Thread by @JolyonMaugham

The Sunday Times is right to point to the relationship between your place in society's screwed up pecking order and the amount of abuse you attract online. THREAD

1. But the thing about pecking orders is that everyone sits in a power relationship to everyone else. So it can be true both that the group 'women' gets more abuse than 'men' and that other groups get more abuse than women.

That you are not at the top of the pecking order doesn't mean you are at the bottom. If you don't like pecking orders - if they don't sit with your ideas about equality - then make sure you always peck up - never peck down.

2. You also need to be really careful about what abuse actually signals. When I support trans people I get accused of being a potential rapist or child abuser. Do I think that comes from actual GC feminism? No.

If you think there are no malignant actors on the internet I have a bridge to sell you.

Suggesting abusive or threatening tweets from anonymous accounts colours the group you're arguing against is barely better than lying. Never do it.

3. Being a good ally demands vigiliance. When to amplify the wisdom that is lived experience - and when to recognise that those who need persuading will only listen to you?

Trust your instincts about people - and then listen to them. Try and see the world through their eyes. Perhaps you won't agree - it's hard being challenged and no-one is always right - but it's healthy.

Some accounts (of so many) I like @profsunnysingh, @cnlester, @okwonga, @sindyljoyce, @nadiawhittomemp, @giveme1shot, @mridul_wadhwa, @misszing, @lottelydia.

4. A few points on the 'transgender issue', which is so fruitfully being exploited in the UK by those who would like to diminish both women's rights and trans rights.

First, it's just false to say that the strand of anti-trans GC feminism amplified on social media is representative of women generally. It's been repeatedly disproved. If you anecdotally believe it's true that probably speaks mostly to who is in your social circle.

Second, if you despair at how the 'debate' draws focus away from the real problems women face (and I do), remember that if you are trans (or an ally) you have no choice but to engage with that debate. For you (or them) it's existential.

5. If you are a man with influence who likes to style himself progressive you have a privilege and with it comes responsibility. That doesn't just mean to speak, it also means to think, for yourself. You can't lazily borrow the opinions of someone else. I see you.

If you want to know why we're really going wrong on this it's because Britain has a tiny cultural elite. They all know one another and hang out together. As @ProfSunnySingh says, they never punch sideways and they never punch up - mostly because they'll hit their friends.

Anyway. Farewell my mentions and have a good Sunday. Please forgive the inevitable gaps in this analysis.

(And if you come in thoughtlessly or in bad faith I will block you.)

Sorry. One last and very important point. Being economically disenfranchised, being working class, including white working class, is too often overlooked. The huge disadvantage that carries is very real.