.. it is visible on mimmymum's thread as being a direct result.

Lampage · 03/04/2018 14:06

You can report the petition.

R0wantrees · 03/04/2018 14:10

I wonder if it may not be better to leave it as evidence that Helen's tweets have consequences?

Lampage · 03/04/2018 14:15

I agree it might be best to leave it, it's only had 41 signatures, I can't see it gaining many more, it's sounds pretty nutty.

AssignedPuuurfectAtBirth · 03/04/2018 14:15

Seriously, it's an echo chamber. She tweets away and noone replies, except Goolieana.

Leave her to it

fruitlovingmonkey · 03/04/2018 14:15

Anyone who listens to Helen is a lunatic. I’m proud to be a ‘feminist’.

IntelligentYetIndecisive · 03/04/2018 15:55

I love the way they reckon we live in an echo chamber, yet they're the ones blocking everyone who disagrees with them.

Here, they enter a debate. Well, thry try to but their sole 'argument' is "Transwomen are women".

Coming up against proper grown ups, they fall over.

Datun · 03/04/2018 17:32

I love the way they reckon we live in an echo chamber, yet they're the ones blocking everyone who disagrees with them.

I have noticed that when women are alerted to mumsnet, and come over here to see what all the fuss is about, one of the first things they ask is where is the block button?

'There isn't one' seems to be quite a shocking statement.

ZERF · 03/04/2018 18:36

I think mn has extended my ability to debate to be honest.

A few years ago I thought in a different way about all sorts of things.

I think I was Anyfuckered once. But I took it on the chin and tried to understand.

It's not an echo chamber at all. There are some who don't seem to be able to discuss a different POV without being snidey and sarky, sometimes quite nasty, but that's why the report button exists.

It's very difficult to have deep seated views challenged and I think it's good to be challenged. It's good to read how others feel about things. I try to read pro trans things but there is a lot of nastiness, it's hard to see povs. Personal experience. Actually, Paris Lees sometimes writes in a way that lets me see their POV, feelings and experiences so I understand why they have their views.

There's a lot of personal experience in mn. Especially in relationships, which is where I have learnt the most about why we still need feminism.

I'm still zoflora exclusionary though.

LizzieSiddal · 03/04/2018 19:08

Does anyone know if Kiri is aware of the petitions and what Helen is saying about her?!

Datun · 03/04/2018 19:18

I think mn has extended my ability to debate to be honest.

I completely agree. Being forced to justify your argument requires not just skill, but an understanding of the argument you are making. And why.

It makes you examine your motives and your conviction. It stops knee-jerk reactions.

Being made to analyse why you think something. Which, I guess, is the very definition of critical thinking?

Watching other posters ask questions, drilling down into someone's assertion, is fascinating and a huge learning curve in how to debate.

Exposing the flaws in people's arguments is sometimes painful to watch, but always educational.

Terftastic · 03/04/2018 19:20

They're calling her 'anti-trans' and saying she was founder of 'anti-trans' organisation A Woman's Place.

That's potentially libellous, and I would say definitely damaging to reputation.

Mouthtrousersafrocknowandthen · 03/04/2018 19:24

I've heard Anne Ruzylo presenting at a meeting, and met her in the pub after another one, and she is a lovely and completely reasonable individual, I found her absolutely charming. We talked briefly about the encouragement of young people to change their bodies and I made the comment "we all hate our bodies" meaning how we are prone to worry about the wobbly bits etc. She looked at me with such empathy and care that spoke right to me, it was a look that held years of being comfortable in her own skin and she literally made me feel better about myself there and then, about all women, and it still resonates. I can't be supportive enough of Anne. The treatment of her is desperate mudslinging, but as it is so utterly wrong about her as an individual it's errant implausible nonsense. I am proud to have met Anne.

ReappearingWoman · 03/04/2018 19:26

Anti-trans hate group. That's their full 'charge' against Kiri & WPUK.

If I had the money I'd fund any legal action for them - oh to be a millionaire! I'm guessing they're trying to avoid getting into any heated arguments & giving any credence to these slurs but TRAs are ramping up the rhetoric to ridiculous levels. You can sense the mania behind those rants. It's actually painful to watch.

SusanBunch · 03/04/2018 19:35

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

ZERF · 03/04/2018 20:08

Learnt a lot from your example datun!

Not rising to goady bait.

Calmly avoiding and ignoring name calling.

Respectful commenting on the other's views.

ZERF · 03/04/2018 20:09

Paragraphs...

Ereshkigal · 03/04/2018 20:12

The treatment of her is desperate mudslinging, but as it is so utterly wrong about her as an individual it's errant implausible nonsense. I am proud to have met Anne.

YY seconded.

ferntwist · 03/04/2018 20:16

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Datun · 03/04/2018 20:55

Mouthtrousersafrocknowandthen

I agree. Anne was an absolute delight. She knows. It's incredibly empowering even speaking to her.

ZERF

Paragraphs...

Haha yes! Paragraphs are key. They make the reader, read. Walls of text do the opposite.

And never, ever start a paragraph with 'I think'.

You automatically lose half your audience because it's an opinion not an assertion.

And, of course, loads of assertions are opinions. But announcing it upfront will lose half your audience, unless they already know you as credible.

LizzieSiddal · 03/04/2018 20:56

Aside from the women H has lied about, my main concern are the venerable, young people who may believe the spite and lies, H is tweeting.

AngryAttackKittens · 03/04/2018 20:57

Ferntwist is right, we need to start reporting every threat and attempt at intimidation made by TRAs to the police, particularly for the more prominent figures. They want to play the make yourself such a nuisance that the authorities humor you just to make you shut up game? Fine, there are more of us than there are of them so let's see how that works out.