I sat next to...

[ShackUp]

...Germaine Greer in Victoria Station this evening. Really wanted to tell her I supported her gender critical stance, but was too scared

Ah damn! So lucky!

Germaine Greer has been one of my heroes forever. She's an fierce, erratic gadfly at times, but such a serious and sustained thinker.

I'm sorry you didn't speak to her - I think she would have been happy to engage in a conversation, or possibly a robust exchange of opinions.

I met someone once who had been at university with her, and described Germs sweeping into lectures with an entourage of young men scurrying along behind her. I do love that image.

Wow, I'd have been too scared, too. She was truly an inspiration when I was a weirdo teenager and helped me make sense of my feelings about being a girl/woman.

I think I might of been an embarrassment and somewhat stereotypical fangirl

Oh wow, I would have made a fool of myself.

I like to think I could have muttered, "thank you" but I would probably have cried or thrown up.

I did really want to say something but was looking after a rabble of schoolkids on a trip so couldn't get my head together She was also having a serious tete-a-tete with a friend of hers and looked really cross!

and looked really cross I'd have found that very scary. Not surprised you couldn't say anything.

SO Jealous. I wonder where she travels up from if she takes the train. Will have to stalk now

I don't think I have ever been more jealous. Mind you I would have been utterly starstruck. I don't care at all about famous people but I love Germaine, even when I disagree with her.

I think cross is her default expression

I love Germaine. She was a lecturer at Warwick when I was a student there. I'm a feminist because of her.

She's turned into a TERF though? Not good.

I don't think she turned into a TERF.

G1ngerpig - what's your definition of a TERF though, and what is bad with it?

She's a TERF in the same way I am

Tosser Excluding Real Feminist.

Was there some sort of chrysalis involved in her metamorphosis into a terf...?

Shack, I'm jealous. Though if I was there, I'd probably embarrass myself somehow

GG is an icon.

I don't always agree with what she says, in fact I'm very often but I love the uncompromising way she says it.

About 10 years ago I went to a talk she gave.

When she walked onto the stage all the hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I was clapping and cheering like I did as a teen at a gig - I surprised myself at my fangirl over reaction so I can understand where you're coming from OP!

@G1ngerPig, please don't use the term "TERF" - it's offensive, an insult, and usually totally inaccurate.

GG is a near neighbour of mine. Just selling her house, so not for much longer...

Some years ago I was involved with a university event at which GG was the guest speaker. She treated the students detailed to look after her like dirt. Seriously unimpressed. As far as I know she has not been invited back.

Oh, I thought this was going to be a general 'who have you seen on a train?' thread.

With many appearances from Anthony Head and much enthusing about how nice he is.

She came into a closed (after lunch) restaurant I was working in years ago, demanding a table and tried to pull rank saying that they were the BBC. She was really rude and obnoxious.
Tosser.

With many appearances from Anthony Head and much enthusing about how nice he is

I feel a little disappointment that I'm in the minority of MNers who have never met Anthony Head and discovered how lovely he is.

I think at last count, there was only 43 people left who hadn't met him.

Me too, Bette!

Hashtag I'm the 43