Clementine Ford

[blahblahboring]

I think her disdain for her loyal followers is what irks me the most about this situation. She sneeringly looks down on them for being privileged white women. How she doesn’t recognise herself as a privileged white woman also is beyond me. But I guess her privilege is negated (in her mind) because she does soooo much important work… by posting shit online for privileged white women

 

[hazelnot]

It's all fucking abhorrent. Has been for years. I've been watching the recent news closely and honestly find it exhausting opening my social media to find more of the same, from people less qualified to share. I've never really understood why anybody expects opinions on anything from people who aren't directly involved or in a position to drive change. It might make people feel like they've done something, but they haven't actually achieved anything. A bunch of privileged Westerners posting Instagram stories isn't going to stop wars.

 

[loveinfluenzas]

How are you voting out of interest?

I was a firm yes as I think any no will get swept up in the racist no camp that has gained way too much traction in the last few weeks. But I am questioning this a bit as the whole thing is so soul destroying.. Like why are we voting just to have a say? Is a yes vote contributing to the racist policies in having this dedicated voice? It's so complicated but in saying that I'm 99% sure I will still vote yes. I am hanging onto a thread of hope that it will contribute to a positive change.

 

[Pickoneforme]

To be fair, she has broken her wrist in the past few days, I feel like her mind may be elsewhere right now. It also shits me when everyone weighs in on everything. I really don't need more hot takes from influencers or D list celebrities about the state of the world or things they may not have a full understanding of.

 

[hazelnot]

For someone I often want to high-5, I equally want to scrag fight.

This! So often I'm like YES, then every now and again she posts something that just makes me roll my eyes and think "God get a life."

So much of what she rails against marriage for is equally applicable to a de facto coupling, so really what she's bitching about is heteronormative relationships. Her points about the history of marriage are solid and stand up - it's the total lack of context around modern marriage that makes me eye-roll. Unhealthy relationships are bad, yes. Male toxicity needs to be called out, yes. But not all men are awful (I hate that you can't say "not all men" now without feeling like a dick) and not all straight relationships are toxic. The majority of the world is straight, and humans are a social species so most of us would like to have a romantic companion. Rather than say we should all get in the bin and that be that, isn't it good that we embrace healthy companionship and celebrate righting the wrongs of decades past (where we do)? It's so diminutive and close-minded to assume all women in a relationship with a man are somehow being taken advantage of and just too dim to see it.

(She also seems to expect all men to think and behave like women, and that's the crux of the issue, which is just so fucking arrogant and dismissive of some pretty core, basic biological differences.)

 

[leeeeleeee]

I think anyone who truly believes that sharing information about either side of the Gaza situation to their followers on Instagram is helpful, making a difference or creating awareness is an idiot. There is nothing you can do that is going to influence this situation to end via Instagram. The keyboard warriors trying to use the suffering of these people for clout is disgusting

I think it’s better we see what’s going on rather than just carry on with our lives? Ignorance is a dangerous thing. We can’t change it in real time but if we dont like how our government is responding we can take action or vote differently when the time comes.

Influencers are how so many people receive information, news, like it or not. You need to meet people where they are. They do have ‘influence’ and I think those who feel strongly are not only damaging their relationships with brands (like LDB), they are opening themselves up to vile threats. Like the opposite of clout. I’m sure there are loads putting the odd ‘SAvE PAleStiNe hands in heart shape’ performative thing, I’m not talking about them.

 

[emmygluewho]

I know this will go against what most think of Clem BUT I just find her a miserable, bitter person.

 

[stinkerella]

She was just next to me on her bike at the traffic lights I was tempted to wind my window down and ask her if she has any regrets or comments to make

 

[atome74]

I’ve actually enjoyed some of Clem’s commentary around marriage (and I’m saying that as a married woman!), but this just feels really mean. I don’t see the need to put some girl on blast who Clem (presumably) doesn’t even know?

Straight up bullying.
Her thoughts in bed do not contain a single unique idea. She sounds like a first year uni student who just discovered cultural studies.

 

[Squelch]

Disagree. There are plenty of legitimate criticisms of what she's doing.

She has a responsibility not to dox people who are on that list solely because they are Jewish, as appears to have happened in at least one case. Or people who were in the WhatsApp group but weren't participating in the political organising and lobbying, as also happened. She's doing online journalism - not very well, but it is journalism - and she appears to just be throwing stuff online without any due care for accuracy. That's completely irresponsible, especially in a heated environment where businesses are being targeted and people are receiving death threats.

She published a woman's banking information on her stories because she mildly disagreed with Clementine. There are all kinds of financial abuse someone can do with that information. She's a disgrace.

That's leaving aside how grotesque it is for this privileged white woman sitting safely in a rich country to be doing glamour selfies followed by images of dead Gazan babies then manic posts about her own bravery. The narcissism is off the scale.

 

[loveinfluenzas]

What do we think about Clem going after Matty J and Laura? I’m torn - I do think Matty J is annoying but Clem is going a bit hard.

