A new series in which we name the self-appointed morality police who set out to ruin lives and livelihoods. Richard Sanderson's story comes from the world of experimental music
The oft seen cry of "cancel culture doesn't exist" has the same veracity as "Transwomen are women". I'm sorry that they did what they did to you, and very glad you've become uncancellable - it's a good feeling isn't it?
Thank you, all these stories are important and need to be heard, appreciate you sharing yours here. You come over as a thoroughly decent music lover and general good egg. I know you will have made better friends through this bruising experience. We all have, and we are all friends to one another. Go well Richard x.
Good to hear Richard. The countless stories I’ve heard people tell about initial and devastating loss of friendships and families over this issue is always heartbreaking. But things are slowly beginning to change 🤞🏼
How utterly shocking and disorientating! Although I feel the tide is turning away from this woke totalitarianism. The new left is totally unrecognisable to me...People I consider to be intelligent and generally kind have bought this trans ideology (mostly, and concerningly other women!) like Aunt Lydia from the Handmaid's Tale, they chant the party lines. It's disturbing, I feel something between despair and total outrage. It does however separate the wheat from the chaff! These people no longer hold any importance in my life, I realise they lack information and critical thinking skills. It hasn't affected me professionally as I'm retired, but I can only imagine how devastating your experience must have been, leaving you feeling betrayed and adrift. There are intensely intelligent and kind people leading the way out of this madness - JK Rowling, Helen Joyce, Graham Lineham to name a few. You're not alone.
Thanks for your story Richard. It's a terrible world where one "false" step can ruin a person and worse. How I feel this week something big has changed.
Hard as it is to go through a cancellation, you can hold your head high knowing that you’re standing up for reality, truth, women and children. All of us on here have suffered abuse but it helps knowing that we’re on the right side of history and it’s great to know that there are so many good people in this fight. The people going along with it all aren’t worth having as friends. Good luck.
Thanks for sharing your story. The vast majority of the population are on your side. Most have no idea this is happening. Others are just incredibly naive. Stay off twitter. Full of crazies. Just find a group of friendly on side people. It’s how you keep sane. There are so many groups out there. Groups of men and women.
Thanks so much for your story and you are so right - protecting womens rights, safeguarding children and protecting gay and lesbian rights, basically fighting against homophobia and mysogyny had always felt like the domain of the left, but i too dont recognise this new left, I am in the arts, I haven't spoken out, out of fear, but this in turns squeezes my brain cos of the cognitive dissonce it causes me!. I'm sorry for what you have been through and thanks again for your courage
Yes, I'm forever trying to sniff out allies! I suspect the many that are quiet are secretly concerned. It's certainly seems the abuse directed at women is really frightening
I’m so very sorry Richard. Their urge to entirely destroy their target is a feature of this vile cult. They are absolute nihilists. Whereas your integrity led you to stand by women, LGB and children. Defending transgender ideology means they do not give a shit about women and are effectively promoting the mental and bodily mutilation of young people. They’re very mistaken if they think we’ll forget. I’m going to jot a few of my thoughts to Mr Hope @ hello@cafeoto.co.uk
So sorry this happened to you. These, mainly men, are nasty bullies. The tide is turning and I sincerely hope karma knocks on their door … but no matter.
My daughter works at a small arts festival which runs workshops for under 25s. Imagine my surprise when the festival states that someone can 'identify' as disabled. Identifying as intersex seems to be par for the course even though it's nonsense.
Just to posit a note here - ‘identify as disabled’ is often used these days but it’s not analagous to sex/gender stupidness. It just means no one receiving your application is going to check up on you, and that some disabilities are not visible….so you could have epilepsy or depression or diabetes or IBD or an intersex condition and look perfectly healthy but if you regard yourself as disabled as a result, then that’s perfectly ok. I think that’s ok, too. It might be better if application forms said ‘do you consider yourself to have a disability?’ If they did, there’d be less chance of any confusion with anything else 😀
If Socialism has any philosophical basis, it must surely be Materialism. So Socialism naturally excludes those that deny biology: their metaphysics (theology?) contradicts material reality.
