Monday, May 7, 2018
Wednesday, May 2, 2018
My Response
Dear Editor
I hold one of the accounts blocked by the Repeal_Shield. I see that the administrators have charged that the 8,000
accounts blocked 'have been abusive, have spread misinformation about repeal or abortion, or have engaged in consistent
trolling of pro-choice accounts.'
I trained as a nurse, midwife and public health nurse in Ireland and the UK and worked in Ireland for 20 years. When the
repeal movement began to take off, and questions began to be asked about pregnancy and birth, I thought my knowledge
would be useful. But I was in for a shock. Instead of welcoming information, many repealers were hostile. I was called a
Liar more times than I can count, a Fraud, a Plastic Paddy, (funny) a Fake Nurse, and worse!
All I was doing was sharing my knowledge and experiences during my 40-year career in healthcare, some of them around
abortion in the UK and later, here in the USA, where I live in a State which NARAL give an A grade to. I was never
abusive, never called anybody names. I never spread misinformation, and I have never 'trolled'. The problem I found
though, is that if you contradict the repeal side, they call that trolling.
Name, etc
I hold one of the accounts blocked by the Repeal_Shield. I see that the administrators have charged that the 8,000
accounts blocked 'have been abusive, have spread misinformation about repeal or abortion, or have engaged in consistent
trolling of pro-choice accounts.'
I trained as a nurse, midwife and public health nurse in Ireland and the UK and worked in Ireland for 20 years. When the
repeal movement began to take off, and questions began to be asked about pregnancy and birth, I thought my knowledge
would be useful. But I was in for a shock. Instead of welcoming information, many repealers were hostile. I was called a
Liar more times than I can count, a Fraud, a Plastic Paddy, (funny) a Fake Nurse, and worse!
All I was doing was sharing my knowledge and experiences during my 40-year career in healthcare, some of them around
abortion in the UK and later, here in the USA, where I live in a State which NARAL give an A grade to. I was never
abusive, never called anybody names. I never spread misinformation, and I have never 'trolled'. The problem I found
though, is that if you contradict the repeal side, they call that trolling.
Name, etc
Letter about Repeal Shield to Irish Times!
Sir, – As the administrators of the Repeal Shield twitter account, we would appreciate the opportunity to clarify some points made by Phelim McAleer.
Repeal Shield is a twitter account which uses the freely available “Block Together” tool to block accounts that we feel have been abusive, have spread misinformation about repeal or abortion, or have engaged in consistent trolling of pro-choice accounts.
Our 3,000 users have signed up voluntarily and we have blocked in excess of 8,000 accounts on their behalf.
Contrary to Phelim McAleer’s assertion, none of these accounts have been blocked because of their anti-repeal views. They have been blocked because of the manner of their engagement.
It is also important to note that Repeal Shield users can unsubscribe at any time.
However, our feedback is that the overwhelming majority find their twitter experience greatly enhanced by using the tool.
Finally, Repeal Shield is not affiliated to, or materially supported by, any of the organisations set up to campaign for repeal.
We are an entirely voluntary group set up in order to counter lies and abuse from those who oppose repeal and do not engage in respectful, civilised debate. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN LEONARD,
Flaxweiler,
Luxembourg;
HAZEL O’KEEFE,
Frankfurt,
Germany;
NIAMH NOLAN,
Limerick;
AIDAN O’BRIEN,
Drimnagh,
Dublin 12.
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