Who have we lost?

[Pratchet]

I hope uterati comes back. I have seen all the great women today plus lots of new ones.

Delurking to show support.

I have Asperger's and dyslexia so I'm often put off posting on forums. I don't want to be mocked for any errors I make or there be a misunderstanding due to the lack of tone and intention.

BUT it is time for lurkers like me to make ourselves know and show support and thanks to the determined and strong women and allies who have spoken out.

However it would be wrong for for some to think our silence is acceptance. We tell out friends and family, sign petitions, campaign, go to women's meetings and talks and write our MPs.

We also are your audience Mumsnet. We make up a huge percentage of the sites visitors, we read what your members write, buy or avoid places and products on their recommendation and see the ads on this website. We are your income too.
Don't silence the posters who bring women like me to this site. If they go so do we.

"MNHQ may find that the three strikes within six weeks policy will be used as a tool to hollow out FWR."

Of course - that's why they've set it at 6 weeks, not one. Once they've got rid of you and Datun, and probably 20/30 key repeat posters, the job will be done. Others won't dare speak much even if they're here.

They won't lose viewing audience figures for some time though as many will lurk from both sides to see the outcomes. They're probably hoping new groups will flourish instead.

Another delurker here. Peak transed by Man Friday, suddenly there is a whole world of weirdness out there that I was blissfully ignoring til it slapped me round the face!
I am really struggling with the fact that MN who I have long viewed as an adult voice in this silly world is failing so badly on this issue.
Where is the powerful campaign akin to post natal provision or bounty? To me this one issue has as much danger to women and girls, and I am bitterly disappointed that MN is trying to silence the debate.

MNHQ may find that the three strikes within six weeks policy will be used as a tool to hollow out FWR.

Why six weeks? It seems like an odd time period.

I'm a bit undecided at Mumsnet's MO.

Is there any discussion when a strike is issued. Theoretically a long post correctly gendered according to the new rules could get deleted and a strike issued for one inadvertently placed "he"

It concerns me that there seems to be no confirmation that these rules apply elsewhere on Mumsnet.

It is very poor that clarifications are buried in long threads and misconceptions allowed to spread. If for example the natal sex thread goes or drops down the board new users are going to be unaware about that clarification.

I find it very odd that such a busy website is communicating with it's users so badly.

Sorry for the derail.

I think they're trying to fudge it and while you might not believe this, I think its for our sake. Eg they have given themselves a reason to offer benefit of the doubt.

Further to @Pratchet's comment above, MNT's recent update to guidelines etc. puts me in mind of the Good Fight episode about social media moderation of "hate speech". The episode was “Social Media And Its Discontents” with an ostensibly alt-right character, Felix Staples.

tl;dr There's an argument for not being corralled into implementing guidelines in an oppressive manner and it was outlined in a legal drama.

Overall, there was the impression that it is pretty much impossible to moderate communication when it's plausible that not all of the parties are participating in good faith and just in it to exhaust resources and act as agents of chaos.

Within the episode, the savvy tech users found it trivially easy to game moderation and to stay within the limits of actionable comments and "protected speech". Attempts to handle this raised the spectre of endless amendments that are pushed into draconian censorship. At which point, you need an endless and hugely expensive appeals process or, you don't permit discussion or comment. (That's a very simple overview of quite a byzantine plot.)

That story line was interesting but quite depressing in its conclusion. Diane Lockhart (lead character and law partner) sums it up in a final dismissal to Felix Staples:
"“You’re a clown. What’s worse is you’re a smart clown, who occasionally has a point, a point you destroyed by mixing it up with racism and misogyny you probably don’t even believe...You think this is some grand rebellion against progressives and Social Justice Warriors? It’s not. You’re just some kid in the corner pissing yourself, so have at it.“"

I'm a lurker and I read threads daily on here but never or rarely comment, mainly because there are some very eloquent women and I feel [stupidly] inferior.

But you've all opened my eyes and off the back of my readings I've had some in-depth conversations with my husband and 18yr old daughter.

I'm not sure where I'd look to keep reading and educating myself if people just vanished into the ether.

Why six weeks? It seems like an odd time period.

Smacks a bit of covering for the school summer holiday trolling!

Some of the best threads I have read on this issue focus on impact. Things like the real life impact on girls and women in sports. It is perfectly possible to talk about these things whilst using language that is not lying, but won't get you banned. I think it is more powerful if we can speak the unadulterated truth, but it is still possible to have an impact. And worth making sure everyone stays on this board.

Dammit. New member here, only made a few posts so far, and felt I was walking a tightrope the whole time, so unfair.

Now they have given me my first strike! And I have no idea why. It was a post about Madigan being present in the House on the night of the HOC meeting, by coincidence, to attend a different meeting.

So for that, strike 1 already.

I expect I will be banned soon. The intent is to get rid of us, one by one.

Has everyone joined up to the replacement yet? I have. I guess I will get strike 2 now for mentioning it even exists.

Unless we restrict ourselves to discussing nappies, ALL of us will be banned, it is just a matter of time.

Others won't dare speak much even if they're here.

This.

Picking people off in order to intimidate the remainder into silence is a very old and very successful tactic.

Southfields noooo

Well if they banned all the feminists, they would be stupid. The feminism here is the only thing about from the design that distinguishes it from NM. Every site needs its own unique thing. And without that, its design is not I think unique enough to distinguish MN. MN actually needs its feminists.
And no I don't think it is the death knoll. There have been crack downs before. A few women get banned, and then things carry on.

Hey, if it's 3 strikes in 6 weeks, then I shall just not post anything on here for 6 weeks. Simples!

“Picking people off in order to intimidate the remainder into silence is a very old and very successful tactic.”

Damn right.

Dans ce pays-ci, il est bon de tuer de temps en temps un amiral pour encourager les autres

BUT it is time for lurkers like me to make ourselves known and show support and thanks to the determined and strong women and allies who have spoken out.

^ De-lurking to agree.

The 'fact' that mumsnet is being silenced is on the reddit gender critical forum

So, how many have we lost so far?

Hey babel, what is we posted all of our posts in a foreign language? Could we still be policed and banned?

Hahah. Maybe we could ... we will all be in scold’s bridles by the year’s end the way this is going.

It’s depressing, but keep fighting the good fight. Keep talking.

It has been really incredible and moving to read all the stories of women who have been reading without posting too much, but who have had their outlook changed or inspired by the fantastic women on this board.

Mumsnet's most valuable asset is its posters - IMO the women who post on FWR are the creme de la creme! Mumsnet conspires to silence us? Well then, they can kiss goodbye to their business.

Delurking to say how much I've appreciated the robust conversation on this issue here. I don't want you lot to leave. I feel like my feminism and my critical thought has only just been reawakened!

Returning old timer here.#peaktrans brought me back to show support and express my huge disappointment in MN of all places trying to silence women's voices.

So nice this has become not 'who have we lost' but 'look at who we gained'

What a lovely thing to point out, Pratchet. It's true, and so encouraging.