Ian Hislop's series about protests on R4

[KathyBeale]

Just listening to this new programme, which is very interesting, and taking notes about effective methods of protest. You know, just in case.

Something that tickled my fancy was the mention of writing protest messages on bank notes. It's apparently effective because it's anonymous, spreads widely, and is obviously very easy to do.

I thought perhaps writing "women don't have penises" on £10 notes might be fun...

In the first programme he mentioned "pussy hats". I assume he'll just look at the initial protest against Trump but it would be great if he would also mention the storm it caused about women being "exclusionary" by referring to biology.

The £10.00 note thing is a GREAT idea!

Notes are plasticky now: can you write on them? Will try.

AncientLights, I wondered that. Maybe a Sharpie?

It’s ingenious, but how do you go about writing on the new style notes? Like what sort of pen would you need? Asking for a friend.

Or a laundry marker pen?

Interesting! Both the bank notes thing and the penis stickers remind me a bit of that Hans Fallada novel, Alone in Berlin, about a couple during the war who go round Berlin leaving bits of paper with subversive anti-Hitler messages on them. It's based on a true story.

Great idea. I will try with a laundry marker. How Mumsnet!

Sharpie

hmm

eyes wallet

eyes sharpie

My first thought was sharpie...

Might I suggest fivers may be better - higher rate of circulation.

Also write on the back, many shops train staff to put notes in the till Queens head up, for ease of cashing up and banking, so if you write on the back there is less chance of being challenged before the note is back in circulation.

Although it is legal tender, as it has been technically defaced, some cashiers could refuse to take it, but if you write on the back and hand the note over head up its in the till waiting to spread the message.

Just used a biro. A bic crystal tip.

Probably the cheapest pen on the market.

It worked fine.

Excellent idea!
I’m off to the shop to buy some markers. Grabs wallet and keys

I think Ian Hislop would be utterly delighted to be contributing, albeit indirectly, to a Mumsnet Grassroots campaign even if he doesn't seem a natural supporter of FWR he is dedicated to the notion of freedom to speak and to disagree.

Use them in car parking machines, no cashier to challenge accepting them 😊

Or change machines in amusements? Most be lots of others too?

How would a cashier know that you were the one wot dunnit?

I read the article on this regarding Hislop curating the exhibition, about protesting authority throughout the ages, in the Guardian yesterday. I commented about the Guardian's dislike of their authority on certain matters being challenged. I was moderated. Comment didn't even appear, it just vanished. Their lack of self-awareness is staggering.

Alone in Berlin is on Netflix atm. Highly recommended.

I have a wallet full now of notes with Women don't have penises on them.

I usually hate going into the city centre, but tomorrow, I am going to go in and just buy some small stuff with the notes, and start the circulation in my city.

Self-checkouts at supermarkets take cash. Got four £5 WOMEN DON'T HAVE PENISES notes waiting in my wallet for an opportunity. Maybe I'll stop using my debit card in shops for a while.

thatdamnwoman of course they do! May have to get my big girl pants on and get over my fear of using them!

I've got some acrylic pens in a variety of colours. They're new too, so nice and full

This is great!! I will forthwith be paying in cash rather than on my card and will also be waiting to see how long it takes for me to receive a note with a message on. It'll be interesting to see what the spending power of gc women on mn is.......

I've always thought of Ian Hislop as being quite a good sort, actually.
Not someone who perfectly embodies feminist ideals, or who would describe themselves as feminist, but someone who (mostly) sees and treats women as human beings.

Which is far better than the kind of self-congratulatory woke-dude who self identifies as a "male feminist" (and thus so much superior to female feminists, natch) who through their actions and words reveals that they are hypocritical and ignorant at best, and misogenist at worst.