Lurkers of FWR, pop in and say Hi!

[SophoclesTheFox]

I've just been reading this thread and I am utterly blown away by the number of women who say they are lurking here.

It's quite, quite wonderful to read that thread and I wanted to acknowledge it and roll out the red carpet if any of you wanted to post. I know it can feel a bit intimidating, like you have to have the right vocabulary, or some huge knowledge of feminist theory, but you don't.

Your words are valuable, and your unique view is important because together we're powerful!

We're also rude, funny, and most of all DISRESPECTFUL in all the ways that matter. Don't just lurk: join in you are very welcome.

I did a post on another thread . I am not going to go back and read it to see what I said wrong. I'm going to break this overthinking fearfulness.

Longish term MN user - came for baby stuff and support.
Now I’ve got the rage - age, politics.
I’m here daily and the current affairs boards. Reading, learning, thinking.
It’s empowering - thank you to all who post.

I lurk on FWR board every day. There's always so much to catch up with. This board gave me the impetus to write to and meet with my MP, which was well worth doing. Given the events of the last few weeks I will arrange to meet with him again soon - so much to cover. The stifling of debate disturbs me greatly.

This board also signposted me to other organisations like Womans Place and Fairplay for Women. So I have donated to FPFW Crowdfunders (and need to get my leaflet order organised - pronto!).

Not sure where this terryfying mix of Newspeak, quasi-religious belief and misogyny is going to end up in the short, medium and long term. Many thanks to all who contribute to the FWR board.

I would have joined you in The Bluestocking (love the pub name) but very under the weather with a heavy cold. I'll order my G&T there another night.

Another lurker. FWR is far and away my favourite place on the Internet. Have learned loads here, and the few times I have posted I've always felt very welcome.
I have some wonderfully intelligent, funny and feminist friends in real life too. We're all over 45 and getting less tolerant of gaslighting and bullshit, and less inclined to care about what people think of us.

I read everything & post occasionally.

I’ve been lurking for over two years now. Crazy really that I read so much and haven’t summoned up the courage to dip my toe in the water. Maybe it’s seeing all the competent swimmers? I’ve been a mumsnetter for over ten years and didn’t log in after the swatting incident. This time though I must show my support. The awesome women who post must know their voices are being heard.

Hello to all you lovely lurkers . It is incredibly reassuring to know how many women are waiting in the wings... You probably know that the most prolific and outspoken posters are being actively targeted, and many have been banned or felt forced to leave. They're being picked off one by one.

But this thread shows there are hundreds, if not thousands of women rising up to take their place. So do start to post, if only a little, and be ready to step up when your time comes.

Your voices are needed

And if you can get to one of the meetings, come... It really is amazing meeting other women in the flesh

Posted for the first time on this board today! I think the worry about not being informed ‘enough’ is the stumbling block and also fear of TRAs (even though we’re anon). Thank you for making it easier to pluck up the courage to post!

Coming late to this thread, but I thought I would come out of the woodwork! I've posted maybe a couple of times under another name, but I'm more a lurker, really.

I have Mumsnet to thank for making me aware of the implications for women and children of the trans-agenda, and I've learned so much from the well-informed posters on here.

This board also galvanised me to write to my MP and fill in the consultation - but fearless women like Posie Parker and Venice Allen are putting me to shame. So I'm determined to do more - I don't know what yet, but I have ordered an Adult Human Female T Shirt!

Thanks to all who make this board a bastion of sanity in a crazy world!

I lurk lots on FWR but rarely post because it's not my place. I learn from you wonderful women and I try to pass it on.

I lurk, post occasionally and learn. By the time I read a thread someone often has already expressed my thoughts more eloquently though which explains why my posts are so few and far between.

Hello, another lurker here. I'm fairly new to the FWR boards, and initially had dismissed them as fairly transphobic.

But I have now realised that "transgender" does not now refer only to a small number of people with genuine gender dysphoria, who go on to have reassignment surgery, but includes large numbers of men who choose sometimes to dress as a (caricature of a) woman, and think this gives them the right to invade women-only spaces.

I am also just starting to read about all the "hate speech" directed towards women (am not on Twitter etc, so was unaware). I will be filling in the consultation document soon.

Thank you for educating us all on important FWR issues.