A sadly unsurprising story. My own experience of experimental music, a world I occasionally frequent, is that it is increasingly populated largely by wazzocks with off-the-peg identities who lack the ability, or even the desire, to think critically ... And forget any possibility of settling into a nuanced, balanced, informed discussion about any issue of significance - most of those 'identifying as experimental' (!) seem terrified to ever say anything of note, either within their music or in the social realm. They just parrot the dogma when chance or need arises.
Good on you for speaking out, Richard. So sorry for what has happened, but as you observe yourself, you are much better off without schmucks like Mr Hope around.
Yes, in my experience the goodies are still having to consort quietly, and in whispers, and women in particular have to grit their teeth and pretned they’re fine when having to visit ‘gender’-neutral toilets in venues. I wonder whether, if it were possible to have an open discussion and share information, things might be different.
Thanks for telling your story, Richard and for standing up for what I call the Terf Resistance.
I don't blame you trying to apologise but...once they have the smell of blood!!!!!
I will cross post in due course
Dusty
It wasn't my finest hour Dusty!
But very understandable, Richard when you are being painted into a corner and your career is collapsing around you!
Dusty
OK cross posted 😊
https://dustymasterson.substack.com/p/secure-the-galactic-perimeter
Dusty
The oft seen cry of "cancel culture doesn't exist" has the same veracity as "Transwomen are women". I'm sorry that they did what they did to you, and very glad you've become uncancellable - it's a good feeling isn't it?
Thanks Jeremy, it really is. Freedom!
Thank you, all these stories are important and need to be heard, appreciate you sharing yours here. You come over as a thoroughly decent music lover and general good egg. I know you will have made better friends through this bruising experience. We all have, and we are all friends to one another. Go well Richard x.
Thanks Issy, my bestest friends are the ones who remained friends throughout this. And I have definitely made new ones
Good to hear Richard. The countless stories I’ve heard people tell about initial and devastating loss of friendships and families over this issue is always heartbreaking. But things are slowly beginning to change 🤞🏼
I believe so. The nonsense of "no debate" is over for sure...
How utterly shocking and disorientating! Although I feel the tide is turning away from this woke totalitarianism. The new left is totally unrecognisable to me...People I consider to be intelligent and generally kind have bought this trans ideology (mostly, and concerningly other women!) like Aunt Lydia from the Handmaid's Tale, they chant the party lines. It's disturbing, I feel something between despair and total outrage. It does however separate the wheat from the chaff! These people no longer hold any importance in my life, I realise they lack information and critical thinking skills. It hasn't affected me professionally as I'm retired, but I can only imagine how devastating your experience must have been, leaving you feeling betrayed and adrift. There are intensely intelligent and kind people leading the way out of this madness - JK Rowling, Helen Joyce, Graham Lineham to name a few. You're not alone.
Betrayed and adrift. Yes, that's it.
Thanks for your story Richard. It's a terrible world where one "false" step can ruin a person and worse. How I feel this week something big has changed.
Hard as it is to go through a cancellation, you can hold your head high knowing that you’re standing up for reality, truth, women and children. All of us on here have suffered abuse but it helps knowing that we’re on the right side of history and it’s great to know that there are so many good people in this fight. The people going along with it all aren’t worth having as friends. Good luck.
Thank you!
Thanks for sharing your story. The vast majority of the population are on your side. Most have no idea this is happening. Others are just incredibly naive. Stay off twitter. Full of crazies. Just find a group of friendly on side people. It’s how you keep sane. There are so many groups out there. Groups of men and women.
Thanks so much for your story and you are so right - protecting womens rights, safeguarding children and protecting gay and lesbian rights, basically fighting against homophobia and mysogyny had always felt like the domain of the left, but i too dont recognise this new left, I am in the arts, I haven't spoken out, out of fear, but this in turns squeezes my brain cos of the cognitive dissonce it causes me!. I'm sorry for what you have been through and thanks again for your courage
I think there are many more of us in the arts. There is fear, and it's absolutely understandable.
I also can't help feeling that women get treated even worse for speaking up.
