Twitter Silence Vs Inspirational Women

It is not often I admit to being wrong but it does occasionally happen. I think, for anyone of a 'politically engaged' mindset we get used to being firm in our beliefs, we get used to arguing our point and we align ourselves most closely with individuals, parties or groups which best reflect the gestalt of our political sentiment.

In light of the recent threats issued to prominent female voices on Twitter recently  some, with whom I have to say I have often disagreed vociferously, called for a day of symbolic protest. A day of silence.

Many objected to this idea of women silencing themselves. Isn't this exactly what the trolls want? Isn't the point that we should be shouting louder? Not retreating into the shadows? Well, no. Firstly anyone with any experience of trolls knows that it isn't to silence women they want per se. What they want is a reaction. They want hysteria, panic, fear, anger or any other sort of emotional response. Don't ask me why, it is pathetic and bizarre but that there it is. Secondly, is it wrong for women to be silent in protest instead of shouty and angry? Well, yes! However, there is a long history of symbolic silences in history as part of protest (normally against the lack of civil liberties) and there is a big difference between one day of symbolic silence in protest, and permanently retreating from Twitter because 'the trolls won'. It was, in effect, a consumer boycott. Not one that will hurt Twitter's bottom line I suspect but a token gesture; and gestures are important. I partook of #twittersilence fully ready to be extra shouty on Monday to compensate.

When I returned I noticed the hashtag #inspirationalwomen and that some of those who had not partaken of #twittersilence had spent the day instead suggesting the women, contemporary or historical, that they found inspirational. Those inspirational women, and men, who did not take part in the twitter silence managed to get #inspirationalwomen trending worldwide, something I would not have thought possible but they did just that. A massive achievement and one which has, I supsect, far greater impact on the public conciousness.

 In a way #inspirationalwomen was as much a protest against #twittersilence as the trolls. It was those tweeple who refused to be cowed, who sought a more positive form of protest; where their voices might still be heard; they did that. And I take my hat off to them. Without #twittersilence #inspirationalwomen might never have happened. I now think that while both forms of protest are valid, and I have love and respect for those who tweeted and those who didn't, I wish I had been one of those who did.

History is full of inspirational women, and that is a conversation I want to have been a part of. It was a beautiful moment in twitterstory when women were celebrated rather than vilified, silenced or threatened and abused. It was a joy to read this morning, a real pleasure. Sure there were some trolls who hijacked it,and there were some who didn't partake in #twittersilence or #inspirationalwomen and simply kept the argument going about why #twittersilence was a bad thing. I have no problem with this either. We all think we are right all the time; operating under the alternative assumption being quite limiting. However instead of arguing amongst ourselves, a key feature of the history of protest and its failings ("splitters!"), those who took to twitter to highlight the often overlooked role of women in our history, the people who inspired us or made an impact on our own lives the most. That was a beautiful thing and long may it continue. Let everyday henceforth celebrate #inspirationalwomen both on twitter and in every sphere of public dialogue.