Yesterday I had a disagreement with @JohnTmrguk over a tweet he made that, at face value, was transphobic. We had a heated debate about the semantics, but John later apologised and retracted the tweet. I thought we’d rounded things off. https://twitter.com/johntmrguk/status/1310088791361835008">https://twitter.com/johntmrgu...
At some point later in the evening, a new troll account appears, saying some rather disgusting things to John and also making death threats. I’m not going to share them, but the sleuths amongst you will be able to find them.
For the record: I unequivocally do not condone this behaviour against anyone. I cannot *stand* transphobes or bigots, but I will always engage with them in debate in an effort to educate and inform - and I will always do so from this account.
Imagine my shock when I wake up, then, to a DM from @JohnTmrguk accusing me of creating this troll account, issuing him these threats and informing me that he has gone to the police. He’s also furthered this allegation in the above quoted tweet.
A big part of @JohnTmrguk’s argument yesterday was that my statement of ā€˜transphobia’ was unfounded. It wasn’t. It was & remains justified based on his opening comments about ā€˜biology’ trumping identity. https://twitter.com/johntmrguk/status/1309889754566189056">https://twitter.com/johntmrgu...
It is therefore somewhat inexplicable that @JohnTmrguk is now making unfounded accusations that I am behind the account trolling him. Apparently he has my IP address, and these match. Whilst I doubt this, even if they *do* match John is still wrong.
The only way to fight transphobia is with reasoned debate and a level of maturity. If you don’t like being told that something you’ve said is transphobic, don’t say it in the first place.
Absolutely don’t double down by making wild allegations that the person who engaged you has then completely switched tactics and is now making death threats, with no proof. In a twisted way, it could be argued that that in itself is gaslighting - negating our previous exchange.
Why am I tweeting this? Because it’s important. It’s important to acknowledge that death threats are never acceptable. It’s important to acknowledge that people do not deserve to be abused for engaging in a discussion; for acknowledging their errors and growing.
And it’s also important to show that no matter how ā€˜convinced’ you are by something, jumping to conclusions is wrong. ā€œGoing to the policeā€ about death threats is fine. Telling them that it is one specific person with *zero evidence* is not.
Tl;dr: if I’m going to have a discussion about gender, transphobia and LGBTQ+ matters in this way it will always be from this account, with my name associated to it. I don’t have anything to hide.
I have asked @JohnTmrguk for the reference number of the crime report he has made. Hopefully this will be forthcoming so that I can waste time I don’t have contacting them myself to point out that this is complete nonsense.
Whilst I have very little time for police, I’ve even less time for wild goose chases.
Screenshots will be @JohnTmrguk’s downfall. https://twitter.com/johntmrguk/status/1309994162855522310?s=21">https://twitter.com/johntmrgu... https://twitter.com/johntmrguk/status/1310122592150355968">https://twitter.com/johntmrgu...
I really, really am not worried, @JohnTmrguk.
I’ve told @JohnTmrguk that I will only be continuing this discussion further, in public, on this thread. Here’s our DM chain just to ā€˜prove’ this. It is unedited. (John could confirm this but somehow I doubt he will.)
John is once again arguing with his very own words. Words where he also calls me stupid. How cute. https://twitter.com/johntmrguk/status/1310124730104590336">https://twitter.com/johntmrgu...
He’s confirmed that our DM thread is accurate though, so that’s something.

Still waiting on that crime number @JohnTmrguk. Given you’re now doubling down shall we save the police some time and I’ll contact them directly? https://twitter.com/johntmrguk/status/1310124939547152384">https://twitter.com/johntmrgu...
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