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Original poster

So what's going on here? Rage bait style thread has been whitewashed to remove blatant racism...

80 replies

BoobsOnTheMoon · 02/12/2025 06:23

...and when I queried it with MNHQ I got a very strange answer Hmm

This thread started off with an OP that made specific reference to a child with a "foreign sounding name". Several posters, including me, responded to that calling out the racism.

MNHQ, even though the OP hadn't been back to the thread, removed that sentence completely. The multiple replies calling out the racism then made no sense at all. The edit isn't like when a poster edits, because you can't still see the previous version. So effectively it's been whitewashed. Bang and the racism is gone. Nothing to see here.

I was pissed off about this because yesterday MNHQ had told me it wasn't in fact possible to edit a post of mine to clear up the meaning, despite it only being a fairly small error. So I emailed and asked them to clarify what the rules are about editing posts for people after the edit window closes.

I got a reply that didn't really make a lot of sense, telling me that in this case the OP was edited because it "was a significant content error". This is extremely odd wording for removing all trace of the outright racism in an OP, especially where the poster has never posted before and hasn't returned to the thread. The OP actually has a number of AI tells, and is very much edging towards obvious rage bait, and I'm not entirely convinced the poster is genuine. In fact, given the very odd reasoning from MNHQ and the goady style of the post, I'm starting to wonder if MNHQ know that its AI rage bait and are letting it stand anyway, and only edited it to make it less obvious.

So can anyone clear up why this post was edited in this way despite the OP vanishing? Why was it described to me as "a significant content error" when it was nothing of the sort? What's that wording about? Did the poster ask for the bit about the "foreign sounding name" to be removed and if so how come that was ok when other posters are told their posts can't be changed for them? Is the poster even real, or are MNHQ knowingly allowing/collaborating with AI rage bait bots to drive engagement? Something feels really off here tbh.

OP posts:
PrizedPickledPopcorn · 02/12/2025 06:56

I started on that thread then realised what had happened and abandoned it. It does have the edit noted at the bottom if I remember correctly.

Maybe it’s a new strategy they are trialling that hasn’t been fully rolled out. Ultimately I don’t care that much. It’s their site, I don’t pay for it, I don’t make the rules so will move on if it stops meeting my needs.

TheFeetOfOphelia · 02/12/2025 06:53

I just read that thread and wondered what on earth was going on.

blastfurnace · 02/12/2025 06:51

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 02/12/2025 06:42

I wasn't on the thread in question, but it wouldn't surprise me if MN wanted to let the rage bait threads stand - they often do, and I presume that more clicks is good for their advertising revenue.

They should at least let the edited content of the posts remain visible, though, like it does when we edit our own.

If the first post is too racist to be allowed to stand, then the whole thread should be deleted and the poster should be banned imo.

I’m think the key point is that the OP think it looks like the first post is AI generated by Mumsnet - and I have to say I agree (and I am not prone to conspiracy theories!).

It seems VERY unusual for MN to edit a post on behalf of an OP rather than either let it stand or delete it entirely. Coupled with the very vague response to people questioning it.

Dgll · 02/12/2025 06:47

The rage bait has worked on you. I wouldn't waste anymore time on a random shit stirrer on the internet.

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 02/12/2025 06:42

I wasn't on the thread in question, but it wouldn't surprise me if MN wanted to let the rage bait threads stand - they often do, and I presume that more clicks is good for their advertising revenue.

They should at least let the edited content of the posts remain visible, though, like it does when we edit our own.

If the first post is too racist to be allowed to stand, then the whole thread should be deleted and the poster should be banned imo.