Madmouse's open letter to MNHQ about the treatment of those with disabilities on MN

Definitely, Eighties. Perfect example.
Oh but no.... that's a middle class professional family.
Not the same at all is it?

"But, yes - we think that, on balance, it's better to allow people to air a genuine misconception (in this case, broadly speaking, that in some circumstances it might be OK for a pram to take a wheelchair space), for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it allows other posters (by no means exclusively posters from the SN boards) to put them right. Secondly, we believe that hosting these debates (always with the caveat that they remain reasonably civil) does an awful lot to inform the opinions and attitudes of those who do not deal with disability issues on a daily basis. Over the years, we've seen countless posts by MNers that show how far our members are informed by the experience of reading these threads."

So it would be perfectly ok for me to trot over to AIBU and start a thread about whether black people should be allowed onto buses? That would be ok because its a 'genuine misconception' and other posters can 'put me right'?

No it chuffing well wouldn't be ok and we both know it, so why is it ok to post such threads about disabled people??

Rowan, why don't you likewise take the view then that misconceptions about the disappearance of Madeleine McCann should be allowed to stand so that people can be 'educated' via debate? They get deleted.

WE'RE NOT HERE TO EDUCATE!

Rowan. You could start by deleting the original wheelchair space on bus thread.

Or do MNHQ think it is ok to question whether a disabled person should be allowed to access the facilities that were created for their use?

Disablist is ok as long as that poster fits the demographic and can earn the site £££

"It would be different if people with disabilities or their families or carers were saying to let such posts stand and that they want to engage in debate with the people who post such things. But they aren't. they are asking for such posts to be deleted, not sanctioned by leaving them there."

Well said celestial. Mumsnet, disabled people and their carers understand the need for education better than anyone, but we need to be able to 'educate' in an environment that is respectful and safe from attack. This continual stream of threads questioning our basic rights to the support and adjustment needed for everyday life is not a safe and respectful environment.

I am posting to support madmouse on every single point in the OP. It's how I have felt for a minimum of 2 years now.

Nice to see that Rowan has produced the same old pat answer. Exactly the same answer that's given every time. MNHQ talk the talk but allow the bile to fester on unhindered. They're all talk, no action.

But then.... people with disabilities and their carers in general don't have the money to spend with MN's advertisers, so we'll never get equality.

coppertop Exactly. I saw that thread title numerous times in active convos and didn't read it for two reasons: 1) I know the answer to the question, ta very much, and 2) I guessed that some of the responses would be infuriating. I guess the answer is to get on the thread and bat back after all, since moderation won't ride to the rescue.

well mnhq you thing dicusion is important but if it was discussuion around race , relgion or sexuality your jump on that a dam site quicker .And would not tell posters that they need to educate people

I don't think that 'pride' in the SN boards necessarily makes up for unpleasantness elsewhere. Criticism of the McCanns is deleted for being 'not in the spirit of Mumsnet'. Surely criticism of a disabled person wanting to use facilities designated for them has to come under that same heading?

I appreciate that MN provide this place for is for free and if we don't like it we can go elsewhere, but I have to agree with the broad point being made on this thread, and I feel that the wrong calls have been made recently by MNHQ.

Completely agree with the OP.

Why on earth is there a need to discuss the "ethics" of whether a wheelchair space should in fact be used by someone in a wheelchair?

Totally agree with your latest post MM.

I didn't read 2shoes thread, as I didn't see it. but I totally agree with MM points and others. MN, for me, used to be a haven where I could talk about the difficulties in raising my sons with sn, but for a while now I haven't felt inclined to post as I don't feel it's the supportive place it once was. I use a FB sn site instead.

Why is it the responsibility of the disabled to educate morons? Do they not have enough to deal with? Do morons not have access to Google or relatives who posses common sense?