Bristol gender critical / radfem groups?

[Yeval]

I'm based in Bristol and wondering if anyone knows of any gender critical or radfem groups in the area? I think there was a Bristol branch of ReSisters, but their Twitter profile no longer exists. I just need to meet up with some like-minded women...

I’m totally up for a meeting! Not sure where women are based. I’m in Easton. The Thali Cafe is a good option…?

In the meantime, how does everyone feel about a Zoom. It would mean dm-ing your email addresses tho, to keep it invite only.
We could also have a group chat on a properly encrypted msg app, like Signal for instance. But if there's someone else more tech savvie, do suggest better alternatives if you know.

Is this a local Bristol group?

On a positive note, are you noticing that there are lots of other threads on here being openly critical of gender ideology...and amazingly, no negative responses... so far...

Yes zoom is a much better option…!

We can go for a zoom for sure. Anyone who would like to, please DM me.

I’m up for this too.

I've just applied to WRN for membership. They responded that they're overwhelmed with applications so it may take some time to get to mine. While frustrating, I'll take that as a good sign 😏
I've been trying to come up with a way we can be easily verified, as I'm aware that some women here are extremely (and rightly) wary of TRA infiltration.
For myself I have enough verified profiles online that can be checked by anyone. So if you want it.. Just DM me and I can point you at them. If anyone knows of any other way this can be achieved, please let me know.

Looking to do a zoom this coming week, which day is best for you all? early to mid evening.. Best time?
I won't post a link here obviously. But I will in the Signal group, or personally if you DM me your email. Let's get this rolling....

Telegram is a good compromise technology. It's as secure as Signal but has a vastly larger userbase and it can do video calls like Zoom very effectively. Easy to install on phone and computer and has the advantage that it's already used by a lot of people. Not a month goes by without some old friend whose number I never deleted popping up on there. The other advantage is that it has Twitter like functionality so it's easy to have a group running and sharing information on a continuous basis whereas Zoom is focused very much more on meetings.

But just putting it out there as an option for convenience and for the message group functionality. It's something of a go-to choice for people to communicate outside the mainstream.

Thanks Oldgardinia. Telegram was my first thought too.. But on doing a little research.. Its not as secure... Apparently....
But I can set up there if its preferred, can we have a vote please?

It depends on who you want to be secure from. If you want to be secure from the State then you're going to have to start using things like Matrix before you can really have confidence and even then there are a bunch of extra layers that most people just wont bother with. If you want to have a general level of security, ability to keep your group private, invite only, and have messaging functionality but accept that MI5 might be able to read your messages, Telegram and Signal are adequate. Both infinitely more secure than Zoom which is a California-based virtual meeting private company with certain backdoors built into it.

I'm not trying to push the group in one particular direction but might be a bit of a better basis because of the better group chat functionality for ongoing conversation and updates outside of meetings. You can just make a channel for the group. And it's easily installed on both computers and phones (not sure how Zoom is on phones).

I realise I probably am coming across as pushy just from the volume of words, but security wise I'd take Telegram over Zoom if that's a concern.

Apologies for the double-post but on double-checking my facts on Telegram security I found this amusing passage criticising it:

"One of the biggest issues with Telegram is the content shared in the app and the company’s “hand off” approach to moderation. Telegram’s unique combination of messaging and social media, plus its publicly relaxed content moderation strategy means it attracts a certain style of user who may have been outed from more mainstream online platforms”, said Demetriades."

I resemble that remark! Hands-off approach to moderation IS the selling point. I mean, KiwiFarms uses it for a channel and if they get left alone, anybody will. Also, fwiw, Signal requires a phone number and Telegram doesn't so in some very practical ways, I'd call Telegram actually safer. But in retrospect I kind of do want to advocate for it a little. With Telegram you're going to easily have an ongoing channel that people can post messages to as and when they like, subscribe to, mute, unmute and throw together private encrypted chats to others in the group at will. Zoom is much more just an online meeting software which Telegram can already do. And whilst Zoom excels at that, the Thali restaurant in Easton which someone mentioned is much nicer for meetups.

No reason people can't use both if they want, mind.

OK I can see what you mean.... and I don't mind pushy at at all 😏😉 good to hear from you 🙂
I'll start one on Telegram then, where we can also video call, no need for Zoom as you say ... I'll keep the Signal one as back up...

Hello hello! Just dropping in to say Telegram seems like a good shout. Will DM you my deets @LadyWhipster

Thank you for organising 🙂 It'll be so good to talk to like minded Bristolian women.

Hi there - am fine with Telegram too although the basic (free) level limits those taking part in a vid meeting to 30. Zoom limit is 100. That’s all I would flag up - otherwise T sounds like a good option. Thanks for all the legwork!

Good point. Nothing however stops having Telegram as the basic means for organizing, chats and smaller groups and popping in a Zoom link as needed for backup.

Agree.

I've had to dash off to Wales for a few days for family so I'll get on it when I get back. OR... One of you lovelies could always do it if you're very keen ... 😉😜

I would, but am hopeless at this kind of technology! Will look into it. @OldGardinia are you able to help here? Thanks.

Just seen this. I'm no longer in the Bristol area since last year but there's no reason I can't try to help get something set up.

To be confirm, the needs are:

• Invite-only Telegram channel
• Being able to ping someone (e.g. myself) to be added.
• [Possibly set up a Zoom call that can be used.]
• Provide a little assistance with Telegram for those that need it.

I'm willing to help. I'm just coming to the end of my lunch break and need to get back to work. I'll check in this evening and see what I can do / further replies. Or if you want to do this and just want some assistance I can also do my best. Just saw your post above right now! :)

Just to be clear, I thought @LadyWhipster was planning to do this when she got back and so was just offering feedback rather than stepping up or stepping on toes. However, happy to get involved.

i jsut tried to set up a test group on telegram to see if i could hop in to do it but i kept getting 'CHAT_INVALID' ... maybe im worse with tech than i thought..

Okay. Finished work. Need to do a quick supermarket run and then I'll look to set up a group if people still want me to. We'll find a couple of people to be administrators so it wont just be me. Then they can have equal power rather than it be "my" group which I don't want, pin notices, terf people out if need be.

Will post back in a little bit.

Okay. I have set up a group as requested. Can't post invite here, of course. People can direct message me for the group. Keen to add one or two people as admins so they can manage anything. Just sorting out a few details with group set up now.