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 another lurker here who is very grateful to the many knowledgeable posters.

Thanks from me too. These threads are such a great resource. Not sure what made me peak but think it started with JKR then the more I read the more startled I became. Honestly I think most people have no idea.

Thank you from me, too. I’ve been lurking for a while – I have been uneasy about the TRA movement since I first became aware of it because of the aggressive MRA-style bullying tactics used, and the more attention I paid, the more my unease grew. A few years ago, I casually mentioned to a friend (as it turns out, one of only a handful of my friends who isn’t in on the dogma) that I was confused what rights it was the movement was meant to be fighting for here in the UK, and that’s when I first heard about the attack on women’s spaces, scholarships, etc. I went home, looked it up, and was horrified.

Subsequently, I became more appalled as I realised that most of my (humanities) department, and my friend group, were completely on board with all of this nonsense. It was jarring that people who were meant to be trained in critical thinking (many of whom liked to describe themselves as feminists) weren’t thinking critically at all. It was very isolating to feel that I couldn’t share my thoughts around any of them – that speaking up could completely eradicate my career and some of my oldest friendships, too. Over time, I realised that quite a few colleagues were cynically supporting this movement as a way of signalling their ‘wokeness’ to get ahead professionally.

Ironically, it was through the Twitter posts of one of these people, condemning the women on MN, that I first heard about these forums, and was relieved to come here and find all of you discussing things in such an intelligent and well-reasoned way. I have learned a lot here.

This is my first post, but in many ways, this place has been a kind of balm to me since then.

Yes, I am another one of the so called "mythical six posters".
@TofuDelights this is a wonderful idea for a thread- thank you.
Thank you to all the smart ladies who post, armed with facts and science (and lots of humour). I have bookmarked many pieces of evidence gleaned from here.

Thank you from me too! I'm slowly building my confidence to share & articulate my own thoughts. You've all been an inspiration. My DH is also on board- I'm always sending him threads to read & he's much braver than me at speaking up!

All my thanks from another lurker! I seldom post as by the time I have articulated my thoughts, someone has said it better and shorter.

I'm in awe of the knowledge, foresight, patience and humour of the regular posters. I was told to educate myself - well I have with the FWR board!

Thanks to Mumsnet for hosting. I know we're not always happy with moderation decisions but it can't be an easy job.

Thank you from me too.

I post infrequently and only when I completely lose my temper and am pushed beyond keeping quiet. I'm very aware that while my posts are frustrated ejaculations many posters spend hours and days quietly and patiently pointing out facts and archiving links.

and [ribbons] to them all.

(has anyone thought of asking mnhq for a suffragette ribbon - surely it would be just as relevant on here as a stupid or an occasional or )

I'm another mostly lurker, purely because FWR is not my space. I'm positive others like me are here and won't comment, I wonder if they support you like i do. The womwn here are brilliant and I thank them for the education they have facilitated in a lazy bloke.

There are posters I miss, not least Buffy, LRD and LangCleg, and yes I would love to see them post here again. Keep going you wonderful lot, you are appreciated more than you know.

@loopyapp

Me too. Complete 180. When I first came to MN I was a staunch defender of the TRA. Got myself into a few arguments with some of you, made a right tit of myself a few times. Then the JKR thing happened and I was like... huh??? Seriously what did she say that was wrong and it all sort of unravelled from there..

Now I'm GC, angry and ready for action.

Complete opposite. When I first came to the feminism corner of mumsnet after being on here years, I knew nothing about being trans. Just what you read in here. Then started reading from people who actually are trans (as I like to read both sides whatever the topic) and realised they're just people like everyone else. Which might sound but some of the posts on here do '' other'' and you're like WTF?! as you don't know any different. I started off from what people would say is a GC view on here as I only know what I saw on here before I studied both sides.

