Dittany - where is she now?

[PlectrumElectrum]

Just reading a reference to dittany on another thread & was struck by the feeling that in the current climate she's sorely missed (by me, maybe others too). Did anyone know her IRL? I often wonder where she went, what she's doing now with her feminism. I'd love her to make a triumphant return!

I only lurked back in 'her day' and found her posts challenging (in a good way - made me stop & think & question my own in built ideas, prejudices, and a lifetime of female socialisation - I was a crap feminist, of the 'it's all been done, I don't have anything left to do but enjoy the freedoms already fought for) type. I'm still a million miles behind others but I'm trying to do better

So to you dittany, wherever you are now & thanks for jolting me out of my ignorant feminist slumber

I like to think dittany has founded a radical feminist commune on an island in the Pacific and is now enjoying a life of zero carbon self-sustainability with lots of delightful lesbian loving (and no contact with social media. Or men).

I like that idea - that is how I shall now think of her!

Hi what happened then? When did she stop posting?

Yes I found her posts brilliant and articulate.

She has completely withdrawn offline. I have not had contact with her for a year or two now, and as a friend of hers for a very long time, I am very sad.

what happened? Why did she withdraw? She sounds brilliant!

I stumbled across her on FB a couple of years back and we had a brief interaction.

As I understand it from posters who were active at the time on those threads (I wasn't), she was pretty much hounded off MN for her 'scare mongering' and 'bigotry' re trans. She was ahead of the vast majority regarding these issues, where it would lead us and what it would mean or women's rights. The vast majority just couldn't or wouldn't see it and she came in for a hell of a lot of flack and anger.

No, she should not have been hounded and attacked. But I'm not going to pass any judgement on those who just could not see that there was a problem - most of us were formerly of that opinion.

Dittany made me a feminist. Her posts struck me in a way that nothing I had ever read before ever did. They changed my life and that means the lives of my daughters and sons. She gave me a whole new way of thinking - such a gift!! I wish I could tell her the impact she had. A life changing impact and I will never forget her.

Gosh I must have joined just before Dittany left because I do remember the name but can't recall exactly reading them.... but I remember Buffy and LDR.
They've all gone haven't they.

It's so sad to think they were hounded off from basically speaking the truth.

Dittany was instrumental in waking me up to Radical Feminism. Oh, the rows we used to have. She’s sorely missed and I hope she knows how valuable she was to those of us who were so blind.

I loved Dittany and I learned so much from her. I also miss LDR and Buffy, I wonder what they are up to now?

@LaSqrrl that is sad, please extend my sincere thanks to dittany if you do ever come into contact again. The whole hounding of her did upset me at the time and I expressed that under a previous name but she will always be my absolute feminist hero. She's just amazing.

Yes Buffy and LDR were also incredible. Their intelligence combined with their ability to communicate so that even dumbos like me could understand....so sorely missed. Although it is brilliant to see so many other fantastic women on here now!!

I loved Buffy, often wondered why she went. She was so clever and came across as such a lovely , kind person.

Thanks Plectrum, I will try. I don't think she checks her email any more, I may have to resort to more 'drastic' means, like snailmail!

thebewilderness alerted me the other day about how lamented some here were after Dittany's 'hounding off'. It broke her, it really did. I was not here then, I used to read the odd thread, but found it a little strange, convention-wise (still learning btw). And still figuring out the white hats from the black hats.

Dittany is one of a kind. Brilliant, logical, passionate and compassionate. I miss her terribly.

That she gave so many hours of her life here, you should all appreciate. I am horrified to read that many of her threads are gone - that is a complete disrespect of women's work, and completely anti-feminist. And also, why I get shitty at recent thread deletions as well. This online feminism gig really IS work. It takes brainpower, energy, time reading/catching up on threads.

I hope she does read this thread and will come out of hiatus. Feminism NEEDS HER.

Shame we can't send out a bat signal to the old guard, get them back.

I am horrified to read that many of her threads are gone - that is a complete disrespect of women's work, and completely anti-feminist.

Why are they gone?!?

Tell her to come back. Britain woke up. We need her.

Sending bat signal ...

I have a phone number for Dittany but, like LaSqrrl, it's been so long since I've seen her/we've spoken and that, combined with the deliberate removal of herself from online feminism, makes contacting her out of the blue feel a bit intrusive.
It's a landline number as well so I can't even send a casual text to say hi.

I was thinking about Buffy the other day and wondering if she was still around. I used to lurk on the fringes back then and never would have dared to post! always read what she said with interest, nodding away.

I think Dittany was before my time.

Have seen Offred around the place again recently, so if one person has reemerged maybe some others might.....

if one person has reemerged maybe some others might.....

I've had that though too - having recently returned from a ten year hiatus myself.

Dittany can't return, she'd ruin my healthy eating plan with the copious amounts of humble pie I'd have to consume. You were right, ye gods you were right.

I'm sure I saw LRD around somewhere recently...

"As I understand it from posters who were active at the time on those threads (I wasn't), she was pretty much hounded off MN for her 'scare mongering' and 'bigotry' re trans"

No. Dittany left before we started trans threads started.

I can't imagine hounding Dittany. It just doesn't sound safe...

I think she left before the trans debates began. Can’t remember what finally broke the camel’s back, but i do remember that she was constantly under fire. She was brilliant. I hope she’s ok.