Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Site stuff

Join our Innovation Panel to try new features early and help make Mumsnet better.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

should we address the casual antisemitism on MN?

505 replies

thedevilinmyshoes · 21/01/2016 21:32

I rarely venture beyond my narrow range of interests on MN these days so I don't know if it happens a lot, or if a similar level of hatred is extended to other groups, but what I saw tonight was sinister (particularly against the current backdrop of a surge in antisemitic crime in UK). I wondered if we had an agreed definition of what constitutes antisemitism or if people feel the issue is covered and handled well enough within the existing guidelines.

OP posts:
MySordidCakeSecret · 21/01/2016 22:42

oh do give over golden apples Hmm

ArgyMargy · 21/01/2016 22:42

Oh and circumcision is by definition genital mutilation, as it involves mutilating genitals.

Original poster
thedevilinmyshoes · 21/01/2016 22:41

an example of an antisemitic view? any expression of hatred towards Jews

not general discussion about wider issues but negative stereotyping, that kind of thing

I realise a consensus is hard to reach on these things, with some people thinking any criticism of Israel is automatically the new antisemitism but for the purposes of this thread it would be anything antisemitic in the reader's opinion

OP posts:
Devora · 21/01/2016 22:40

I'll say it once more and then give up: disagreeing with circumcision is not per se anti-semitic. Nor is taking issue with Israel. But how you do it certainly can be anti-semitic, and it would be nice to see posters being a bit more reflective about this.

ArgyMargy · 21/01/2016 22:39

I've never seen any anti Semitic posts on MN, but I'm not familiar with terms that specifically insult Jewish women so possibly could have missed it.

EssexMummy1234 · 21/01/2016 22:38

I have never seen anything antisemitic on here, but agree with the anti-circumcision thing, and I was quite horrified listening to BBC London a while back when there was much congratulating of Vanessa when her grandson had just been through the ceremony. I wonder if there will come a time where that's frowned upon as much as FGM.

TheGoldenApplesOfTheSun · 21/01/2016 22:38

Wow, you are all so oblivious! I would find it amusing if it wasn't so upsetting to deal with. In the space of a few minutes we've had circumcision equated to FGM, called mutilation, child abuse, etc, nasty insinuations about Israel and a rousing chorus of 'but x, y and z are not anti-semitic, I am a good person who would never hold unconscious biases!' Maybe I should get out my Antisemitism Bingo cards! skelveticake.tumblr.com/post/118131860608/where-can-i-find-the-antisemitism-bingo-cards Or mention an article about 'dinner party racism' that seems relevant here www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/jews-arent-all-stinking-rich-dinner-party-anti-semitism-is-horribly-predictable/ But I think instead I would rather just go to bed as this thread turns into the train wreck it's shaping up to be. Bye bye, OP! Good luck!

Orange1969 · 21/01/2016 22:37

Didn't mean you, Bubbles, or anyone in particular.

Bubblesinthesummer · 21/01/2016 22:36

Why is it anti Semitic to disagree with a Jewish practice? Ridiculous

Don't know about OP, but that isn't why I reported.

It was other words that were being used.

CoteDAzur · 21/01/2016 22:36

"I hoped people could say whether or not they were aware of a problem with antisemitic views on the site"

Why can't you give some examples of these antisemitic views?

Ubik1 · 21/01/2016 22:35

No I am not aware of any antisemitic views on the site.

I haven't read every single thread though.

Orange1969 · 21/01/2016 22:35

And no, I haven't seen any anti Semitism on MN.

The Turkish thread is shocking, though - making out that Turkish men are lecherous, greedy, misogynist creeps who try to deceive women into marriage for visas and who prey on underage girls.

Original poster
thedevilinmyshoes · 21/01/2016 22:35

it seems most people who have seen that kind of material are happy (as I was) that it was deleted quickly

which is what I'd hope for from MN

OP posts:
BoneyBackJefferson · 21/01/2016 22:34

the narrow view of circumcision.

Snarklepoo would you care to expand on this?

Nottodaythankyouorever · 21/01/2016 22:33

Objecting to the mutilation of baby's genitals while they have no choice is not antisemitic! Would you like your vagina cut with no pain relief? without having any say in the matter? i saw recently that they reckon babies feel pain more than adults too

I don't believe it was that which the OP was referring to, but the casual use of words used to insult Jewish women.

Original poster
thedevilinmyshoes · 21/01/2016 22:33

sorry to have not expressed any of that very clearly, a rehash of that one deleted thread seemed like a very obvious trap to walk into so, instead, I hoped people could say whether or not they were aware of a problem with antisemitic views on the site

OP posts:
Orange1969 · 21/01/2016 22:33

Sorry for double post.

MySordidCakeSecret · 21/01/2016 22:32

Nope.. not seen any antisemitism. Objecting to the mutilation of baby's genitals while they have no choice is not antisemitic! Would you like your vagina cut with no pain relief? without having any say in the matter? i saw recently that they reckon babies feel pain more than adults too Sad

You can't just parade something like that around and expect no one to say anything "because culture" Do you agree with FGM OP? Because that's culture too.. so are child brides..

Orange1969 · 21/01/2016 22:32

Why is it anti Semitic to disagree with a Jewish practice? Ridiculous.

Orange1969 · 21/01/2016 22:31

Why is it anti Semitic to disagree with a Jewish practice? Ridiculous.

Snarklepoo · 21/01/2016 22:29

Totally don't feel being anti-circumcision is automatically anti-semitic, but have just this evening had a very heated discussion with someone close to me about this very subject- that casual anti-semitism is just not on, and from what I gather from said person, it's rife. Have to admit to being a bit shocked at how casual many of the references actually are (although must qualify haven't seen this on MN). OP might have something here, but it's apparently a wider reaching issue than just the narrow view of circumcision.

Off to try to educate myself a big more now...

Ambroxide · 21/01/2016 22:29

I haven't seen it either. I have seen anti-circumcision posts which I broadly agree with. I don't think being against male genital mutilation is anti-Semitic, any more than being against female genital mutilation makes me any other kind of racist. I would be against all these forms of genital mutilation no matter who was practising them and why.

SwedishEdith · 21/01/2016 22:27

I have seen and reported anti-semitic stuff on here. It was deleted in a flash. That's the mechanism for getting rid of anything racist, really.

WizardOfToss · 21/01/2016 22:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GColdtimer · 21/01/2016 22:26

Sorry. Cross posted. I have never seen anything anti-Semitic here so would presume if it exists it's being dealt with.