Speaking personally, whilst I do very much share the frustration of those who are "tired of every injustice they see in this area becoming the site of detached debate among talking heads on social media", I also appreciate and welcome the much-needed non-emotional legal perspective which you bring.
As you recognise, social media is really not the best medium for nuanced debate and arguments but you have been a very important voice on the issues here. Please take all the time you need and look after your own wellbeing. I look forward to having you back on X when you are ready.
Very well expressed, and I'm glad you have a place here to share your thoughts with us.
FWIW I've had my own "anger journey" since becoming aware of gender issues, but over time have learned to manage my own response as I'm sure you will do as you seem very conscious of your particular triggers. You can't control how others respond though, and on X in particular I simply stop replying as soon as I believe a discussion is becoming unreasonable.
I have been very grateful for your willingness to disect the law and various court judgments etc and explain it in layman's terms I can follow. I appreciate you don't have to spend time on that and perhaps others engaging with you should be more mindful that a free expert legal explanation is not something they're owed. Take care of yourself Michael - and thanks for what you do.
I haven't followed you for very long, but I appreciate and identify with your posts this week about anger. The rolling back of women's rights has made me so angry these past few years. I realised that it has badly affected my general outlook on the world, my mental health and my outward demeanour even towards my own close family because the unfairness of it has almost consumed me. Despite feeling that it is my duty to stand up for female rights I have to realise that I don't have a tough enough hide to be constantly in flight or fight mode. Hard as it is, I have to accept life on life's terms, that life is often not fair. Also to recognise my powerlessness. Bloody difficult to do though! I hope the break helps.
You are a very useful, knowledgeable, and moderate voice, Michael. I don't always agree with you, but that's jurisprudence! In this particular case, it took me a while - because of the way the posts were written - to realise that you hadn't made it clear that you were writing about an "is" (this is the law (as I see it)), not an "ought" (this is what I think the law should be (and why)). I think that is the root of the anger you received - the tone of the posts came across as approving of the current legal position (as you see it).
I'm still unsure whether you think of the current situation (as you see it) as the wrong, the morally correct, or simply the most logical, position, derived from the position of equality that women have gained from - and I'd need to see any argument in full. However I can see the glimmering of something - which I regard as unpleasant - in what you have written so far. I'd be hugely interested to see how you develop this.
Speaking personally, whilst I do very much share the frustration of those who are "tired of every injustice they see in this area becoming the site of detached debate among talking heads on social media", I also appreciate and welcome the much-needed non-emotional legal perspective which you bring.
As you recognise, social media is really not the best medium for nuanced debate and arguments but you have been a very important voice on the issues here. Please take all the time you need and look after your own wellbeing. I look forward to having you back on X when you are ready.
Very well expressed, and I'm glad you have a place here to share your thoughts with us.
FWIW I've had my own "anger journey" since becoming aware of gender issues, but over time have learned to manage my own response as I'm sure you will do as you seem very conscious of your particular triggers. You can't control how others respond though, and on X in particular I simply stop replying as soon as I believe a discussion is becoming unreasonable.
I hope you're feeling the benefit of the break very soon, Michael. Anger is such a stunting emotion and leaves one drained and exhausted.
Take care and hope to see you contributing again in the future. I know your input was knowledgeable and valued.
I'll miss you on twitter but glad I'm following your work here
I have been very grateful for your willingness to disect the law and various court judgments etc and explain it in layman's terms I can follow. I appreciate you don't have to spend time on that and perhaps others engaging with you should be more mindful that a free expert legal explanation is not something they're owed. Take care of yourself Michael - and thanks for what you do.
I haven't followed you for very long, but I appreciate and identify with your posts this week about anger. The rolling back of women's rights has made me so angry these past few years. I realised that it has badly affected my general outlook on the world, my mental health and my outward demeanour even towards my own close family because the unfairness of it has almost consumed me. Despite feeling that it is my duty to stand up for female rights I have to realise that I don't have a tough enough hide to be constantly in flight or fight mode. Hard as it is, I have to accept life on life's terms, that life is often not fair. Also to recognise my powerlessness. Bloody difficult to do though! I hope the break helps.
You are a very useful, knowledgeable, and moderate voice, Michael. I don't always agree with you, but that's jurisprudence! In this particular case, it took me a while - because of the way the posts were written - to realise that you hadn't made it clear that you were writing about an "is" (this is the law (as I see it)), not an "ought" (this is what I think the law should be (and why)). I think that is the root of the anger you received - the tone of the posts came across as approving of the current legal position (as you see it).
I'm still unsure whether you think of the current situation (as you see it) as the wrong, the morally correct, or simply the most logical, position, derived from the position of equality that women have gained from - and I'd need to see any argument in full. However I can see the glimmering of something - which I regard as unpleasant - in what you have written so far. I'd be hugely interested to see how you develop this.