Yes, I'm forever trying to sniff out allies! I suspect the many that are quiet are secretly concerned. It's certainly seems the abuse directed at women is really frightening
You have one here. We should form a band!
Count me in!, I'm just re-detuning my guitar in preparation!
I’m so very sorry Richard. Their urge to entirely destroy their target is a feature of this vile cult. They are absolute nihilists. Whereas your integrity led you to stand by women, LGB and children. Defending transgender ideology means they do not give a shit about women and are effectively promoting the mental and bodily mutilation of young people. They’re very mistaken if they think we’ll forget. I’m going to jot a few of my thoughts to Mr Hope @ hello@cafeoto.co.uk
These people are awful.
There is no point apologising if they are not interested in building allyships. Everything they do is destructive.
So sorry this happened to you. These, mainly men, are nasty bullies. The tide is turning and I sincerely hope karma knocks on their door … but no matter.
You are brave and principled. Thank you
Thank you!
Oh yes, I know this story very well.
I was in a band called Astronaut Preacher (https://soundcloud.com/william-a-ferguson/astronaut-preacher-hush-your-mouth) and the other half up and decided that a) she was "intersex" and b) she strongly disapproved of my SubStack.
You can guess what happened next.
Hi William
So you can decide to be 'intersex'!! They treat all this like a lifestyle choice don't they! Ooh, what shall I be today?
I enjoyed Hush Your Mouth, thanks - my next update will feature the Soronprfbs ( the film 'Frank').
Dusty
My daughter works at a small arts festival which runs workshops for under 25s. Imagine my surprise when the festival states that someone can 'identify' as disabled. Identifying as intersex seems to be par for the course even though it's nonsense.
🤣
I am identifying as disgruntled at the moment😀
Disgruntled Gender😂
LOL! Is that one of the 72 genders? 🤣
I have made it 73 😊
Just to posit a note here - ‘identify as disabled’ is often used these days but it’s not analagous to sex/gender stupidness. It just means no one receiving your application is going to check up on you, and that some disabilities are not visible….so you could have epilepsy or depression or diabetes or IBD or an intersex condition and look perfectly healthy but if you regard yourself as disabled as a result, then that’s perfectly ok. I think that’s ok, too. It might be better if application forms said ‘do you consider yourself to have a disability?’ If they did, there’d be less chance of any confusion with anything else 😀
I am sorry William
It's alright. I'm glad I found out who I was dealing with, but thank you all the same.
If Socialism has any philosophical basis, it must surely be Materialism. So Socialism naturally excludes those that deny biology: their metaphysics (theology?) contradicts material reality.
I like this!
Good man.
Thank you for sharing your story!
A sadly unsurprising story. My own experience of experimental music, a world I occasionally frequent, is that it is increasingly populated largely by wazzocks with off-the-peg identities who lack the ability, or even the desire, to think critically ... And forget any possibility of settling into a nuanced, balanced, informed discussion about any issue of significance - most of those 'identifying as experimental' (!) seem terrified to ever say anything of note, either within their music or in the social realm. They just parrot the dogma when chance or need arises.
Good on you for speaking out, Richard. So sorry for what has happened, but as you observe yourself, you are much better off without schmucks like Mr Hope around.
Thanks Roger, I recognise all of that! There are a still a few goodies in the scene - but for the time being they are staying quiet.
It took three years for me decide to tell it.
Yes, in my experience the goodies are still having to consort quietly, and in whispers, and women in particular have to grit their teeth and pretned they’re fine when having to visit ‘gender’-neutral toilets in venues. I wonder whether, if it were possible to have an open discussion and share information, things might be different.
I think we are moving towards that... But then I no longer have anything to lose.
Some women in the "scene" have certainly indicated privately exactly what you're saying.
There was a female experimental musician who was targeted not that long ago but I can't remember her name - anyone help?
Dusty
You thinking louise distrass?
You're right she was targeted, Artemis but not her, someone else
Ewa Justka.
Thanks, Richard, that's her, it was bugging me 😊
I'm not thinking of wonderful Louise Distras BTW