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The loss of freedom of speech, of sidelining women and biology

(874 Posts)
DiamondLily Thu 12-May-22 12:47:27

I've been asked to repost this:

'Julie Bindel had a pretty horrendous time whilst delivering a (previously postponed) lecture to York University's Free Speech Society.

The activists, who say we must be "all be kind" didn't display much courtesy or kindness to her.?

She was abused, accused, screamed at, and had placards thrust in her face. The TW mob were out in force, and she was "invited" to kiss their "man-boobs" and told things she could do with their "trans d*cks".

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-10806353/JULIE-BINDEL-explains-female-students-bullied-hearing-feminists.html

Meanwhile, in the Court case involving Alison Bailey, Stonewall tell us that there are no such things as male and female bodies. They don't exist...?

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10807211/We-not-inherently-male-female-Stonewall-campaigner-says-bodies-just-bodies.html

It sure is a funny old world out there in Trans La-La land.

DiamondLily Tue 28-Jun-22 15:38:36

volver

Like Maya, you mean?

I don't think you can compare people like Maya, fighting for her rights, to people like Trump, who tried to encourage some sort of sedition...

James Fox was banned for putting a swastika on a the Pride flag.

He was showing his stupidity because he obviously didn't know that the Nazi's killed gays, just because they were gay.?

However, Twitter, in its infinite wisdom, felt he was entitled to his "free speech", so let him back 24 hours later.

But, as I said, Twitter is best left to the "Twitterati", who seem to get themselves embroiled in endless rages and fights.

Life's too short.

FannyCornforth Tue 28-Jun-22 15:45:13

Lily I’m sure that you mean Laurence Fox, not his dad James

volver Tue 28-Jun-22 15:46:40

Maya's tweeted on her timeline 6 times today.

But, as I said, Twitter is best left to the "Twitterati", who seem to get themselves embroiled in endless rages and fights.

Right enough. But she's fighting for her rights. Okey doke. How do you discern the difference?

p.s. - Laurence Fox. Not his dad. And he used several Pride Flags to create a swastika.

DiamondLily Tue 28-Jun-22 15:48:11

Yes, hands up. I meant Lawrence Fox.??

Galaxy Tue 28-Jun-22 15:53:01

Cant speak for anyone else but there are people I admire on Twitter and people I think are arses much like anywhere else. I dont think its particularly useful in judging the view of the majority of the population. I like some people in real life who I think are very boring on Twitter (Ricky Gervais) and hink there are some people who use Twitter really well ( David Baddiel).

Gossamerbeynon1945 Tue 28-Jun-22 15:56:34

That people can change sex is the biggest load of rubbish, I have ever heard. Great threads, Doodledog - I agree with all of them! My granddaughter is gay and she does not believe that anyone can change sex. (Notice I said sex not gender which is a social construct).

FarNorth Tue 28-Jun-22 16:09:36

So silly to object to a shop sign, you say, volver ('this shop is for they' really??) but you haven't commented on the other half of that picture.
Is it usual for causes to be promoted in such an overwhelming way, in London?

Are you aware that the 'woman = adult human female' message would not be accepted for display as a billboard or a bus advertisement, although it is a statement of biological fact?
Do you see that as reasonable?

FarNorth Tue 28-Jun-22 16:11:31

Hi Gossamer ?

volver Tue 28-Jun-22 16:18:52

Is it usual for causes to be promoted in such an overwhelming way, in London?

One of these images makes me feel uncomfortable and on edge. Can you guess which one?

Galaxy Tue 28-Jun-22 16:22:47

I feel uncomfortable about the jubilee celebrations and the rainbow flag. It's been impossible to leave the house lately grin

volver Tue 28-Jun-22 16:23:42

?

Doodledog Tue 28-Jun-22 16:40:06

Thank you Gossamer.

I'm a bit unsure about the turn this thread has taken. Yes, there are extremists on Twitter, some of whom use language that I wouldn't. But if the Flat Earth Society started banging on on Twitter, and shouting down and threatening anyone who spoke against them (or, for that matter if there were a Round Earth Society who did likewise) it wouldn't shake my confidence in the fact that the Earth is round, and I wouldn't see the fact that my opinion was shared with some Twitter posters as being remotely relevant to what I post on here.

