Thanks to the Amazing Women of FWR

[WanderinWomb]

I have de-lurked (un-lurked?) after many many years to say this.
I can only read this board for a couple of weeks before needing to take a few months off in a repeating cycle it's so infuriating and frustrating that my blood pressure canna take it. How do you do it?

There so many amazing strong , clever and impressively persistent women here that I don't have enough hats to take off to you all.

The piss trolls, poo trolls, the patronising , the perverts, the needy, the narcissists and the downright nasty just keep coming and so many of you stay regardless to keep standing up for women.

I picture a line of those tennis ball launchers pounding out the misogyny one side of the net and Martina Navratilova and Serena Williams one the other. You just keep hitting them back with seemingly endless reserves of practice, patience and power.

Thank you. I love you. Hurrah to the women of FWR Mumsnet .

You have no idea how many THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS of lurkers appreciate you. Never stop.

Applauding your post Wanderinwomb and the amazing MNers you're referencing.

I'm exactly the same in needing to step away often, but as the mother of daughters I'm so bloody grateful to the women who stay and speak and keep smashing those bloody tennis balls back.

Thank you.

Hello yes I often find a need to stop coming onto this forum too because it can get so intense! But it's always so informative so I enjoy catching up.

I hope the regular posters on here know how much they are valued even if it seems quite hard at times.

Totally agree.

to you all and to @MNHQ

Mumsnet is getting a tsunami of shit thrown at it at the moment. The TRAs are doubling down and trying very hard to damage MN's business and reputation. They are trying very hard to shut women up.

Please everyone, keep up the civilised and intelligent debate.

And

You're welcome - I'm pleased you de-lurked!! Always good to hear from the audience. :)

I recognise that cycle all too well:)

And yep the poops come in a variety of shapes and smells - but we've gotta a collective gale of fresh feminine breathe to blow their houses down!! Strength in numbers and intellect!!

Game set and match to us and long may it continue.

Hear hear.

I think if they are that determined to shut us up then they are worried. Therefore what we are saying has merit and is being listened to.

So we need to keep on supporting each other and batting back more of the same.

When I first posted here I was in awe at the depth of knowledge here, I am now more in awe. The long time posters have educated me on so much. I don't post every day due to life getting in the way but I do try to catch up as much as possible as there is so much to learn in each and every thread.

I also salute MNHQ, yes we have had problems such as the data breach but where would we be without this space? MN have been through so much and have stood firm, I deeply, deeply appreciate that.

I agree - I lurk but read nearly every thread nodding my head.
I don't often post as there are far more eloquent posters and what I have to say would only be repeating what's already been said.
But I appreciate all you frequent posters and am very grateful to MNHQ for moderating and allowing the discussion.

Thanks OP, there are some very courageous and knowledgable women here. I'm not strictly one of them but I try to support where I can. I've learned huge amounts about feminism from posts on here.

I also need to take time out every so often because the never-ending barrage of crap thrown at non compliant women gets wearing. I'm rarely gone for long though because we are at a point where feminism is needed more than ever.

Yes, agree. Brilliant, intelligent women, thank you all so much. Like others, I can only take it for a few weeks before needing time away to clear my head from the nastiness that I become aware of here. To the regular posters - I salute you!

This is my first ever post after a couple of months of lurking.

I too want show my appreciation to the women of FWR Mumsnet. I have learnt so much from you all, and have cried, laughed and gasped at all the amazing posts/threads I've read on here.

As a result, I was one of the 300 women that left the Labour Party yesterday. I was scared because I'm a life long Labour voter (been a member for 8 years) but today I feel great. I know I did the right thing.

Thank you

Fucking brilliant aren't they/we ?

Those that read my comment above and thought "oh I just do my little bit, I'm not as eloquent as others, I just do a wee message here and there etc etc." Don't hide your light under a bushel. You are fucking brilliant too.

We see it , we know it and we thank you.
Brava

all round and to keep you all going. I don't know where we would be without the posters here - things would be happening without a murmur in the press and we would be left without a rug under our feet. KOKO

Same here. Please don't get angry with me but.........
I'd never considered myself a feminist and tbh, I had this picture in my head of feminists being militant leftie, hippie types banging on about periods and equality and men daring to open doors for them (sorry!).

I never considered that my life (or that of my 2 girls) was really impacted in any way.

I saw women as being pretty equal nowadays, and assumed those opposed were just bitter (again, sorry!).

I first came to this board because it came up on active chats ( I would never have gone on or looked for these boards otherwise).

The topic was about trans stuff, which I'd become interested in for personal reasons, and I was trying to learn everything I could on the subject.
I also wanted to know what other people's opinions were and if my views were different to the majority.

That was a few years ago, and now the FWR is one of my favourite areas to lurk on, especially in the last 18 months.

I've discovered that I'm not alone in my views, and even though I'm not really politically minded (probably more centre leaning than left, although I think that they're all pretty crap), I've learnt so much from all you wise long timers. I particularly enjoy @Datun's posts, along with @CharleyParley, @AngryAttackKittens, @Gaspode, @BarrackerBarmer, @TheUterati, @AssignedPurrfect and many others.

Just in case this thread picks up appreciative lurkers who've somehow missed it, you might want to take a look at this:

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/214118

I think every time a lurker waves hello, you're adding your voice and strengthening the regular posters here so keep it coming. Every voice matters in this fight.

That petition is very important. Thanks for sharing it.

I love when lurkers pop their heads over the parapet - please stay around, post a bit

Thanks too, on behalf of my daughters who undoubtedly benefit from your efforts. I hope and believe that they will contribute as and when they can.

Also love the lurkers saying hello

Another lurker and petition signer adding my thanks to the women who do speak up for our rights with patience and intelligence.

Hear, hear. Some amazing women and transwomen contributing to the threads here.
Thank you and thank you @mumsnet for providing a platform

Hi Lurkers!
I was a lurker too until a short while ago. I'm still learning but this is too important to sit on the sidelines.
So glad to see you here.
And once again, thanks to Mumsnet for persevering through some very challenging times.

De-lurking as well after reading mums net for a few years. Cannot thank all the posters enough on this board. I have learnt so so much. Probably won't post much as don't feel like I'm anywhere near eloquent enough but will be reading your posts every day (until my blood pressure can't take any more!).

Beware! If you stop lurking and start posting you may become addicted.

Welcome

I'm also learning a lot about feminism in general, and now my eyes have been opened it's hard to ignore what I see going on around me day in and day out; and I'm more concerned about my daughters' futures. Sometimes, ignorance feels like bliss, lol, but there's no putting the genie back into the bottle, so thanks!!