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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

Digital Spy forums

55 replies

DoItAgainPlz · 18/09/2023 11:02

For my sins, I've had an account on the Digital Spy forums for years - until this morning.

Last night I responded to a post about "evil gender criticals" and the "transphobic BBC" with the following:

People aren't attacking trans people. But single sex spaces are important to protect the dignity, privacy and safety of millions of women and girls.

Do you think a 12 year old girl should have the right to undress in a space free from males? Do you think medical information should be written clearly in a way that women who don't speak English as a first language can understand? Do you think sports should be segregated by sex? Do you think its right that children (who are likely gay) are led down a pathway of drugs and surgery with irreversible consequences which will follow them into adulthood?

These are important questions, and it's completely necessary to have these discussions.

I made every attempt to be respectful and civil. I don't think I said anything particularly egregious and I certainly bit my tongue.

This morning I woke up to an email telling me "You've been warned" and that I was permanently deleted for "hateful rhetoric". I believe my device has been banned from even accessing the site now, too. I had never received any sort of warning before this.

If they're going to ban me anyway, don't "warn me" in a threatening message. Just ban me. Or if you're going to "warn" me, give me a warning. Not a ban.

My post accrued quite a few likes when I last checked, and at least two messages quoted me expressing their support. They're gone now too.

Using my laptop I've seen the thread is nothing but a trans love in - not a single message dissenting the narrative. I thought it strange when I first commented, but now I know why. Disagree and we'll silence you.

OP posts:
Redshoeblueshoe · 18/09/2023 11:10

I used to go on digital spy years ago. They have been like that for a very long time.

CorruptedCauldron · 18/09/2023 11:13

You’ve not said anything offensive OP. It is ridiculous to ban you. Sadly, there’s no reasonable discussion to be had with people who use dehumanising terms like “evil gender criticals”.

And how is the BBC transphobic?! Did they not notice the cancelling of the perfectly reasonable Roisin Murphy to appease the ducking-stool wielders?

Sounds like they just want to exist in an echo chamber, no debate allowed.

popebishop · 18/09/2023 11:16

That's awful. There are few things worse than someone telling you that you feel something (hate) that you simply do not.

Just shows, they have nothing. They don't have a single sane response which is why they just have to shut you up.

Funny place, the internet - often attempts to shut people up backfire. Maybe someone will be curious as to why the posts disappeared and end up here?

CyclingSam · 18/09/2023 11:21

As a (cycling) forum addict with multiple bans under my belt I've been running into this for some time now. As you say, it doesn't matter how civil you are.

Your username made me think of this

(My preview has the video as showing twice; perplexing, but appropriate.)
Certainlyreally · 18/09/2023 11:21

Digital Spy is worse than Reddit in my view

I stopped going some years ago

Original poster
DoItAgainPlz · 18/09/2023 11:28

CorruptedCauldron · 18/09/2023 11:13

You’ve not said anything offensive OP. It is ridiculous to ban you. Sadly, there’s no reasonable discussion to be had with people who use dehumanising terms like “evil gender criticals”.

And how is the BBC transphobic?! Did they not notice the cancelling of the perfectly reasonable Roisin Murphy to appease the ducking-stool wielders?

Sounds like they just want to exist in an echo chamber, no debate allowed.

I believe the BBC was transphobic because they "supported JK Rowling".

I'm not sure where or when they supported her. Maybe they're talking about Strike adaptations but I don't know.

It's really chilling. In the past I've said things on Twitter etc which have resulted in warnings, and whereas I back myself that my comments are 'sound', I can understand why they're removed given they were made in the heat of the moment and maybe weren't the most civil.

But this is just horrible. Literally listing the reasons why some may have concerns about trans issues is enough to get you the chop! It really is no debate.

One user responded to me telling me they don't watch sport, so why should they care about that? They then asked if I had learned nothing from Hayley Cropper. Because nothing says 'real life' like a fictional soap character from the 90s. I chose not to respond to that, but wish I did now!

OP posts:
Bogbrushhair · 18/09/2023 11:34

Also stopped going on digital spy a few years ago because of the way it was headed

CorruptedCauldron · 18/09/2023 11:38

If they’re mentioning Hayley Cropper, they really are clutching at straws! Reasonable people like you are dangerous to the ideology. Reasonable people presenting the facts in a civil manner are more likely to be listened to by fence-sitters, and more likely to ‘peak’ them. That puts the whole trans house of cards on very shaky ground, so they kicked you out.

