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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

Does anyone else not quite get James O’Brien

53 replies

ACatCalledPushka · 02/11/2023 20:15

I listen to LBC a lot - I work from home and enjoy the company of Nick Ferrari, James O’B, the amazing Shelagh and the lovely Tom, (only catch Ian Dale on days I’m taking my daughter to football).

i don’t share all their political views but I enjoy their shows and respect their viewpoints.

But I get so frustrated with James. He speaks about misogyny, how women learn from an early age to appease men, couch things in a certain way for male recipients of an email, how many of us hold keys between our fingers to protect ourselves against potential male attackers etc. it seems seems that he really understands why women are on their guard against potential male abuse.

Until of course he discusses trans issues. And then when a male says he’s a woman we’re all supposed to let down our guard and say ‘come on over sister’ when that male has had all the male privilege that JOB talks about and still has male attributes (and usually genitalia too). He spoke about how he found a unisex toilet absolutely fine (of course he did, he’s never had a stupendously heavy period when you’ve got blood on your hands, never been abused by a male, not of a religion that means you can’t share toilets with males).

Sorry just need to rant after his show today - he thinks there’s misogyny in Whitehall, without realising he’s part of the patriarchy. He really needs to leave these conversations to Shelagh.

OP posts:
Apollo441 · 02/11/2023 20:20

He's a twat. Look no further for an explanation.

Snapespeare · 02/11/2023 20:23

Talks over women and <head tilts> 'oh mate'' to any bloke with a sob story.

cariadlet · 02/11/2023 20:25

Although he did have a good interview with Amanda Abbington on his podcast.

ThomasinaLivesHere · 02/11/2023 20:25

He’s just parroting what he’s learnt feminist men have to say. I don’t believe he believes most of it.

I agree with a decent amount of his politics but I find him so smug and annoying to listen to. He talks about others having privilege etc but anyone challenging him is cut off.

ChishiyaBat · 02/11/2023 20:25

I hate James oB I think he's a complete knob!

AnxiousPangolin · 02/11/2023 20:26

I thought the same thing about him. I like him a lot but a couple of years ago he had a GC woman call in who put her views across really well. She wasn’t transphobic, she wasn’t shouty, she just explained concerns over self ID in a calm and reasonable manner. By contrast, O’Brien kept talking over her with aggressive questioning - ‘But WHY don’t you want to share a changing room or toilet with a transwoman, are you saying they’re a threat? WHY do you think they’re a threat?’ etc.

They hadn’t even been discussing changing rooms or toilets, he just latched onto it and wouldn’t listen to anything she said.

missskinnylegz · 02/11/2023 20:27

Proper nasty fucker that one

Original poster
ACatCalledPushka · 02/11/2023 20:29

It’s almost the patronising ‘I support women’ isn’t it - without actually doing so.

OP posts:
WickedSerious · 02/11/2023 20:30

He's a prick,there's nothing more to get.

FunCatSunPat · 02/11/2023 20:38

Is he the one who shoehorns the word "scintilla" into every other sentence? He does come across like a massive twat. Tom Swarbrick seems lovely though 😍

Original poster
ACatCalledPushka · 02/11/2023 20:43

Have to be honest I used to like JOB, but I feel he’s so wrong on this and so dismissive of women’s fears - maybe he’s the misogynist for not listening to women

OP posts:
YearsofYears · 02/11/2023 20:50

I found him so annoying on those viral brexit videos from his show. Usually seemed to be him getting somebody old on and pompously proclaiming how ignorant they were 🙄

catduckgoose · 02/11/2023 21:17

He switches into angry shouting bully mode far too easily. Shows his true colours. Gives me the same horrible unease as other abusive men.

Tinysoxxx · 02/11/2023 21:27

James!
Hello!
James if you are on here looking, please have a read of this debate - if starts with Helen Joyce (watch the link) then a second debate ensues on here. See what you think about this person and what motives they have. Dig a bit deeper and you get to the bottom of the feelz. Takes a while because they don’t really say what they mean but it obvious in the end:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4928929-trans-ideology-a-real-life-debate?page=1

Trans Ideology - a real life debate | Mumsnet

So something that is far too rare - a proper debate For me positions can be summarised as: Mark Glenening - free speech paramount - and shouldnt ha...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4928929-trans-ideology-a-real-life-debate?page=1

menopausalmare · 02/11/2023 21:39

James O'B talks a lot about the emperor's new clothes and gets frustrated when callers can't see his point of view. Yet when it comes to women's rights and safety versus trans issues he's still one of the crowd clapping and admiring the emperor. He has two daughters, you'd think he'd have more sense.

pieceofpasta · 02/11/2023 21:41

Yes I feel the same. He's a hypocrite and I've stopped listening to him.

ItsALongWayToTheTop · 02/11/2023 21:48

I like LBC but switch to something else when he's on - smug, patronising, condescending & self-absorbed... is how I'd describe him.

Hearmenow23 · 02/11/2023 21:56

I completely agree. I won't listen to him now.

FlirtsWithRhinos · 02/11/2023 22:02

I think a lot of these self-id-as-feminist men have a certain mental concept of the women they are feministing for. They are imagining women who suffer patriarchy nobly and still put others first and who toe the line when it comes to sex work, trans women and so on. Women who reflect back to these men their own righteousness, not women who make them look at their own complictness in patriarchy and their own expectations of women.

TERFs don't fit that image so our experiences of patriarchial oppression don't count as sexism.

It's kind of like Victorian deserving and undeserving poor. These men underneath still firmly believe it's their right to determine which women are valued and which are not.

darksoya · 02/11/2023 22:18

I can't bear the beard stroking wanker that he is.

EarthSight · 02/11/2023 22:52

I heard him discussing things that I did not particularity feel strongly about years ago, and my take-away was that he's smug, condescending, and ends calls quickly without allowing people enough room to properly make their point. That would be the opposite of what he wants, which is to orchestrate one situation after the other where he grandstands in front of his listeners and comes out on top.

Given that, I wasn't all surprised at the way he handled the interview with Posie Parker.

shebathequeenof · 02/11/2023 23:14

darksoya · 02/11/2023 22:18

I can't bear the beard stroking wanker that he is.

Same! And you described him to a T.

HRTQueen · 03/11/2023 00:43

I have never liked him even if I do agree with some of his political views and I’m quite glad there are more on the left now who are questioning his approach

i find him bullish and he enjoys humiliating callers

i have heard him talk over and dismiss women concerns too many times to know he is no feminist