Could we follow the lead of at least one of the official campaigns and suspend discussions of the referendum for 24 hours?

Ridiculous and unworkable I'm afraid.

There are millions of Mumsnet users

MNHQ would be up all night, deleting threads started by people wanting to discuss it.

The suggestion was that MN lock the threads for 24 hours which would prevent discussion

But how would you suspend discussion? What would stop someone coming along who hasn't seen the decision to suspend and starting another thread?

But no one is asking the entire country to stop discussing it Thurlow, it's suggested that we suspend discussion on this one social media platform for 24 hours as a sign of respect to an MP and mother who has died in awful circumstances today. I, for one, think it's entirely appropriate.

It's a very, very tragic and shocking situation.

I think it is entirely right for her colleagues and her party to suspend campaigning as a mark of respect.

But I think it is different for a social media forum to suspend discussions on the topic, and while I totally understand why you have suggested this, I don't think it is right.

From what I have seen of Jo Cox in the past, she strikes me as the kind of woman who would have suspended her own campaigning immediately as a mark of respect - but would not want the entire country to stop discussing something so important.

Dear god, it's truly sickening isn't it. Just horrifying.

I agree Just the two sides have suspended campaigning, we should follow their example. What has happened today is, as far as I'm aware, unprecedented in UK politics and showing respect to an MP and her family at this time is the right thing to do. If people are that desperate to continue the discussion there are plenty of other platforms out there to do so on.

It's tragic, totally awful and I feel so much for her family

But I'm not sure it's right to lock certain topic boards. I mean, where do you draw the line? Ie with the child who sadly got taken by alligator - do you lock boards after that? And if so which ones? I think it would be better to keep discussion boards open and then for people to stick to the talk guidelines.

Condolences to her dh dc and wider family

I just hide all the threads.
I know what I think and I'm sick of people asking in or out? Wherever I go!!

I don't know her- but she doesn't sound like the sort of person who would want people to stop debating on her behalf.

That's what I was talking about.

And no, I think its a bit pants as a mark of respect.

Why is speculating about the motives particularly dangerous in this case?

Soup I'm thinking not just about respect but damage limitation. It can be very dangerous speculating on the motives in these cases.

The thing is, what other "events" do you think should cause a lock down on discussion?

I think it is unworkable and actually pointless as a mark of respect.

The attack on jo cox is absolutely horrific and I'm sure everyone who posts here is hugely upset by it and desperately hoping she will be alright.

Re MN locking threads about the referendum, I think a lot depends on whether the referendum will go ahead (and I've not seen any suggestion so far that it won't - I think it might take an act in parliament to change the date?) We're about to take an absolutely huge decision and shutting down debate about it (even out of respect for jo cox) doesn't feel like a good response to me. Plus, realistically, about 100 people ever day would come on and start threads about it without realising they shouldn't. It seems untenable.

Agree speculation about her condition should be deleted, of course

I agree. Nothing to do with free speech.

I agree. Really strongly. And looking forward I think that in future when something like this happens there should be a facility to 'lock debate' after Orlando and this case there's nothing more to be said by randoms on the internet than how sad/ praying etc. Speculation and reporting hearsay such as Isis/ homophobic/ Britain First is pointless and can cost lives.

I agree. It would be a nice show of respect/solidarity.