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Original poster

What is going on with personal attacks/disablist language being left to stand?!

189 replies

JeanneDeMontbaston · 17/06/2015 19:20

I've just seen that the term 'fucking retarded' was left to stand, and the poster who reported it was told it shouldn't be deleted.

That really shocks me and I think it's a real shame coming from MNHQ.

I saw this because the person reporting started a thread asking whether the term were acceptable or not, and it's been deleted with no explanation except that it was 'against talk guidelines'.

I know it was a TAAT (as is this), but generally, threads asking reasonable questions are left to stand for a little, with an explanation from HQ on them. I'm hoping for a better result here in Site Stuff, as it seems to me it's a pretty important question.

Are you defending a policy of not deleting insults like 'fucking retarded'? Is it now unacceptable to question that sort of thing? And does it have to do with this ongoing issue with threads about feminism - which is where the term was used, and in the context of some very nasty (undeleted) attacks on feminist posters.

OP posts:
cuntycowfacemonkey · 17/06/2015 19:55

Really purdiepie? Thicko and imbecile are horrible words

purdiepie · 17/06/2015 19:48

I agree regarding the word retarded but moron....where do you draw the line? What about imbecile? Thicko? I see lots of use of the word thicko and yet I know to some mn-ers the term idiot is offensive.

Staywithme · 17/06/2015 19:40

You're so right about the 'cretin' term Jeanne. I hate it with a passion. I can't believe that people don't think these terms are offensive in this day and age. Sad

Original poster
JeanneDeMontbaston · 17/06/2015 19:34

stay - right with you on that. On the deleted thread (which was asking whether these terms were acceptable, but seems to have been considered a TAAT), I commented that I don't like seeing 'cretin' treated as an acceptable insult, either. FWIW.

OP posts:
Original poster
JeanneDeMontbaston · 17/06/2015 19:33

YY, agree with that cunty.

But, in this case, I don't even think it can be defended as 'education', because the post has simply been edited to make it look as if the poster never said anything beyond the pale at all - which naturally makes everyone responding to her look bad.

I really don't like it at all.

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 17/06/2015 19:33

That's peculiar. It also means that if people have issues with this poster again (as unfortunately seems likely), the evidence of this sort of nastiness has been bowdlerised. Well, I suppose MNHQ will know there's previous but still - it does seem odd.

If MN is goign to edit posts, there's one on The Archers thread I was wondering about reporting because of a casual 'retarded' in it (in relation to fictional characters so although the term isn't acceptable, it wasn't any sort of attack).

Staywithme · 17/06/2015 19:33

Can people also stop using the term moron/moronic as it is a term that was used for those with mild learning difficulties. The term spastic (sorry) is, rightfully, no longer acceptable so why is the term moron/moronic?

cuntycowfacemonkey · 17/06/2015 19:32

I think MNHQ is still in the "we prefer to let posters educate each other about such things" mode. Which is annoying because when you are trying to raise a child with a disability then the last thing you want to spend your time doing is fighting against ignorant arses.

IMO MNHQ lets far too much disabilist behaviour/language go unchecked and it pisses me off as more than anything when they do that sappy "please check out our this is my child link" message instead of taking a clear stand against offensive posts.

InAndOfMyself · 17/06/2015 19:31

I would like MNHQ to comment publicly on this as well. I think there have been some very questionable calls recently, especially in regards to 'feminist' threads, as to what is deleted and what is allowed to stand.

Original poster
JeanneDeMontbaston · 17/06/2015 19:29

penguins - it's this thread, and the post is at 08:41 today. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2402269-If-you-dont-think-of-yourselfor-identify-yourself-as-a-feminist-can-you-come-here-a-moment-please

OP posts:
Original poster
JeanneDeMontbaston · 17/06/2015 19:27

Well, this is really odd.

I've just had an email from HQ (in response to my original report) explaining they've 'edited out' the term but left the post to stand!

I am quite angry about that - why on earth should this poster get special treatment when she's used that term? In my view there is no excuse for it and the post ought to be deleted - unless HQ are introducing an editing feature for all of us.

OP posts:
YonicScrewdriver · 17/06/2015 19:26

Mnhq, could you please comment? Thank you.

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 17/06/2015 19:26

I would agree Jeanne. I was shocked that that thread was deleted, and so fast. No idea where the original reference is, but I don't think it's acceptable to use disablist language as an insult/term or derision.

muirsicle · 17/06/2015 19:23

Well said. Disgusting language. Interested to hear what MNHQ has to say.

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