I see no reason why any of us on here should feel we have to defend the way other people behave in other places, nor, IMO to expect others to do likewise.

Gossamerbeynon1945 Tue 28-Jun-22 16:45:00

Doodledog - you are very welcome. Hi FarNorth - very good to speak to you.

Gossamerbeynon1945 Tue 28-Jun-22 16:50:34

I don't like Boris either, he should go, and I have never read the Daily Mail either - so what does that make me if I disagree that anyone can change sex!

FarNorth Tue 28-Jun-22 16:57:00

volver you equate the unique occasion of a UK monarch having reigned for 70 years, with a cause?

Has any other cause been given such an over the top display?

Glorianny Tue 28-Jun-22 16:59:02

So Maya feels uncomfortable with the rainbow flag and the different pronouns..Well she will just have to get over it. Just as a friend of mine had to get over seeing the Union flag everywhere. She was raised a Catholic in Belfast, grew up through the Troubles and the sight of the Union flag does far more to her than make her "uncomfortable". It brings back traumatic memories and fears. She didn't expect everyone to take their flags down.

volver Tue 28-Jun-22 17:15:37

If the cause of aggressive Unionism and Imperialism doesn't make you feel uncomfortable, that's OK then.

I can't really add anything to what Glorianny said.

I guess we all have to suck it up.

Doodledog Tue 28-Jun-22 17:25:11

I'm guessing from the red bus that that is London?

If so, I think there is a huge difference between a country displaying its own flag and a pressure group doing the same.

I'm not particularly bothered either way by either flag, tbh; but I know lesbians who are furious at the way the trans cause has hijacked Pride when it has such homophobic connotations. A couple of years ago every 'gender' had a flag of its own, so people could choose which to fly if they wanted to. That was irritating to many, but in the interests of 'being kind' and inclusivity they let it go. Now everyone is subsumed into the LGBTQI+++++++ thing, whether they like it or not, and many don't. They are also sick of being told to suck various things up - often violently. Should we ignore that, too?

Mollygo Tue 28-Jun-22 17:29:17

This is almost as good as when T was here. Anything could be dragged in to the discussion as long as it said AHF had no right to complain about being made to compete against cheats, or being made to accept male counsellors after being raped, or being denied spaces safe from males when they’re in a vulnerable state because males want to share them. Oh and the belief that you can change sex even though that’s biologically impossible, because TW get upset if you say they can’t.

FarNorth Tue 28-Jun-22 18:17:50

Such fun isn't it, Mollygo. smile

volver Tue 28-Jun-22 19:31:37

Oh no - have we been having unconstrained conversations about things you don't want to talk about? That may have made you uncomfortable and on edge. Bringing up a poster who isn't on this forum any more is a lovely touch.

Well posters can go ahead and imagine things about what some of us believe and can relax back into their echo chamber, and not worry about having to deal with my challenging anyone's orthodoxy anymore.

Toodle oo.

Galaxy Tue 28-Jun-22 19:48:15

I am happy to have a conversation with anyone about anything. I have stayed here with no threatening to leave. I havent felt particularly challenged over the points I have made.

Doodledog Tue 28-Jun-22 20:08:03

Me too, Galaxy.

I find this 'popping in' to say one's piece and then stropping off again rather tedious.

I've said many times that I am happy to rethink my point of view if anyone is willing to ask questions that I can think about. Even better if they'd hang about to answer some of their own. But it never happens. Thinly veiled insults, insults that are not veiled at all, telling us what we think and how we feel (in this case 'uncomfortable and on edge') when it is way off the mark, and then off again is the best we can hope for.

I repeat - if anyone is willing to discuss this topic properly I am very happy to do so, but it needs to be a two-way street and not a hit and run.

FarNorth Tue 28-Jun-22 20:12:06

I believe that biological sex is real and is very important in certain situations.
What do you believe volver?

volver Tue 28-Jun-22 20:17:15

I believe that a person can't change biological sex.

Am I one of the gang now?