Doodledog
Sadly, these threads are predictable, Dickens. It's a shame, as places like this are ideal platforms for people to share opinions. It is anonymous, so there will be no workplace repercussions, which is a consideration for many that TRAs have put in place.
I've said this before, but one of my first posts on here was in response to a thread about transwomen, with particular reference to children, and I naively asked why we didn't stop encouraging boys and girls to behave in gender-specific ways, instead of telling them that they are in the wrong bodies and pushing them to 'transition'. It was a genuine question, but the replies were rude, arrogant and unnecessary. One of the suggestions, rather than an answer to my question, was that I should 'educate myself' on the subject, so I did, and the more I read, the less I felt that affirmation of children's trans identities made sense, and I haven't changed my mind.
I have been on many 'trans threads' since then, and the same rude, insulting and arrogant assumptions that anyone disagreeing that TWAW must be stupid have persisted. There have been flounces and reappearances, there have been reports to GNHQ and requests for deletion, and worst of all, there have been accusations of bullying and 'hounding', which are simply not true. Just as an example, Glorianny claims to have been called a 'misogynistic bitch' when that is just not true. Molly said that qualifying feminism with adjectives that change its meaning so that men are included is not feminism, and that centring male rights over female ones is misogynistic (full post and quote are above on this page, so I won't paste it again).
That was not saying that Glorianny is a misogynist, and definitely not that she is a bitch (a word that I, for one, would never use against a woman - I can't speak for Molly on that, though).
I know it is tedious for people seeing sniping and retaliation, but the alternative is not to retaliate and be ground down by it, with the insults allowed to stand. I really wish more people would join in, but I understand their not wanting to enter a battlefield. Maybe if the insults stopped, more voices would be heard and the subject could be discussed rationally.
Your comments resonate with me.
I've said this before, but one of my first posts on here was in response to a thread about transwomen, with particular reference to children, and I naively asked why we didn't stop encouraging boys and girls to behave in gender-specific ways, instead of telling them that they are in the wrong bodies and pushing them to 'transition'. It was a genuine question, but the replies were rude, arrogant and unnecessary. One of the suggestions, rather than an answer to my question, was that I should 'educate myself' on the subject, so I did, and the more I read, the less I felt that affirmation of children's trans identities made sense, and I haven't changed my mind.
I did something similar (but not on here) - equally naively. It was based on my own experience as a young girl in the early fifties feeling intensely restricted both physically and emotionally by the necessity to conform to the stereotype; I not only felt resentful but began to hate my developing body because it seemed to be in league with the adult world. I attended a co-ed boarding school and, at age 13, we girls had to graduate from socks to stockings - horrible, thick, 'lisle' stockings attached to uncomfortable, badly-designed, pink, scratchy suspender belts that didn't function as they were intended. I was so incensed I formed a pressure group and tried to get the female head-teacher involved. It doesn't sound very disturbing, but wearing these items of clothing made me feel demoralised and ugly - it wasn't me.
I felt happy in some ways to be a girl - I had a crush on a couple of boys, but also - not unusual - a couple of girls, also. Fortunately, the majority of my family understood and were quite happy to indulge my preferences without raising an eyebrow.
I felt I had a vague understanding of the body dysmorphia / dysphoria often felt by young people. But I was wrong - as I was also rudely informed. No discussion about the issue on this particular SM site. If I'd had the options that are available now, I might have made choices that I'd regret later because - being allowed during the holidays to be myself and follow my interests etc, I slowly morphed into an adult happy within my own body - taking the advice from family who philosophically told me that once I'd left school, I could be whatever and whoever I wanted to be. We were graduating towards the 60s and the culture was beginning to change.
Glorianny claims to have been called a 'misogynistic bitch' when that is just not true.
I saw that. It's pretty low - giving completely the wrong impression. I can't imagine any of us calling G or anyone else a "bitch". But it sows the seeds of doubt. It's a hateful term and I'd never use it about any woman, however much I disagreed with them - I've heard it too often from men, frankly.
I doubt any future threads on this matter will ever be any different. And that's a shame because, as you indicate, we're all anonymous, and could use this platform as a useful tool for debate. But, it would appear, the matter is not actually up for debate which is why nothing will change the next tme round.
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