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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:
SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 21/01/2016 22:25

I honestly cannot recall seeing anything I would define as anti-Semitic on MN.

I would echo the poster who says if you see it, report it.

Samaritan1 · 21/01/2016 22:25

I'm not aware of what the term is either, so I wouldn't know if I'd seen it.

Tbh I've never seen an openly racist comment stay on the forum for any length of time. Most are reported and deleted sharpish.

LaurieFairyCake · 21/01/2016 22:25

I've not seen anti Semitism. I have seen (understandably) anti Israeli comment - that's not the same.

Yes, cutting a babies foreskin for no medical reason is mutilation. Doing it without pain relief is child abuse.

That's nothing to do with being anti Semitic either.

GColdtimer · 21/01/2016 22:24

OP, could you be clearer. Not sure how we can comment if you don't examples.

Generally speaking I feel that any discrimination is dealt with quickly here by other posters or MN.

Nottodaythankyouorever · 21/01/2016 22:23

were the antisemitic comments allowed to stand?

The thread has/is being deleted

DontBuyANewMumCashmere · 21/01/2016 22:23

Sorry I see what you're trying to say now.

I haven't seen it. If I saw anything that I thought was antisemitic I would report, unless loads of posters already stated they'd reported it.
I think the same goes for anything racist or hateful.
I'm not even aware of an insulting word for a Jewish woman so maybe I'm ignorant in this area!

Themodernuriahheep · 21/01/2016 22:22

Circumcision was v common a generation or two ago in England. Esp in the upper middle classes. My DF was, not Jewish. Many of dh's school friends were, again mainly not Jewish. Was seen as a question of hygiene. One of my god sons is, for medical reasons.

SanityClause · 21/01/2016 22:22

So, thedevil, were the antisemitic comments allowed to stand?

If not, then it seems that the guidelines are doing their job.

JassyRadlett · 21/01/2016 22:21

OP, being coy and cryptic leads to rather a pointless thread.

Though I agree that objecting to male circumcision is no more anti-Semitic than objecting to the stoning of women for having sex is Islamophobic.

There is a significant gap between disagreeing with and criticising religious practices and being prejudiced against or hating people of that religious or racial group.

Original poster
thedevilinmyshoes · 21/01/2016 22:20

I'm asking people if they have seen antisemitic material on these boards

and if they have seen it is it dealt with under the existing guidelines?

OP posts:
Devora · 21/01/2016 22:18

Being anti-circumcision is not intrinsically anti-semitic, I fully agree.

However, I have certainly seen anti-semitism surface on anti-circumcision threads. When it is pointed out, there is immediately a chorus of 'It's not antisemitic to oppose circumcision!'. It goes round in exhausting circles.

HumptyDumptyHadaHardTime · 21/01/2016 22:18

Yes the bris was mentioned, but the comments the OPnis referring to, was the casual use of an insulting term aimed at Jewish women.

That is what I thought the OP was referring to rather than the bris.

Viviennemary · 21/01/2016 22:17

I haven't every seen antisemitism on MN casual or otherwise. I don't agree that objections to circumcision sp? constitutes antisemitism. But if you feel strongly then report the thread or post.

SouthWestmom · 21/01/2016 22:17

I think you probably need to give some examples of it before people can agree it needs addressing.

DontBuyANewMumCashmere · 21/01/2016 22:17

Ffs you don't need to repeat what was typed but at least set us in the right area.
How can we comment if you won't tell us what was wrong?

Are you being like this on purpose? Hmm

RuckingMarvellous · 21/01/2016 22:16

I read the thread the OP was referring to and is now deleted.

Yes the bris was mentioned, but the comments the OPnis referring to, was the casual use of an insulting term aimed at Jewish women.

Original poster
thedevilinmyshoes · 21/01/2016 22:15

"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."

is that very woolly? that's from my OP, it's all I wanted to ask

OP posts:
GloriaHotcakes · 21/01/2016 22:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NerrSnerr · 21/01/2016 22:14

The problem is op, it can't be addressed if we don't know what you're talking about can it?

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 21/01/2016 22:14

When I was growing up in Canada circumcision was totally standard. Dad, brother, every boyfriend I ever had. It was quite a surprise upon moving to Europe and discovering my first uncircumcised penis. I was like Shock I still don't really understand WHY I was so shocked, it's not like I didn't know about it.......weird.

Anyhow nary a Jewish boy amongst them. So being anti-circumcision isn't necessarily anti-Semitic. IMO.

Want2bSupermum · 21/01/2016 22:12

Oh and if anyone spots anti semitism I urge them to hit the report button if they are not comfortable challenging it. That is why it is there.

WizardOfToss · 21/01/2016 22:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
thedevilinmyshoes · 21/01/2016 22:12

yes I could have phrased it much better, something like: 'is antisemitism a problem we need to address on MN' since that's what I wanted to know, a measure of the public mood on this

I'm not going to repeat what was deleted, there's a reason MNHQ don't leave stuff like that on their boards! There is a sort of cumulative effect of reading a few shocking posts in short succession that perhaps makes it feel worse or more of a problem than it is.

OP posts:
NerrSnerr · 21/01/2016 22:11

Op- can you confirm if it is the circumcision thread?

I don't think anyone was being antisemitic, if the op would have been of any religion (or just mentioned circumcision without religion) they would have had the same response.

PersephonePitstop · 21/01/2016 22:11

What the fuck are you on about OP?