MNHQ Racism policy

I presumed that it would be taken down after a quick scan from mumsnet hq. the ignorance on the thread was staggering I am really surprised if they re opened it.

Ok, I think I can sort of figure it out and I'm glad I didn't read it.

What happened? I'm Irish (as you might guess). Once or twice over the years on mn I've pointed out that a comment was offensive and I was just told I was wrong. So I think there does need to be some tightening up..........

Now I'm even more glad I hid the thread.

And glad it was deleted.

Not glad that it sounds like HQ were dismissive.

So, I'm white, you're Asian.

I say something. You say "I find that racist and offensive I don't like it"

Do I say

"Ah well shame"

or "that's as may be but legally i don't have to do anything about it because you're not properly Asian.

Or do you say "I am really really sorry I take that back and I will make sure I don't say anything like that again"

Because one of those marks you out as a decent person who gives a shit. The others, well, not so much.

Yes it covers both RL and netty stuff.

I'll stop posting now. I'm implying/stating that HQ were incorrect and an apol is in order and that really is up to them.
Hope you have a good NYE.

If the thread had said

"AIBU to think some black people need to grow up and stop complaining about racism"

how long do you think it would have been allowed to stand and do you think a black person complaining would have been told they had to educate and that people on MN get offended with each other all the time and to take it up with the poster?

Because I really don't think so. Not for one second.

Pan. Either it is or it isn't. It can't be out there in the baig bad world but not on here in the internet.

Northern irish and irish posters were offended at the attitudes on that thread. That's a fact. And when it was stated over and over and over on the thread we got a and an Ah Well

Which really leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

No, HQ weren't correct on that point, as I'm sure they will acknowledge. The purpose of the Act (which is a conglomeration of other legislation) is to protect 'difference' in demography of the public, and those features you describe are some of those differences.

But Pan if I follow HQ's logic and I'm spat at in the street because I have a (Northern) Irish accent then I can't rely on the protection of the equality act because that's not protected

Or if I'm denied a room to rent for the same reason I can't complain.

Because Northern Irish isn't a race or a nationality therefore ... ah well. We're really sorry it looks that way.

isni - it wouldn't be that bleak. Growing up in England with a mother from Mayo and a gutteral Glaswegian father in the 60's/70's and an Irish/Scottish name was a bit of a challenge at times.
Though yes, much of NI reporting is as if it's in a foreign country and it doesn't scan with much knowledge in England or Wales.

I fear it may be so, wannabe. Reluctant though I am to believe it.

I've certainly been on the receiving end of versions of that kind of attitude more often than I can remember since I've lived in England.

I point out that I'm from Munster, and cannot in any way fairly represent either NI nationalist or loyalist points of view, but then it sometimes emerges that the person talking to me has no idea there is a border, and that Ireland and Northern Ireland are not 'much the same thing', and sure aren't we all great fun, anyway, drinking ourselves under the table and keeping pigs in the kitchen and breeding large numbers of lovely John Hinde freckled children, and blowing one another up, all in our lovely brogues?

Correct wannabe. And then when HQ were challenged that it wasn't really a bunfight, that's when it all came to light. The attitude, I mean.

I think the most annoying thing is that, in the grand scheme of mumsnet, that thread was perfectly calm. My thread about midnight shopping was worse ffs.

But its discussing NI so it must be a bunfight.

I actually feel sick at the attitude of HQ on that thread. Really properly sick. If I go to the mainland that's what people will think of me. That I'm not worth worrying about, that it doesn't matter if I'm offended. Because I am just not quite good enough for protection.

I'm sure HQ will be having a chat about why a thread was zapped for being inflammatory, but only after 100's of posts and much gnashing of teeth.
Probably quite widespread, but most people have the sense to stay schtum.

I am glad the deletion message reflected the true reason why it was deleted.

But I am still gobsmacked at HQs attitude towards the whole thing. Ok, Rowan probably knows very little about NI and that's fine, but please don't dismiss us out of ignorance. And don't grin at us when we are telling you we are offended.

It wouldn't happen on any other thread. I truly want to know what it is about threads discussing NI that results in this kind of attitude.

Is it actually that opinions held by the OP are actually more widespread than we think?

You're right. There is 'protection' under the EA - HQ would have been wrong about that. BUT, the OP and posts I saw didn't qualify as 'racist' in this case only.
And of course you're right again. It's MN's site so they can delete anything that upsets lots of people and perhaps they should have.

I don't think we can expect to hear anything more today, but will be interested in seeing the response.
I'm really used to people being ignorant about Ireland/N.Ireland, but somehow had far higher expectations of how MNHQ would respond! (On a pedestal, much?!

sorry I'd sped-read the thread and missed the smiles and 'ah well'. I'd also be sure though that HQ would check that and apologise for the unintended offence caused. That would have annoyed me too.

But why do you have to "look into it"?

Posters of a particular nationality/ethnic background/country background were telling HQ it was offensive.

But they were then told their nationality/ethnic background/country background wasn't good enough to give them protection under the Equality Act

What about the fact that it's just the right thing to do? Illegal or not?