Here's a link to the thread discussing women being harassed off FWR:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3366728-Missing-in-Action?pg=1&order=

Hello I had a fair play for women link sent to me about the gender recognition act from a WhatsApp group I have never really been involved in: it was eye opening! I have since been reading on here but never commented. I work in public sector but feel I have good grounding now in safeguarding issues and could challenge to some degree if needed. I have shared the link (a little!), Filled in the consultation and my next job is to write to my mp. I'm learning a lot from these threads so thank you all!

Another lurker here. I don't post often, but often discuss my GC views with friends and family. I think the understanding is still poor - most people just don't care. There's a point at which some of my trendier mates refuse to dress their children in gender specific clothing or buy them gender specific toys but haven't toppled over yet into being genuinely GC - because that's 'anti trans' 🤔 the logic defies me really.

I'm an intermittent visitor/lurker, I love the FWR boards as being a small island of sanity and real feminism in what feels at times like an entire ocean of madness. I'm a lesbian who's watched the complete disintegration of solidarity with us from our sometime male allies and institutions and it's been a real wake up call for how tenuous and conditional the support men give women really is. I've not ever really brought the idea that trans is a progressive idea but I'm so amazed at how the step into outright denial of reality thats happened in the last ten years has been welcomed by those I otherwise thought of as considered, intelligent people; feminists most of all. So this board, even as an occasional lurker, is really valuable.

The Ocado thing anoyed me too.

Sorry wrogn thread.

Hi all! I've probably been dropping by reading every day for 9mths. I don't post, I always feel like I'm butting into the flow of someone else's conversation, but I note down really good arguments from you all so I can use them in RL so thank you! I'm going to try to post more.

I post occasionally, too busy reading and absorbing the rest of the time. Have learned a lot and do talk about it all in RL but my circle is small so doubt I make much impact although my entire family is now GC But yes, we are ‘waiting in the wings’ and it’s wonderful to know there are so many of us. That thread has blown me away, I sort of felt that the ‘rest’ of MN frowned on the Feminism board but it seems I couldn’t have been more wrong and that makes me very happy (and hopeful) indeed.

Thanks for rolling out the red carpet. Another timid lurker here

Just wanted to add my heartfelt thanks to all the posters here who have provided information, evidence and debate. It has made me surprisingly emotional to discover that there are so many of us reading and thinking about the issues that affect women and girls and I'm inspired by those who are also brave enough to take action in RL. I've started discussing feminism with my DH and closest friends because of you. to you all

I'm a long term lurker and occasional poster. Though now I'm posting a bit more - took a while to get up the courage to post because everyone here is so much more articulate than me. I do worry about the world my DD is growing up in and I'm so grateful that there are knowledgeable women here. I've learnt so much.

I’m a very long term lurker - since before FWR came to the attention of TRAs - but I now intend to start posting a bit. Since finding out that I’m terfblocked on Twitter in spite of never having said a word about trans issues, I might as well join in!

I’m currently filling in the GRA consultation - it’s taking a while as I want to answer it thoughtfully, but I’ve nearly finished.

Compassion and support for vulnerable young people distressed by society’s gender expectations = yep.

Changing the definition of ‘woman’ so MRA bullies can erode our rights = NOPE.

Another lurker popping in to say hello and thank you all for your passion, education and bravery. I have been a little taken aback to discover that a belief in biology makes me radical.

I may start my first ever thread today as a Mermaids supporting organisation is getting involved with my children's primary school and I'm going have to go in and talk to the staff and find out exactly what they intend to 'teach' my children.

I lurk lots on FWR but rarely post because it's not my place. I learn from you wonderful women and I try to pass it on.

Please, everybody post. We need a plurality of voices - there will always be more that unites women than divides us.

Provide comradeship for others who are beginning to find their way or who need the online support (even just, a "Yes, that's how I read it") because they've been doing it for a long time and they're weary.

FWR is for everybody who cares about women and the future not just of women but for our future society.

Dr Jane Clare Jones has been researching the intersection of identity politics and social structures for a very long time:

For those of you out there still sitting on the fence, or who still believe that I, and everyone opposing this ‘civil rights movement’, is just a nasty evil hate-mongering bigot, please...This is actually happening, it’s scary as shit, and we may well be running out of time. This is what woman-hating totalitarianism looks like. This is not a fucking drill.

[[https://janeclarejones.com/2018/09/26/twitter-trans-rights-totalitarianism-and-the-erasure-of-sex/amp/?__twitter_impression=true]