Great thread. I occasionally chip in but mostly lurk. Reading, learning and marvelling at the collective wisdom and bravery of the women who post frequently on this board. Thank you wonderful wimmin. 💐

Yep this board had opened my eyes to do many things. I'm a stronger more articulate woman thanks to them.

Thank you indeed. Some people put a lot of time and effort into education through these boards and I'm very grateful too.

Sad to say I've NC to write this.

But IRL there's half a dozen or so people that I've explained these issues to and I'm grateful for the posts here to allow me to articulate the points.

Merry Christmas

Thanks from me too.
It’s been a real eye opener. I had no idea until reading the threads here, that the GC ‘don’t believe in’ gender identity at all. Sadly, this doesn’t give me much hope for the future that any sort of civil middle ground can be found. But it’s really interesting to see your side of the coin.

And another lurker check in. Thank you all contributors to FWR!

@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!

YES YES YES!!

Thank you all so very much (and you too OP for startting this!). I read all the time. And learn all the time. And wonder how I lived 50 bloody years without knowing most of this stuff!!

Thank you.

@Calmyourselfdown

Thanks from me too. It’s been a real eye opener. I had no idea until reading the threads here, that the GC ‘don’t believe in’ gender identity at all. Sadly, this doesn’t give me much hope for the future that any sort of civil middle ground can be found. But it’s really interesting to see your side of the coin.

Not necessarily. For example, a Christian (maybe living in another country) being discriminated against for their religious beliefs could argue for their rights under article 18 of the Human Rights Act. Article 18 (in theory) supports their right to be a Christian. However, it does NOT itself affirm the existence of God, or Jesus etc. To do so would directly conflict with the rights of Jews. Muslims, Atheists etc. However, the wording supports the rights of all faiths and none - you don't need to believe in God to defend the rights of people who do. Therefore, it should be possible to protect the rights of Trans-people, people who believe they have a gender identity, people with gender dysphoria, gender non-conforming people, people who don't believe they have a gender identity, women etc. The only conflict is where the rights of one of those groups infringe on another. But I would defend the rights of people who feel they have a gender identity to feel that and express it. I would also defend single sex spaces. And the other side is that people on the other side need to accept that not everyone believes in gender identity.

I put in theory because in reality its not much good if you are (e.g.) a Rohingya Muslim in China.

sad to say I've name changed to say this
Why would you feel the need to name change though?
Just like I wouldn't want to see a racist comment, thinking they could just say what they like because free speech and all that.
Why is that any different?
There's still a line.
If you haven't passed it, why are you hiding?

I'm grateful that FWR is here as a place to come for explanations and reassurance. It's tough sometimes to watch the onslaught on women's rights and feel frustration and anger. However, many times a poster on FWR has provided a link or an update or some information that gives me the chance to petition, donate or sign. Or simply shares a small chink of positivity which provides a lovely YESSS! moment.

Thanks to all posters, and also to all fellow lurkers for your silent but comforting presence. I can feel you shouting YESSS! along with me 📣 👏

Thanks to all the brilliant women on here
Women Won’t Wheest!

@NoNotMeNoSiree

sad to say I've name changed to say this Why would you feel the need to name change though? Just like I wouldn't want to see a racist comment, thinking they could just say what they like because free speech and all that. Why is that any different? There's still a line. If you haven't passed it, why are you hiding?

If you’ve been keeping up with this issue, it doesn’t take much imagine to understand why someone who may have made themselves relatively identifiable under their usual username may be reluctant to ‘out’ themselves as GC, when - despite some recent gains and welcome reversals - there can still be real-world adverse repercussions for women who dare to say publicly that sex matters and women’s rights matter. Nothing to do with what they want to say “crossing a line”.

Mainly lurking, sometimes posting since 2017!

Antenatal depression and a big discrimination case bought about by my being pregnant bought me to the FWR board back then, and also bought out the feminist in me. Before then, I'd never really understood feminism was also meant for me.

Thank you for everyone's contributions and for emboldening me.

Thank you from another lurker. I have learnt a lot!