Scottish women - speak up now while you still can.

[ArabeIIaScott]

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/police-scotland-set-up-new-30983808

'Police Scotland is setting up a dedicated hate crime unit ahead of Humza Yousaf's hugely controversial new laws coming into force early next year, it can be revealed.
The unit is expected to go live in November and training of the force's 16,400 officers gets underway in December in preparation for the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act being implemented in early 2024. The legislation consolidates existing law and extends protection for vulnerable groups with a new offence of "stirring up hatred".
Under the Act, offences are considered "aggravated" – which could influence sentencing – if they involve prejudice on the basis of age, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or variations in sex characteristics. Critics fear a disproportionate amount of police time will be diverted into policing toxic gender culture wars, with an over emphasis on "pursuing hurtful words but not violent conduct".
They claim the new laws will also have a "chilling effect" on free speech and warn that campaigners supporting women's rights may find themselves facing accusations of transphobia. Helen Joyce, director of advocacy with human rights group Sex Matters, said: "The establishment of a new, dedicated hate crime unit at Police Scotland sends a sinister message to those who advocate for women's and children's rights.'

You feel like that because that's exactly what's happening, pressed.

If feels like the only permissible woman is one who acquiesces to men and male desire.

Absolutely this. The amount of men who tell me on social media, "oh no I'm not a misogynist at all, I agree with the other women who support "trans rights" (as trumping women's rights to privacy etc). If you are a man who only thinks women have a right to be heard about women's rights when you agree with them you are not a supporter of women's rights, or women.

One thought that has occurred to me is malicious compliance. Because there's no yardstick and not enough police, you are going to be lucky to get everything logged, let alone prosecuted. Women might not be protected, but we can still complain based on gender, disability and sexual orientation.

The legislation is so bad, you know it's going to backfire - so it's needs to be done in spectacular manner.

If feels like the only permissible woman is one who acquiesces to men and male desire.

No replacement required to make women into Stepford Wives through our own need to comply.

It seems to me, along with many of you here, that Scotland is beginning to turn into a dystopian police state. It beggars belief that, them being so short of Police that they can't attend burglaries and assaults, that they're going to divert resources to people who have disagreed with someone, or posted genuine facts and statistics online.

Are we going to see:

"Constable! Help! I've been mugged and beaten up!"

Sorry, we have priorities and yours is low, call and get a crime number. Can't you see we're dealing with this vicious psychopath? She asked a woman to put her willy away and stop wanking in Markses changing rooms, for God's sake!

I’m looking forward to it. I bet we’ll have a rerr tear in there. Hundreds of terfs singing “ye cannae shove yer granny aff a bus” and “women’s rights are human rights” of an evening? I can do that. I think I’ll have to. Bagsie the top bunk though.

You'll have company.

twitter.com/black_phillipa/status/1031210896553635845

I write this from jail. My cellie is in for putting up a “humans are mammals” sticker. Big Val across the hall was caught in possession of a “People have opposable thumbs” decal, which finished off a family of five. Me? I’m here because of the pink penis caper. Hundreds died.

https://twitter.com/black_phillipa/status/1044664728491053056

For those confused what “Reducing people to their genitals” actually means: It’s a Terven spell which shrivels misogynists up into tiny yapping penises, which can then be drop-kicked into a well, fen, or cursed depthless lake. Deprived of it, we’ll only go back to souring milk.

I've pointed out that such levity may not be wise, as certain persons may take it as proof that the madness is actually needed...

Just bring back ducking stools and have done with it.

Capacity for language comprehension or humour being notable by their absence in this political movement.

In my day, the ducking stools had cushions. And a drinks holder.

Linked in another thread this is an excellent panel discussion of offence, hate crime etc in Scotland. Mostly about gender identity but also covering wider themes of freedom of speech in general.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=2067s&v=_17Bc8MPCEE

Look, you can't use ducking stools on TRAs, not even the shouty kind. And spells are out of the question. Even tomorrow evening. 👻

Froodwithatowel · Today 12:34

Capacity for language comprehension or humour being notable by their absence in this political movement.

I cannot find it in me to disagree with your sentiment.

Thanks, Eresh.

Meanwhile, I'm going to work on producing a plan for women in Scotland. Anyone with any legal experience or knowledge I may be able to ask, I'd really appreciate your input. Specifically, suitable lawyers with knowledge of Scots law and other relevant legsilation.

A plan, Arabella?

is it rioting in the streets? Or mild tutting?

Preparations, stealth. I can include rioting and tuts as appropriate, but it's mostly a list for individuals. Maybe some of the groups are already working on this ...

It is interesting to note that in response to criticism of Humza giving £250k of Scottish tax payers money to an organisation that had just been linked with Hamas against advice and the day before his relatives were allowed out of the Hamas-controlled area, he has claimed Islamophobia and racism. Will he be using this bill to try and remove criticism of his failings?

If somebody went to a psychologist and said, "I can't travel to [X] city or country in the UK because I've a habit of saying [Y] but I know that could get me anonymously reported, investigated by police and dragged into court" that would prompt exploration of profound anxiety at the very least.

Combine that with the fact that we know Meade's colleagues were suspended for not reporting her…Does anyone that this horror is just restricted to Meade's workplace? Imagine what will happen now in Scotland. We will have our own Stasi informants. Perhaps we might see the familiar phrase, sweetiewives, repurposed.

I'd suggest this needs to be in AIBU but I've no optimism that, 20 days away as we are, this would help people to understand that this is not a nightmare, this is happening.

Humza giving £250k of Scottish tax payers money to an organisation that had just been linked with Hamas

Did you forget to write “by liars” at the end of that? UNRWA which had falsely been linked with Hamas by liars?

If UNRWA lied about the reason why they sacked their staff members then another reason not to give to them.

Gove, of course, is adding to the complexities of freedom of speech, thought, and action.

Organisations and individuals that breach a new official definition of extremism will be excluded from meetings or any engagement with ministers, senior civil servants, government advisory boards and funding.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/mar/09/revealed-legal-fears-over-michael-gove-definition-extremism

We've already seen a soft launch version of the creep of this with teachers/lecturers blacklisted from meetings and conferences not only for themselves but for having an outspoken partner/spouse. Mic Wright and Kate Devlin come to mind.

https://twitter.com/brokenbottleboy/status/1650350899095535616

I saw that and thought it is a very dangerous move - one we have already seen by the SNP/Greens in Scotland over transideology with refusal to meet women’s groups or blocking funding of groups that do not meet their ideology. Also the number of politicians including Labour, blocking constituents and refusing to meet with them. Funding wise we have also see the Arts Council block LBG Alliance and we know there are activist civil servants itching to have an excuse to further block criticism of gender ideology.

Gove may have particular extremists in mind, but he would be beyond naive if he thinks others won’t bend the definition to their own ideology. Including blocking the Conservative Party completely if they could.

Yes. Truly stupid sledgehammer to a nut on Gove's part, and would be (another) massive trojan horse.