Oh Just Fuck Off (Or, Why I Blog)

Been physically unable to blog for the past couple if weeks due to an injured wrist. (freak trapeze accident...don't ask) I still shouldn't be typing so am doing this off my phone with my thumb, coz you know what? It turns out I NEED to blog. Blogging keeps my temper and thus my kill rate down. It's a public service really. It means that loud chewers and people who play music on their phones without headphones live to annoy another day.

So, it's been doing my head in that I haven't been able to use my rage outlet.

I have taken ALL OF THE PAINKILLERS and am going to attempt to list the things that have had me crying because of the stupid.

Feminists. For fucks sake, enough already! We are not, and should not be a homogeneous block. We have different experiences and different outlooks. I loathe TERFS with every fibre of my being but have realised that no amount of pointing out that every woman, regardless of gender assignment at birth is my sister is going to change their minds. I only have so much energy and I intend to use it smashing patriarchy. Join me. Please. Let the TERFS implode on themselves. I'll keep up the dialogue with the Trans*  INCLUSIONARY rad fems and keep some of my sanity.

Music snobs. You can fuck off an all. Yeah, I'm looking at you Mumford haters. They're not my cup of tea either but slagging them off does not make you look cool. It makes you look like an asshole. Stop it.

Ditto white, middle class, cishet women who are so riddled with guilt at their 'privilege' that they feel the need to call everyone out on it on others' behalf. It's patronising and annoying. Stop it. Go do your storify/wank into a mirror/whatever. Just don't do it on my behalf. Newsflash. Just because you may know a bisexual woman of colour it does NOT give you the right to speak for us.

Miley Cyrus. You go girl. You want to twerk away like a Lidls version of Madonna you go for it. You wanna do it naked I am not gonna judge you. You wanna break out from the innocent little girl role that got you all those fans and all that money while playing into the hands of patriarchal ideals of purity then you do it. Not gonna pretend/assume you did it for the sisterhood, but a woman doing her thing? Always gonna support that.

Oh, Ed Miliband. You did the right thing over Syria. Showed some backbone and leadership. You played a blinder. Now let's see what your Syria plan is regarding peacekeeping and aid. And if you could do some more opposing, you know, over the economy and public sector cuts that would be good too.

Think party politics was the winner in the Syria vote? Fuck off. We still need to do something as human beings. That thing just didn't have to be missiles.

Equilibrium is being restored again. The rage beast is becalmed and my teeth have stopped grinding themselves to dust.

Time for a post blog ciggy and a cuppa.

See you all soon xxx

Feminist, Ally Or Cunt. Which One Are You?

Had a busy lunchtime debating what makes a man a feminist.

Is it as simple as declaring 'I am a feminist!'?

I wish that declaring something made it true. I'd declare myself a mermaid, a dragon, a lottery winner! The possibilities are endless.

But no. It isn't that easy.

So, can men be feminists? I think they can. There are those who disagree, and that is their right. I don't define feminism for them and they don't define it for me.

This is what is so marvelous about feminism. It's a broad spectrum where ideas are constantly evolving, where debates are constantly happening and minds are constantly expanding.

So yes, I do think men can be feminists.

However, most of them aren't.

Why? Because only someone who has total understanding of how internalized patriarchy holds everyone down can truly be a feminist. In my opinion.

But how can you tell?

Ever see a female mountain climber and think it wasn't fair on her kids? Not a feminist.

Ever think *for even a second* that a victim of abuse asked in some small way for it? Not a feminist.

Use the word cunt as an insult? Nope, not a feminist.

Think it's ok to make sweeping statements about women then excuse it by saying 'this goes for men too!' Hate to break it to you. Nope. Not a feminist.

Now. Here is the biggy.

If a woman calls you out for being a sexist and you shout that you're a feminist and believe in equal rights, then gather women to say that they agree with you then act all smug and suggest that the woman who called you out is the problem rather than LISTENING to WHY that woman found what you said unacceptable. If you refuse to debate and learn something, whether you agree or not, then guess what?

Not. A. Feminist.

The best that you can hope is that with some education you may end up being a feminist ally.

Though until you learn to listen and support women in the way *they* want, you won't be a very good one.

One thing you're not though is a cunt.

Coz THAT is misogynist.

On Standing Up For LGBT Rights In Russia

Please see below message from PCS Proud

#IAmGay

PCS Proud is the self organising arm of PCS union and has recently released a statement condemning the LGBT oppression in Russia with the full support of our national committee.

We believe this is not enough. We have a 'Proud to…' campaign slogan that is currently underused.

We all have things that we are Proud To… Be out for equal marriage, support public services, believe in equality… You know the kind of thing.

In order to fight the oppression of our brothers and sisters on our European doorstep and also any of our members visiting Russia we believe an organised campaign is needed. We have decided to run a social media campaign.

Saying 'I am gay' in Russia could end in a custodial sentence. Tourists even are being beaten and arrested. We cannot allow this to stand. We believe sending the message that the rest of the world wants the basic human freedom to say 'I am gay' is essential. We will therefore be sending pictures of LGBT and non-LGBT members, their friends and family, and hopefully organisations holding up an A4 placard saying 'Proud to say, Mr Putin, I am gay'.

It doesn't have to be fancy, something handwritten in marker pen will do, but please add your voice to ours.

You don't have to be LGBT to take part. Think Spartacus. If we all say 'I am gay' then how will they know who to really target?

You don't even have to tweet it from your own account if anonymity is an issue. Just email your photo to russia@pcsproud.org.uk and we will tweet it for you with no name attached.

If you are happy to tweet this yourself then please send it to @KremlinRussia_E copy in @PCS_Proud and use the hashtag #IAmGay.

We ask for your support and would be thankful of any pictures of anyone we can get who is Proud To… fighting with us in this simple gesture.

Also, a cheeky RT or a share would be much appreciated. As would you putting this on your own blogs as a guest post.

Let's get this shared far and wide. Let's be Proud To… stand united!

In Solidarity

PCS Proud National Committee