Brendan O'Neill - Spiked

[TonTonMacoute]

Another article here

10/10 nice, pure Real Feminism.

This. They just can't help themselves.

Either way, you must know that the question 'are these people really our friends' is quite a current one in GC circles

There's no "our". Not interested in reading from a prescribed list, I am quite capable of reading the thoughts of people I disagree with, unlike seemingly many are on this side of this argument, and the other side.

NicolaSturgeonsSOGIbottom · Yesterday 20:46

And perhaps you could also agree that teenagers are full of silly ideas, can easily fall in with all sorts of bad people, and don’t have any power over the adults in their social circles?

Aged 14, at the height of the Miner's Strike, I joined Socialist worker. I left at 16 and my views have mellowed now; for example, I no longer think that shooting the Royal Family and Tories is the best solution for this country's ills.

In fact, I think that it would be a Very Bad Thing.

Spiked and the far left-right wherever you mark it libertarian cult in general are not pro-woman. A stopped clock tells the right time twice a day and I’ll take any small wins. This argument being made is good because some Spiked people have been quite influential on Johnsonian Toryism.

I’m also happy to hear men saying the right things on this subject because male voices cut through to other men, in a way women’s voices don’t always do (NAMALT).

But the politics of Spiked is not pro women on other issues though. I get a sense of a concern about men doing masculinity appropriately, above a sense of a serious premise of women as people with rights. They don’t seem to want to see the modern reality of patriarchy for women. Spiked’s articles on sexual assault and rape issues are dreadful.

Ooh, loving the tap dancing videos! Thanks, Nicola.

No idea what a Shire Wife is, is it an English thing?

I loved the videos too!

I have no idea, either.

Call me anything you like; just don't call me late for supper...

But the politics of Spiked is not pro women on other issues though.

Why does this matter? We're discussing one article by one author.

I hadn't thought about Spike's editorial policy before but now that I do I like the idea of having a variety of perspectives.

All of this seems to me to be a fair assessment/critique.

No one automatically becomes a trusted BFF just because they are willing to say humans can’t change sex.

Sadly, this includes other women, including those that call themselves feminists 😬

(although surely any Real Feminist(tm) is well aware that Mumsnetters are the ‘Domesticated Zombies’ and ‘Poundshop LePens’ and not the ‘Head Girls’!)

I believe it was this routine that intimidated Fred into preferring other dance partners. Astaire’s star just couldn’t shine as brightly with Eleanor Powell by his side.

More tangential trivia: Ginger Rogers was a talented accordion player.

One of my real-life tervern sisters (one of a handful of local Labour women who plugged away at me until I opened my eyes enough to see) spent her teen years learning to roll cigarettes with her right hand whilst holding several copies of the Socialist Worker with her left hand (that specific thing where they use the palm of the hand as a shelf, finger tips bent, with the paper leaning against their chest to show off the front page).

She doesn’t smoke nowadays but whenever we come across one of those old-school-lefty donkey-jacket-misogynist types she mimes the roll-up/paper-hold as a more specific alternative to the classic ‘tosspot’ hand gesture.

Attempt to silence one person and whittle away at anyone who has concerns over this issue and you suddenly can silence everyone.

The impact on women's rights is one element of the trans rights debate, but there is so much more. A complete lie and block over biology and science, the attempts to cure homosexuality by transing the individuals etc.

Because trans rights affects so much it is only right that a diverse group of people speak out about it.

*One of my real-life tervern sisters (one of a handful of local Labour women who plugged away at me until I opened my eyes enough to see) spent her teen years learning to roll cigarettes with her right hand whilst holding several copies of the Socialist Worker with her left hand (that specific thing where they use the palm of the hand as a shelf, finger tips bent, with the paper leaning against their chest to show off the front page).

She doesn’t smoke nowadays but whenever we come across one of those old-school-lefty donkey-jacket-misogynist types she mimes the roll-up/paper-hold as a more specific alternative to the classic ‘tosspot’ hand gesture.*

This is magnificent @NicolaSturgeonsSOGIbottom , I’m nicking that. Practicing right now.

A handy thing about the Spiked people is that they all have to think pretty much the same thing or they get frozen out, so a good thing is that we can take it that’s a pretty solid section of support on this one issue they’ve decided to pick up

Don’t get me wrong I am very happy for the support they are voicing against TRAs and their shitty authoritarian politics. They’re not wrong to denounce it and there is lots to be said for the free speech angle. It’s not the same angle that I’m coming from and that’s completely fine. Just not going to be overall grateful for crumbs.

NicolaSturgeonsSOGIbottom · Today 10:23

She doesn’t smoke nowadays but whenever we come across one of those old-school-lefty donkey-jacket-misogynist types she mimes the roll-up/paper-hold as a more specific alternative to the classic ‘tosspot’ hand gesture.

Heh - excellent! I smoked roll ups from the age of 13, been on an e-cig for the last two years, but I never managed a one handed roll.

Funny, before I read your comment I was about to say I’m enjoying an article he wrote, not planning to have his babies!

Let’s never lose the ability to agree with someone on one issue while disagreeing on others.

Let’s never lose the ability to agree with someone on one issue while disagreeing on others.

Amen.

Yes, a plurality of views is essential for progressive thought. If reading Spiked has taught me anything, it’s that.

I liked DD's take on it. She said that she can agree with Boris Johnson that it is raining, but she still won't lend him her umbrella.

Which is a funny joke, clearly, but as a metaphor - maybe we should be prepared to share an umbrella with someone we disagree with regarding serious things?

That's the only way a pluralistic - lets say "diverse"- society flourishes.

I guess I was trying to illustrate the idea that agreeing on one thing does not mean you are completely in favour of everything that the person you agree with is in favour of.

I don't disagree about sharing umbrellas at all. I'm having a lot of my preconceived ideas challenged in various ways and I think it is good for me.

Tbf I bet Boris looks funny after getting caught in a downpour.

I agree with you, DemiColon. I'd share my umbrella and hope the other person would be prepared to share theirs, too.

So this Dylan has had certain facial feminisation surgery done, but hasn't had any electrolysis on his face to stop facial hair. Surely for a trans woman that is the first procedure you have done? It's almost like he's not serious about changing sex...