Thank You from the Lurkers

[TofuDelights]

FWR (as I still think of it) is a very important corner of the Internet.

I read here almost daily, and the amount of information here is incredible - evidence, links to articles, tweets, feminist analysis, philosophical conversations, academic studies, court cases, judicial reviews, updates on previous cases... the list goes on and on. Personally it takes me time to keep up, let alone feel brave enough to comment

At this time of the year, especially, I just thought it would be nice to create a little thread to say thank you to all the regular contributers from the ones like me, who read but rarely post. Thanks for the information, the wisdom, the challenging discussions and all the lovely dinosaur names!

Hopefully some more lurkers will join me so I'm not left languishing on this thread alone!

Thanks All, and lang may yer lum reek!

And from me too, thank you. When you can see straight through the fake, sparkley rainbows and unicorns, this is a wonderful place of reality.

And thanks especially to the women who are bravely standing at the coal face, taking on the nutjobs in the public eye. You fucking rock.

Happy Christmas!

@J0sephineMarch

Hi all, I used to post on Mumsnet a lot but got fed up with the moderation, so after too many [patronising] warnings I left.

But I never stopped lurking, and for a time, posted many many comments in the Times. Always informed in large part by what I have learned here. Thank you so much.
Mumsnet Feminism Chat gave me a voice for my unease about the lauding of Caitlyn Jenner, and then later, when the issue of gender ideology and children came to me, most unexpectedly at work, it gave me support when I thought the world was entirely losing its mind.

I will dereg. again now because online is not good for my mental health, but I won't be shutting up. Everything I learned on here helps me to talk to people I know, write to MPs and Members of the House of Lords, fill in Consultations, sign petitions and donate money to the brilliant individuals and organisations that are beginning to have an effect. I am sure there are many people like me out there - going to meetings and writing to people.
I hope that in 2022 I will get the guts to do some Direct Actions. I think it may be the moment.
Thank you again. You helped me understand why we need feminism. You helped me assert myself.

I love your comments in the Times Jo. You are awesome!

I hope people won't mind if I give a particular welcome to J0sephineMarch - many of us have been extremely appreciative of your comments on the Times and have noticed your absence of late. And obviously we understand why you may not want to be posting either here or there now but it's really good to know you're still active!

@j0sephinemarch you may not see if this if you are going to dereg but just wanted to say that you are an absolute inspiration on the Times comments sections. Whenever I see them, your comments are always concise and clearly make other people have a think about the issues. You rock!

^ seconded! Your comments on the Times have been mentioned here many times, with posters wondering if you’re a MNer.

X-posted.

Also registering to say thank you, FWR. I've learnt so much and written a lot to my MP, I've now had 4 or 5 meetings with him and I'm certain that there have been encouraging signs of change as a result. I vow to keep writing and keep on top of the important areas. Like FWR, I don't plan on stopping anytime soon!

Merry Christmas

Thanks from me (& my dds, & my ds...) too. Occasional poster, frequent lurker.

It's getting a lot less cold & lonely out there - I posted a pro JKR article on FB the other day which got ten likes & two comments saying she was 'vile' & 'a cunt' (completely unsubstantiated obviously - just plop & run ad feminams).

That 5:1 positive ratio would absolutely have been the other way round 2 years ago.

There's a lot owed to MN puuuuuullling, I think.

Thank you x

@J0sephineMarch
I hope you realise just how important a commentator you have been btl on the Times. Your informative posts were key in ensuring that numerous commentators finally understood what was happening. There's a massive GC contingent of men on there now (not that they'd call themselves that) but they fully understand the levels of intimidation and bullying that women have experienced in (failed) attempts to shut us all up, as well as appreciating the legal nonsense of all this.

Please take care and Thank you very very much

Another one posting in praise of Jo March’s sterling work BTL on the Times. I have missed you of late.

It’s lovely to see so many lurkers and hear that you are making a difference in your real lives even if you don’t post much here. That’s brilliant! Keep up the good work. 💪👏

Hey, J0SephineMarch, how excellent to see you here!

I knew you were a Mumsnetter! (I didn't, I just guessed). Thanks for all you do/did on the Times, and happy christmas.

Ooh, who next? Cameos are an Xmas bonus!

Oh wow, Jo March on the thread, amazing! Thank you Jo, another one here who loves your comments in The Times!!

@J0sephineMarch

My goodness, Jo March is here! You are a one woman dynamo under all those Times articles.

Your knowledgeable, incisive, hard hitting and yet really, reeeeally reasonable comments must have informed the mind of every single person who read them.

Amazing to see you here, however briefly x

Great thread, thanks @TofuDelights for starting it 😊 Big thanks also to all the regular posters on this board who have given me such a valuable insight into the batshittery and have led me down a horrifying rabbit hole. I rarely post (as I don't feel able to articulate easily) but I have had a couple of conversations in real life venting my spleen with my friends.

Oh my Jo March in person!

I owe you many drinks for the amazingly concise, clear responses you've made in the Times comments. Thank you for all of them!

Merry Christmas to all the fellow lurkers on FWR.
This is my go to place for a dose of sane knowledgeable comments from so many amazing women.
I haven't even had a drink but am feeling a bit teary reading all the great comments on this thread.

Thanks from another mostly lurker. I work in a very woke environment and would not be able to be openly GC but FWR is amazing and shows me where I can direct my energies (and my cash) to do my bit.

Merry Christmas. Moderation stopped me posting but I keep reading.

Thank you so much to the women (and men) here and elsewhere who post and speak out to defend women's rights, spaces and sports. You're all wonderful and I'm so glad you're out there!

Another daily lurker and very occasional poster saying thank you. Thank you for making me feel less alone and bewildered and thank you for untangling my thoughts.

Also to the person (because you must be on this board) who ties suffragette ribbons and little signs with feminist quotes along the riverside walk near where I live, I see you and I thank you. I wish I were so brave.

@ErrolTheDragon

I hope people won't mind if I give a particular welcome to J0sephineMarch - many of us have been extremely appreciative of your comments on the Times and have noticed your absence of late. And obviously we understand why you may not want to be posting either here or there now but it's really good to know you're still active!

Seconded! I’ve loved your work on the Times Jo and did notice your absence.

Great thread thanks for starting OP!!

I’ve been a bit of a lurker and am heartened to see so many women speaking up.

@TofuDelights

Thank you for this thread. It's bloody marvellous.

OMG, thank you Datun, I'm just so happy with how this thread has gone! I hoped a few fellow lurkers would join but I really wasn't expecting so many comments or actual famous feminists!

Feeling a bit teary tbh.

Thank you all so much everyone, wishing you all a happy Christmas.

J0 and her comments in The Times are fantastic!

All rise for J0sephineMarch

Bloody great to see you on here J0. Take care.