I was one of the transactivists on the channel 4 documentary, I regret what I did — this is why

[OnTheDarkSideOfTheSpoon]

medium.com/@Betsulimo/i-was-one-of-the-transactivists-on-the-channel-4-documentary-i-regret-what-i-did-this-is-why-7e12350ab6d3

Someone who was filmed trying to stop the “we need to talk” session now thinks they were wrong for attempting to shut down debate and realises that they were intimidating women

Yes, intimidating women = male rage.

Yep.

"We are denying them the opportunity to learn more".

Still can't help trying to explain to women how and why they are wrong?

A better show of solidarity to the trans community would have been to go to the event and make damn-well sure that our voices were heard in the form of difficult questions.

Esther, I would absolutely welcome this. I suspect you'd find it more challenging than you think though.

Nice bit of damage control there. Do you think they drew straws to decide who would have to do it?

Well at least there is progress and this person is now actually engaging with people who hold an opposing view, and no longer taking a #nodebate stance.

A better show of solidarity to the trans community would have been to go to the event and make damn-well sure that our voices were heard in the form of difficult questions.

Questions, such as, why won’t you women roll over and let the men tell you what to think and do? Awful, when women don’t know their place, isn’t it? 😒

Interesting, the TRAs did come across as very intimidating in the programme, and not just to women. I watched it with DH, who is also an academic, and has been on reseach leave for some time, and hence not teaching students. Although I have repeatedly told him how toxic this debate is, he clearly hadn't taken it on board until watching the C4 programme and seeing the Bristol segment. He was horrified. And is now terrified of going back to work and teaching students in case he says the wrong thing when teaching certain topics, and incurs the kind of response he saw on screen. He is now talking about taking on a big admin job at work so he doesn't have to teach students, or us moving to Orkney

Welcome to my world, as an "out" GC academic, DH. It would have been nice if you'd listened to what I've been telling you for the last year.

If there is anyone reading this who was made to feel afraid by me, please let me take this opportunity to apologise to you. If you’re ever in Bristol I owe you a pint, or two.

That part at least seems heartfelt and a genuine awakening of self awareness and empathy. Now just try to extend that to trying to grasp why gender critical women feel the way we do.

I found some positive bits in that

It was a bit hard with the terf this and cis that

But there were a few bits

Though it did occur to me that when esther was refering to twaw and tmam the word believe came up...it comes up a lot

And thinking about it, I believe in a thing called love, I believe in santa and i believe in god are all beliefs because they are unknowable (alright ill give you the santa one )

Surely it should be i 'know' twaw and tmam....but its virtually all 'believe'

That was an extremely obnoxious text for sure.

No self-awareness at all. Zero recognition that, as Lisa Muggeridge says, 'Say no, and let them show everyone why the "no" was necessary.'

What that person did is who they are.

If intimidating women comes naturally to you? If you think you have the right to control women's speech and assembly, even violently? You might potentially not be especially womanly, I would suggest.

The self-deprecating piece about the hair was unnecessary and undermined the pretend-seriousness of the piece. We see you.

We then forced the fire exit open and tried forcing our way up the stairwell inside, our plan was to get into the event hall and let off a smoke bomb.

God im slow...there were only a few posts when i started that

Esther is just suggesting that going to women's meetings and flooding them with marginally politer barracking is a better way of stopping them speaking than outright violence and bellowing my pronouns are they you fucking cunt.

Same intention, different tactic.

"people like Miranda Yardley were still allowed to speak"

Yes, because women admire Miranda and pay money for tickets to hear Miranda speak. Stopping them hearing what Miranda has to say by talking over rather than punching is still censoring, you authoritarian, censoring little arse.

Questions, such as, why won’t you women roll over and let the men tell you what to think and do?

Indeed. I wonder which "big name TERFs" Esther argued with "to their faces" and what was said?

Esther is just suggesting that going to women's meetings and flooding them with marginally politer barracking is a better way of stopping them speaking than outright violence and bellowing my pronouns are they you fucking cunt.

Yes, absolutely. I wonder if Esther means the kind of nonsense that TRAs did to Heather Brunskell Evans last week, or whether Esther would sit and wait their turn to ask a "difficult question".

I’d like to hear more from the charmer who shrieked “MY PRONOUNS ARE THEY YOU CUNT!” I feel sure they could make a valuable contribution to peaking the few who are still sitting on the fence.

I can understand why people might be cynical, but at least there is a recognition that there must be a debate.

Esther is just suggesting that going to women's meetings and flooding them with marginally politer barracking is a better way of stopping them speaking than outright violence and bellowing my pronouns are they you fucking cunt

Wouldnt argue with that

It sounds as though they are just embarrassed at being captured on TV. No doubt looking for more opportunities to appear on opinion boards etc with this new sense of self awareness. I notice they have had nearly 200 'claps' on the post already- great way to make yourself feel better.

The Jam Jar protest was pre meditated. They had plenty of time to think about how intimidating they may be towards women and others attending the event.

Planning to let off a smoke bomb- isn't that terrorism?

Such a brave person to blog about this

Yes Saskia I agree it's at least evidence of a necessary change in tactics.

And i agree saskia

carol

Yes she did seem a little ...erm ....fraught

And yes i also know that her pronoun is 'they' and this could be deleted

Im usually happy to use requested pronouns

But not grammatically incorrect ones that require me to be psychic

If they'd written this BEFORE being shown up as an intimidating yob on national TV, I might have believed them.

Too little, too late.

Absolutely agree a necessary change in tactics after looking very bad on C4. Do you think Esther is working on illuminating period poverty now?