Thank you and I'm sorry

[RebelRogue]

First I want to apologise for wadding on this board a fee years ago thinking I knew everything and I had the right way. I refused to call myself a feminist,I was an equalist.

I did not see the problem with porn,prostitution ,trans etc. After all we were talking about having a wee and a woman has the right to choose what she does with her body. I was cocky and confident and accused people of being judgmental

. I recognised there were some issues and Women’s rights had far to go,but firmly denied there were as many issues as the posters on here claimed.

I was utterly annoying I assume with my constant toddler like "why?but why?"

And now I want to thank all the posters who in a painstakingly patient way answered all my why's. They sometimes got arsey,they got exasperated but they kept answering and explaining and debating. They gave examples and statistics and asked me in return questions that made me think.
And one by one my opinions shifted and I started to get it, I started arguing on the opposite side (very grateful I had replies I was once given when feeling out of my depth).

I admit I'm not quite there yet..still learning,still making connections,but I would never be where I am now without the women on here.

I know you're sick and tired of this,I know it's not your job to explain and educate (especially in a safe space for like minded people) ,I know it gets frustrating but you do make a difference.

Thank you and I'm sorry...

I'm in awe of the articulate women who keep their cool and talk to the lurkers.

I wish I kept my patience more often!

Me too Lang! It's not one of my virtues, certainly :)

I lost patience a long time ago but it's nice to be reminded that minds do get changed.

And then I remember how naive I used to be myself until I took the time to educate myself.

Welcome to the Dark Side ✊

I had my arse handed to me many times,so not that kind of patience.

Patient because they not only kept coming back,but they kept replying to me and challenging me.

Great post and I agree, but gonna give an A- just for calling FWR a "safe space"

Well done Rebel, keep going...

RebelRogue to be fair to you I think a lot of people (especially women) start off where you were - our socialization to be kind, accommodating etc doesn't help because it can make it quiet uncomfortable to start questioning.

I'm slowly finding my way and not looking for praise(best praise is when I post a reply and a "veteran" on the boards agrees with me).

Just wanted to remind everyone that what they say and do is working and does make a difference,especially since often it seems like it doesn't.

LangCleg you are one of the patient posters I remember from my lurking days!

I don’t think I’ll ever make it to the darkside of being a patient and civilised poster.

I honestly want to just type ‘fuck off you shit for brains troglodyte’ on most threads I come across. I largely restrain myself and wait for someone more diplomatic to come along!

No need to apologise. Welcome....

I don't think you have anything to apologise for.....

I actually want to use the words of Graham linehan (stolen from one of his tweets because I love it)

The answer is no, you fucking useless woke versions of the religious police

But I don't think it will help anyone lurking

you are one of the patient posters I remember from my lurking days!

Blimey! (And yay me!)

I love this place. There are women on the MN Feminism boards who change lives with their writing. I know they have mine. Phenomenal.

Gacapa

Seconded

Fuck off you shit for brains troglodyte

Big thank you from me to all the very patient, incredibly articulate and knowledgable posters here. You changed my life as well, rather than breezing through life untroubled by anything much, I’m now an active feminist campaigner who is at least trying to make change happen. for all

Tbh if you haven't had your arse handed to you anywhere on MN you're probably not trying hard enough.

I love this place so much. I wish it was real. Like with an intelligent feminist discussion over here and someone who could advise me about whether I should get a dog over there and an S and B room I could pop into to ask if my shoes are working.

But I digress...

I second the thanks, I've learnt so much from Feminist Chat on MN. Seen the truth in the words and experiences of the posters, and gained massively from the academic and others here.

I will be lurking for a long time to come!

Ah yes he academics who are often accused of being intimidating and exclusive by using "big words". Great opportunity to expand my vocabulary and th meaning of their posts are quite easy to grasp even if you don't understand every single word.

Respect to you, RebelRogue.

I am one of the "oh, ffs. Educate yourself, you idiot" posters so I am glad that you received patient and helpful replies!

I am also one of the people who has been completely changed by this and it is good to see it working with other people.
Word of caution though. There are some people who come on here specifically to waste our time. I know that it's sometimes worth pursuing for the lurkers, but it really pisses me off when I see time being wasted that would be better spent in other ways. I know it's a fine line.

Without the academics I would never have understood class analysis and be stuck in NAMALT hell!

We have all been through it Rebel

We are women who have supported women, supported gay rights etc. And have been compeletely bamboozzled by women having an issue with trans' rights.

So then, we eventually read the arguments to find out WTF is going on and find, after some time, that there is a serious problem.

The women on FWR have given me more of an education than I ever had at University. And not just about feminism. The level of intellect can seem formidable however I have found they are genuinely willing to share their knowledge. This is the new enlightenment

The Trans ideology is an attempt to persuade women to trade their rights for a more 'woke' cause. Rights should not have to be traded.

Welcome. Come over to the Bluestocking for a