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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

How about a campaign where the users get MNHQ staff to take diversity training?

460 replies

Ghostofasmile · 03/11/2016 13:09

MNHQ themselves have displayed ignorance (at best) over the last few months and prejudice / discrimination at worst when dealing with certain situations.
For example Justine, the sites owner herself over the last few days has made some very ignorant and damaging comments about diabetes.
We have seen the same with many times with Racism too as well as low level disablism.

Unless you are white, middle class and able bodied HQ isn't a nice place to be.

Post here if you would like this to take place. HQ need training and they need it fast.

OP posts:
Ghostofasmile · 04/11/2016 14:01

I think part of the problem is that that is big leap of imagination for some people.

Okay fair enough.
I will change ASD to the word women.

coming to this site which is advertised as being supportive of women and their issue only to read posts everyday about how women are criminal, Are not really people and are just out to get benefits.

And reporting such posts get a response of "we will leave it up and let you educate."
Bearing in mind the site claims to support women.

OP posts:
00100001 · 04/11/2016 14:01

Why don't you go and start your own parenting forum OP?

Ghostofasmile · 04/11/2016 13:58

Wouldn't you whinge?

Wouldn't you get to a point where you are so shattered that you plead with MNHQ to change the way they do things?

Would you like them to show that they are supportive to you and not just playing lip service to things that give them publicity.

THIS IS HOW WE FEEL.

OP posts:
EdmundCleverClogs · 04/11/2016 13:58

I never understand the 'if you don't like it, fuck off' brigade. It's a very aggressive way of saying 'people who don't agree with me should shut up, only my opinion matters'. Why is it so awful standing up for something you believe in, especially when it's trying to break down ignorance and misinformation?

It isn't about being right, or telling the 'high ups' what to do, it's about finding a compromise and making sure that this site continues to support people from all backgrounds, not making certain groups feel alienated and unwelcomed.

Manumission · 04/11/2016 13:57

If you had a child with asd/adhd would you like to read that?

I think part of the problem is that that is big leap of imagination for some people.

I couldn't have imagined being the parent of a child with autism and everything that entails. Until I was. (Of course, I hope I had some compassion and imagination.)

Ghostofasmile · 04/11/2016 13:57

IF you had a child with Autism, and everyday you come to this site, which is supposed to provide support, and read things like:

"The fact is ASD is well over diagnosed it's just horrible children. most of the time anyway"

And when you report it you get told outright that YOU have to educate the user on the matter.

OP posts:
Ghostofasmile · 04/11/2016 13:53

Would you expect a target of any other hate crime to educate the person doing the hate?

Would you expect a rape victim to educate a rapist?

We are whinging because each time this happens it hurts us. We get picked apart after being invited to the site, then we are expected to stay and educate arrogant posters who make the comments.... sometime repeatedly make the comments.

OP posts:
DixieNormas · 04/11/2016 13:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ghostofasmile · 04/11/2016 13:50

They leave up posts which have been reported by many people and force us to educate the poster when we are the target of that posts hate...

HOW IS THAT FAIR!

HOW IS THAT FUCKING FAIR!

OP posts:
Ghostofasmile · 04/11/2016 13:46

people get ratty when they're told by other posters to shut up and sit down.

Even worse when those others are the sites staff.

No one is making you be here

No one is making us be here, but MNHQ shouts very loudly and advertises it's self as a site where we may get support, that is appealing.
Mumsnet as a sites invites disabled parents in, they tout loudly about the this is my child campaign.... they claim to be a support site for disabled parents.... then push us out of every other part of the website.

OP posts:
Manumission · 04/11/2016 13:46

I think most of us agree that there's no malign intent on MNHQ's part.

And I think there has been some progress with the disablism thing.

But there's still a gulf of understanding going on.

DixieNormas · 04/11/2016 13:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ghostofasmile · 04/11/2016 13:41

Exactly.

