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EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON, Frankie Boyle retweeted a petition that called for a “ladies-only” swimming session (which was just 50 minutes a week) to be restored to a pool in Gloucestershire.

The session had recently been banned following a complaint from a member of the public, but within a couple of hours over 1000 people had signed the petition to restore it.

Boyle agreed. So he retweeted this call out for signatures

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A short while later, he’d seen so much abuse that he had to address it

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It gave him something of an insight into what it’s like for women online:

Had to block about 20 people after sharing a petition about a women only swimming class. Fuck knows what it’s like being a woman online.

At the same time, he posted the exact same update to Facebook – where it drew thousands of likes

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And, best of all, women in the comments section let him know exactly what it’s like:

Random pictures of peoples appendages and threats of physical violence if you disagree with any opinions. Fun times!

Dicks. Dicks everywhere.

It went on and on and on:

For having the audacity to point out animal cruelty I was threatened with rape!

Being told to go back to the kitchen and make a sandwich if u have an opinion on anything!!

It’s like a world full of Jeremy Clarksons and Piers Morgans.

I’ll be honest, it ain’t fun.

And there will be plenty more, no doubt.

People were also quick to point out that the Equality and Human Rights Commission uses women-only swimming sessions as an acceptable example under the Equalities Act in the UK.

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Back on Twitter, people observed that the reaction to his retweet proved that the petition is actually needed

Others were happy Frankie was speaking out on it

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Everyone had a story to tell – especially when it came to MRA hot button issues

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Rubberbandits rowed in, and this bizarre theory about mansplaining was put forward in response

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Oh no.

Frankie has spent the afternoon himself wading into the discussion saying that maybe, just maybe, the women-only space isn’t the worst thing in the world and could help those who feel uncomfortable.

It’s been one long afternoon for those who launched the petition

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