TastesLikeStrawberriesOnASummerEvening · 18/09/2023 11:46

I haven't been on there in years, wandered off to Tattle instead.

Original poster
DoItAgainPlz · 18/09/2023 11:49

CorruptedCauldron · 18/09/2023 11:38

If they’re mentioning Hayley Cropper, they really are clutching at straws! Reasonable people like you are dangerous to the ideology. Reasonable people presenting the facts in a civil manner are more likely to be listened to by fence-sitters, and more likely to ‘peak’ them. That puts the whole trans house of cards on very shaky ground, so they kicked you out.

I couldn't tell whether or not the Hayley Cropper mention was tongue in cheek, but I actually do think they were serious.

I think some of those who frequent DS Forums are your quintessential basement dwellers, so I'm not overly surprised that gender ideology is embraced there. But I would expect better from the mods or whoever is in charge.

My posts did have a lot of likes (relatively) in the short time they were up, so I'm confident not all hope is lost. But the injustice is what gets me.

I wonder if posts defending Russell Brand are also removed? Somehow I doubt it.

OP posts:
Theeyeballsinthesky · 18/09/2023 11:51

I bailed on DS a while back because of this. No deviation from TWAW and beee kind is allowed

DerekFaker · 18/09/2023 11:53

Bogbrushhair · 18/09/2023 11:34

Also stopped going on digital spy a few years ago because of the way it was headed

Me too. I'm surprised it's still limping on.

teancoffee · 18/09/2023 11:57

I'm another one who was banned several years ago for commenting on trans issues.

SamW98 · 18/09/2023 12:23

Haven’t been on DS for years but it used to be a light fluffy entertainment forum back then.

Think I’ve done right thing staying away

popebishop · 18/09/2023 12:44

They then asked if I had learned nothing from Hayley Cropper.

Oh, that's definitely someone on the wind-up.

TeenEyeroll · 18/09/2023 12:47

All the signs of entryism there too. The extremists have taken over every forum they can. I reckon it is only a matter of time that they have enough of their cronies working in this one that the masks will come off and see it steered into the rocks.

TheFirstStraw · 18/09/2023 12:57

I wonder how the moderation works for DS. Reddit basically relies on volunteers and as a result the mods are often terminally online, socially awkward unemployed people who are sitting ducks for this ideology. I presume that isn't DS's model.
I used to be on there a little 15 ish years ago, when I was much more lib fem. Even then there were older feminists who properly opened my eyes.

Original poster
DoItAgainPlz · 18/09/2023 13:25

popebishop · 18/09/2023 12:44

They then asked if I had learned nothing from Hayley Cropper.

Oh, that's definitely someone on the wind-up.

The Hayley Cropper comment feels like a wind up but it was one sentence at the end of a very long rant about how sport doesn't matter and how expecting a young girl to change in front of a room full of transmen wouldn't be very dignifying blah blah blah.

So while I accept it was shithousery on their part, the rest of their comment wasn't any better.

OP posts:
PatatiPatatras · 18/09/2023 14:01

Did Hayley Cropper share changing rooms with prepubescent girls???
I don't remember that part. 🤔 what exactly were you supposed to have learned from Hayley?

TheFirstStraw · 18/09/2023 14:13

The main thing about Hayley Cropper was that the character was played by a woman. A small, adorable woman who looked and sounded like a woman. Of course no one (barring Les Battersby) had an issue with her being treated exactly like any other woman.
Watch the transwoman on Hollyoaks and the vibes are very different.

popebishop · 18/09/2023 16:05

So transwomen are wrong to care about sport. I'm sure they're posting that on the trans forums as well... 🙄

ApocalipstickNow · 18/09/2023 16:19

All this banning dissenting opinion is going to backfire on the trans people TRAs are allegedly standing for.

Stopping people from discussing the trickier questions posed by self ID and using facilities that align with gender rather than sex means being able to convince yourself everyone is ok with it.

But they’re not ok with it when a girl is faced with a member of the opposite sex undressing around them. It’s not what the average member of the public is picturing. TRAs insist this is fine. When people are faced with the reality they don’t like it, problems arise.

The more common it becomes the more a proper solution is needed.

Heliotroper · 18/09/2023 22:06

DS don't seem to like anyone delving into politics at all, it is easy to get away with 'all transwomen are lovely and oppressed' but try and explain it is more complex and you will get banned.