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...

Funny you should say that MsMcWoodle I've just replied to someone I'm not sure is a time waster/derailer or just naive to what's happening......... time will tell

Oh yes CertainHalf I got my arse handed to me on a thread about mopping buckets. Very mumsnet.

Feminism chat is a mind expanding place.

@MsMcWoodle ahh yes the "fruit salad" people.

We:talk about apples.
What about the bananas?
We: well we are talking about apples.
But yes but bananas suffer from x,y,z. And did you know oranges in other countries get A?
We: what? Still..the discussion is about apples and our focus is apples.
(Hand in ears lala) Speaking about oranges , I know some strawberries that went through y. They are very very nice fruit and you are close minded and exclusionary to only consider apples.
We: that's because this thread is about apples!!
Apples have been talked about enough!!! I have told you about bananas,oranges and strawberries. You are not listening!! I'll throw in some kiwis and cherries with a splash of whipped cream!there!!(flounces,then comes back repeat)

Me: Fucking fruit salad people!

Me: Fucking fruit salad people!hmm

Fucking word salad people.

It is joy to be here.

I was just laughing about the crazy Cornwall threads (poor Posie) with my DS. He said it's the same on Marvel Comics threads. Kids just want to make up stories like what would a fight between Batman and AN Other Superhero be like and old men come by and start Wikipediaing rubbish at them, wrecking it all.

I love threads like this and OPs like this.

Fruit salad people! Exactly.
They will introduce a durian into the proceedings to make us stop talking about the apples.
(Durian is the one that smells like shit, right?)

That's right Mrs M!

& for all!

Yeah but what about bannan's?
BERFS!

Also wanted to say thank you all. I've been lurking on here (finally name changed to dip my toe in the water as previous name is on a spreadsheet with age and location). Your willingness to debate, explain and engage has helped me to discuss trans and women's rights with a few people in RL.

You have changed my life and I'm glad of it. Thanks OP for bringing this up

I am very similar to the OP, and have previously been called an MRA. (I stick by the view I explained on that occasion for the situation I was in, my stance was right for me. I now accept that it is probably not the right stance for the default, or for legislation. It was about allowing men to walk away from a pregnancy if they chose to very early on, allowing the woman to make her choices fully informed. I know this is controversial, as I said.)

However, I'd almost like to retreat to my previous "we just need to be nice to everyone!" stance, because it's how I'm socialised, and therefore more comfortable than the rage I'm now familiar with. I'm also uncomfortable with falling out with my very lovely "woke" friends, and aligning myself with misogynists like Jacob Rees-Mogg.

But I am very glad this place is here, or I'd not be half as informed as I am.