Rosa Freedman told to 'Choose your words carefully'

[NancyDrawed]

Article in Daily Mail

[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9736211/Professor-shares-letter-Reading-student-warning-gender-critical-talks-problematic.html]]

Mr Wareham was at pains to point out that Rosa Freedman's actions and words if not carefully chosen would have consequences for her, now he is on the receiving end of consequences for his words and actions, fair's fair.

Tanith: reporting to 'the university' often goes precisely nowhere.

I must admit I'm a little uneasy too at publishing the student's name and details. It's not so personal sympathy for this person - of which I have very little - more that I've often seen discussions on here about how the brain doesn't fully develop until around age 25, plus there are duties of care (although my impression is that he wasn't a student of Rosa's?) On the other hand, Rosa Freedman has always struck me as a thoughtful person, considered in her views so I'm wondering if there's more to this story than has been revealed.

Thank you, FloraBunting - you’ve said it better than I did.

I’m not condoning what this student said and did. He deserves the consequences of his actions through the proper channels. I also doubt very much that he will receive the death threats that he would, had he been a woman “doxxed” by a TRA.

However, I think the University will not be happy that a student’s details have been posted on Twitter by a member of staff. It was an error of judgement on her part.

Rosa Freedman has always struck me as a thoughtful person, considered in her views

Yes, I doubt very much that Rosa Freedman did this without very careful consideration.

I must admit I'm a little uneasy too at publishing the student's name and details.

I'm missing the publication of anything beyond the name and affiliation to Uni. of Reading - so apologies if I'm not up-to-date on anything more.

I'm doing Prof. Freedman the courtesy of thinking this was a considered decision on her part rather than a spur of the moment stress response to that email. I see she's referred to him as a "grown adult" (see my remark about possible postgrad status above) - and I respect her call that people should not victim blame her for her response.

Well done Rosa. This kind of bullying of women who stand up for women's rights (interestingly gc men seem to be largely left alone) needs daylight shone on it as much as possible. I worked in a university from 2005 to 2016 and encountered my fair share of obnoxious, know-it-all students, but telling a university professor to 'choose your words carefully' is on another level. Universities really need to get a grip on this cancel culture.

To the people who say I shouldn't have named this person publicly. He is a grown adult. And he sought to intimidate me in my workplace. I've been here previously and I've learned that an evidenced (sic) based response is the only forward. Please stop victim blaming.

From the Mail article, which suggests that Rosa Freedman did indeed consider carefully the publication of the email, plus all I can gather is that his name and the fact he is at Reading is known. I didn't see the Twitter thread so unaware if his actual email address was shown, it's certainly not in the DM article.

Mr Wareham was at pains to point out that Rosa Freedman's actions and words if not carefully chosen would have consequences for her, now he is on the receiving end of consequences for his words and actions, fair's fair.

Quite. In normal times, if a member of staff was threatened by a student, I'd say, give the student the benefit of the doubt, go through the proper channels.

This, however, is probably the straw that broke the camel's back. Rosa Freedman, like so many feminists, have been putting up with a campaign of harassment and intimidation for a very long time, while the authorities do sweet FA. Well, stuff him. Let this guy take the consequences of his actions for once. Let his family, his friends, his teachers, his future employers know exactly what a nasty, illiterate piece of work he is. As ye reap, ye shall sow.

Rosa's own words, hard to disagree

To the people who say I shouldn't have named this person publicly. He is a grown adult. And he sought to intimidate me in my workplace. I've been here previously and I've learned that an evidenced based response is the only forward. Please stop victim blaming.

@OldTurtleNewShell

I was struck by him refusing to even use the word 'gender critical' as he conflated it with 'race critical' and then saying that he didn't want to strawman her, even when it was immediately clear that he has no idea what being gender critical was and was strawmanning in his first sentence. It's an interesting letter because it's from someone who clearly thinks he's doing his best to open debate but is so entrenched in his own opinion and up on his high horse that he has no idea how he's coming across.

Don't (some) racists call themselves race realists? They're not critical of race, they think race is great, especially their own one.

The letter-writer's like a Texas sharpshooter that can't even hit the broad side of the barn.

@Tanith

He’s still a kid and there are ways of dealing with this that do not involve posting his contact details on Twitter. The University has a duty of care to its students as well as its staff and Rosa is a member of staff. It’s not OK to post his details on Twitter.

I don't know how old he is but he's not 'a kid'. That makes him sound like some eleven year old who said something stupid. If he's old enough to be a university student, then he's an adult and old enough to know its pretty serious to sending an email to a professor telling her to 'watch her words' while making it clear in that same email that he knows she's been subject to ongoing harassment. We're talking about an adult here, not a child. I'm tired of seeing bullying men get a free pass for bad behaviour.

We're talking about an adult here, not a child. I'm tired of seeing bullying men get a free pass for bad behaviour.

Yes, they've been allowed to get away with it for far too long.

@Tanith

He’s still a kid and there are ways of dealing with this that do not involve posting his contact details on Twitter. The University has a duty of care to its students as well as its staff and Rosa is a member of staff. It’s not OK to post his details on Twitter.

Matthew Hopkins, the original 'witchfinder general', was in his early to mid 20s.

If AW is attracting undue attention then it would be appropriate for the collaborating professors to step forward and state their position on the email that was effectively sent on their behalf. If this was a lone and unauthorised action by AW then it would be useful to know this and for them to disavow the content or to confirm that such scrutiny and action are in progress and that they endorse it.

The man is trying to bully her

That is what he is doing

Bully her

@RedDogsBeg

We're talking about an adult here, not a child. I'm tired of seeing bullying men get a free pass for bad behaviour.

Yes, they've been allowed to get away with it for far too long.

Specially when 12 yr olds can make life changing medical decisions.

Ok, maybe she could’ve redacted the contact details. But his name should absolutely be attached to it. Keeping all this batshittery behind closed doors can only help the people doing it. Let the light pour in. Let him own his letter and defend it if needed

Ok, maybe she could’ve redacted the contact details.

Those weren't in the DM story - so I wondered if there were something I'd missed.

Were they in a now redacted Tweet?

If so, I'd need to think this through and it might depend on whether AW used a personal or 'Reading' address for this communication.

I still think it's up to AW and collaborating professors to come forward and flesh out whether that email was an authorised communication. If it's authorised or with the tacit approval of staff that is helpful to know.

I now admire Rosa Freedman even more than I did before.

Also, good for the Daily Mail. I used to despise it; now I'm glad to see it upholding women's rights.

@Helleofabore

I assume that as a Law Professor, Rosa Freedman knew what she was doing posting that letter.

As a law student, that adult, immature though they may be, also knew what they were doing posting that letter. Including invoking authority in mentioning they are working with 'several professors' on identifying 'problematic areas'.

Alex Wareham is not a law student according to the article in the Daily Mail.

I think that Prof Freedman was correct to keep in the contact details: actions have consequences - let Mr Wareham learn this.

I saw the original tweet and yes, Rosa did publish this student’s full name and email address. She “doxxed” him.

It’s not victim-blaming to say she should not have done that. Victim-blaming would be to say she deserved his letter. I have not said that and I do not believe that.

The comment from Rosa Freedman in the Mail just says she named him, nothing about his email address or any other details. As I said, I didn't see the Twitter thread of it so cannot say whether his email address was on there or not and unless posters have definitive proof that it was we shouldn't assume that it was.

Rosa did publish this student’s full name and email address. She “doxxed” him.

Was it a Reading address? (I'm not asking for the form of it - was it a reading.ac.uk ?)