It's all well and good saying you'll get a shock on 4chan and tumblr LULS
But 4chan and the like don't claim to be a support site, they don't publicly take part and have their name attached to campaigns for disabled children.

Mumsnet DO
Mumsnet will sticky their posts about MENCAPS changing attitude towards children with learning disabilities... openly ask for surveys on the matter to be filled in... While at the same time letting posts saying "ADHD is a place holder diagnoses that doctors use because they don't know what else to call children who aren't yet criminals" stand for 14 hours.

THEY PUT THEMSELVES FORWARD AS A SITE WHICH SUPPORTS DISABILITY RELATED ISSUES, 4CHAN, IMDB, TUMBLR DO NOT.

It fine telling us if we don't like it then fuck off, but i'd much rather try and have a site where MNHQ are a bit more consistent. What i'm suggesting is a bit more fucking useful no?

They should either drop the pretense that they support the disabled and let the site be, or they should step up and make it a nice place for disabled people to be.

surely most of you can see this, it goes beyond a small bunch of peopel whinging.

OP posts:
Manumission · 04/11/2016 13:38

As in with all groups some will see an ism and call it whilst others will not see it and others still will be apologists for the ism and actively deny it.

That's the crux of it.

And people get ratty when they're told by other posters to shut up and sit down.

YesItsMeIDontCare · 04/11/2016 13:36

Blush Yeah - my bad, sorry. I got side tracked by the bits about the thread seemingly demanding the MNHQ take diversity training and it joined up in my head with the other threads demanding MNHQ respond in certain ways.

I still think it's very arrogant to think one has the right to demand or insist that MNHQ do things to one's exact specification or take specific training though.

EdmundCleverClogs · 04/11/2016 13:35

Highlight fail, sorry.

EdmundCleverClogs · 04/11/2016 13:34

^Really? It's just take them 13 hours to delete a post accusing a poster of sitting around on her arse all day claiming benefits, getting fat and using disability as an excuse.

Even though the poster has a child with a disability who needs 24 hour care. Yet they can delete a thread because the op didn't like the way it was going and pop in to the we love mnhq thread to send gin and flowers.^

Absolutely. It's all very good playing 'teachers pet' on that 'love in' thread, all whilst the real issues are left to fester.

No one is perfect, we cannot expect MNHQ to be on top of everything, but it's not good enough, And again, when the creator of the site is publicly using incorrect information, then refuses to correct herself/apologies, it just shows that there is a problem in the way we recognise disability in society and online (in this case, tarring it all with the same brush).

BishopBrennansArse · 04/11/2016 13:20

What Dixie said.

DixieNormas · 04/11/2016 13:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BishopBrennansArse · 04/11/2016 13:19

The disabled community are as much a hive mind as women, people of a certain ethnicity or sexuality.

As in with all groups some will see an ism and call it whilst others will not see it and others still will be apologists for the ism and actively deny it.

Most people will accept that of a member of a minority sees something then that is important to them and respect it. There will always be people who expect a minority to get a grip and shut up. Which says far more about the person trying to suppress said minority.

DixieNormas · 04/11/2016 13:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

YesItsMeIDontCare · 04/11/2016 13:14

It's got nothing to do with anyone thinking "the disabled community" should leave.

It's posters getting fed up of demanding thread after demanding thread after demanding thread full of vitriol aimed at MNHQ.

Not all these threads are even started by "members of the disabled community" - there's 2 today whinging about a deletion message.

Why are you making it all about you again Bishop?

crashdoll · 04/11/2016 12:59

It annoys me that people think the "disabled community" is a hive mind. I don't appreciate being spoken on behalf of. I am perfectly able to speak up when I see and hear things that are unacceptable.

BishopBrennansArse · 04/11/2016 12:52

It'd be very naice for everyone if the disabled community did leave here, I'm sure.

But that'd lead to yet more social isolation for a group that is generally socially isolated anyway.

But hey ho as long as the majority aren't made uncomfortable.

DixieNormas · 04/11/2016 12:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.