I'm with Clem on this one, his reels were gross and he's just another sexist man who thinks these 'jokes' are funny

 

[screenfreelookatme]

Whyyyy Matty J when Brad Kearns exist. Come on Clementine, take him down a notch!!!

 

[Sure…Media!]

Thank you Clem Ford for giving us permission to go to our friends weddings however if I go around asking my friends if they have plans for if/when the marriage doesn’t work out I’m not sure I’ll have many friends left. If you don’t agree with marriage honestly just don’t go to the wedding.

I’m not sure what kind of friends she has but this isn’t appropriate or any of my business! (If a friend was in a DV situation or in trouble of course I’ll do what I can to help)View attachment 2575988

What a weird unit she is. I’m not married. I’m in a long term relationship of 15 years, kids and a mortgage. Being de facto isn’t any safe / financially stable / sain for me. I guarantee if Clem came up and asked me if I’d planned for if it didn’t all work out like to know what her idea of a getaway plan was. I guarantee she wouldn’t have thought about what I’ve discussed and actioned in my relationship.

Marriage in Australia is (for the most part) voluntarily entered in to. “For better or for worse” actually forewarns you that by 3 years in his chewing becomes frikken annoying, you’ll blame his mother for the 30 years before you met him and we all wonder why he falls asleep rather than chat post coitally.

There are so many religious, social and cultural reasons to get married. Any wedding I’ve been to I’ve genuinely been happy for the couple. If I wasn’t sincere, I’d have no right to be in the circle of invitees.

Feminism isn’t about opting out of life. It’s about the equity and equality. Then succeeding in what you do. Also respecting that you are a Venn diagram with your significant other… and all the satellite people. I wouldn’t go up to an immigrant and ask them why all their stuff is important to them and they should just be Aussie.

 

[loveinfluenzas]

I was such a big supporter of Clem and still think she does some good stuff. But my God she does not need to be so nasty to anyone who doesn't agree with her! Its completely fine to be anti marriage, I am not married and don't intend to, but the high horse way she speaks about it is not it. Just let people do what makes them happy..

 

[frenchiefern]

What is happening is awful, but some of us have signed contracts that have clauses such as "will not participate in public discourse relating to politics, war, controversial issues" etc. There are so many things I talk about privately with the people in my life, but can't discuss on even my private social media because it isn't worth risking losing my job over. I have bills to pay, you know. Like what does she want us to do? What about the people who just do not want to weigh in because they don't have the mental or emotional bandwidth to get into fights with people online? That's enough reason not to weigh in.

Absolutely. Part of the reason I love Tattle is because I get to bitch about idiotic behaviour that I can’t do under my own profiles because of work agreements. We have relationships with organizations that I’d never risk by sharing personal opinions or getting into online arguments on all sorts of issues.

 

[FingerMouse]

She's using an image of a dead child to harangue others for not being the perfect radical intersectional feminist that she views herself to be. I get the need to bear witness and I will do so by going to Palestinian and other middle eastern sources I trust at a time that I choose. If she thinks she's making one iota of difference to those dying in their thousands, she's fucking dreaming.

 

[Sleepyapple]

So Clementine posts this weird selfie and i click on her stories and she’s reshared a video of a tiny dead (I’m presuming) baby being rescued under rubble. Doesn’t she understand this can trigger a lot of her audience who are mostly female. I know the horrors are happening I don’t need to have it in my face over and over and over. This is why I have stopped looking at a few accounts I can’t handle it.View attachment 2663428
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When you cast a critical eye on her content and remember she runs her page for profit and like a business then you can see how shrewd she is with what she shares and how she shares it. Might change your mind

I understand that this is controversial but as a still fairly recently postpartum mum prone to very severe anxiety, I am tired of the rhetoric around how selfish it is not to look at images of babies being killed. I know it is happening. I condemn
It and it is abhorrent. I still have the right not to look at the images. My kids deserve a mum who is not a basket case. The same is true for many others.

 

[Charlibee]

I find it really strange that clem isn’t promoting the nationwide rallies against violence occurring this weekend. Also the rates of women being murdered by men are at an all time high in Australia but crickets from her. Is she done with feminism now? Just find it really odd.

 

[influenzaaar]

This!!! I don't care what celebrities or influencers think about anything that's happening in the world. Most of them are known for things like acting, singing, how to dress or do make up, what perspective or education can they provide that will be of quality?

Heavy agree. I think the point about Clem comes from her being not just an influencer but her public persona is rooted in being a writer who is known to comment on current social issues. So I’d *expect* her to have some kind of take, thou don’t really care if she doesn’t.

FWIW Bottom line is people are suffering and dying. Hamas has recently murdered innocent people, Israel is also actively doing the same and has also subjected terrible conditions upon Palestinian Territories for many years. The history is complex and there are no winners. Perhaps she has no hot take because there isn’t one.

 

[January93]

What makes Mia look bad is the fact that she runs a media company and "what women are talking about" yet her and the entire MamaMia business have not reported on the atrocities committed in Gaza at all. Complete silence