Here's to the Mumsnet Terven - Roll of Honour

[TheHereticalOne]

I've only just made it to Mumsnet after the decision this morning and wanted to congratulate to the marvellous Mumsnet Terven.

This has been years in the making and every one of you has resisted, in her own small or large way, the relentless gaslighting, bullying and Kafkaesque bureaucracy that tried to bully you out of saying or believing what you knew to be true and just.

I've seen Magdelen Berns rightly name-checked on X but I wanted as well to take a moment to acknowledge and thank the wonderful, clear-sighted, stiff-spined women on here who have tirelessly and patiently contributed to these boards over many years. Some are on the tip of my tongue (below) but I wonder if people would share the usernames that have stuck with them over the years. It seems like a good moment to reflect.

I'll begin with two stand-outs for me: Datun, RandomMess, LangCleg:

You have been a light for me (and I'm sure many others) in dark times when I would otherwise have felt shipwrecked alone on an island of sanity. Your logic and clarity have been a bulwark against a sea of insanity that I sometimes thought would lead me into madness.

And thanks to Mumsnet who steered a tricky course, especially in the early days of this when we had to behave like the bloody French resistance to avoid being sued to oblivion. Moderation was frustrating and we didn't always agree about the parameters but you doggedly kept the lines of communication open between us all here and I am so grateful.

Thank you.

Giant gins all round.

They walk among us.

This board is brilliant and has been a wonderful refuge of sanity in a world that seemed to go mad (the world has gone mad in many ways but when people start thinking men can be women it’s a pretty stark black-is-white utter madness).

Thank you to everyone who took the time on these boards to set out arguments and FACTS clearly and to cite lots of cases (“It’ll never happen) which build a powerful picture. I don’t often have these conversations in real life but when I do, it’s at my fingertips thanks to these boards.

DS thankfully is science minded and thinks the whole trans thing is a load of bollocks.. I know I’m lucky as friend’a kids have been heavily influenced (at Uni) and I know if I had a kid who was more susceptible in some way it would easily cause a rift. I can’t believe this issue has been swallowed wholesale and has therefore ripped apart families and friendships and careers.

Long way to go. I engaged with someone on Insta yesterday, as they were reposting lots of stuff suggesting trans women were being “punished” and were in danger… sadly they called me a bigot and blocked me. I know social media may be the last realm to regain sanity but it’s sad to see otherwise sane women act like that. Which is why this Board is a lifeline. Thank you all so much.

I lurked for years until the Yaniv thing made my head explode and I signed up. Then much later got booted off (no explanation, think it was just a snag but still felt guilty and stayed off but lurked for a couple years). Signed up again. Mostly didn't post but followed and funded the tribunals and court cases. Kiera Bell, Maya, Alison, Jo, and the rest.

Does anyone remember the sealion that was jj1968? 76? not sure the numbers, it was a long time ago but he really wound me up. As was the intention of course. Conversely IdgeOfReason educated me on safeguarding. Her posts often sent shivers.

Thanks Wims, it's been quite a ride..