Michael Jackson moderation

Agree with others, don't delete the comments, but just have two threads so people can post what they like in the appropriate place.

I agree with the one thread say what you like idea.

I'm sad to say it's not that different from the conversation that's been rolling on all morning in my office.

After intially posting earlier on this morning, I am doing what many others are and staying away. Not because of any strong feeling one way or the other but because these things tend to escalate and get nasty.

FWIW, I don't believe people should moderate their opinion of a person because that person has died but I do believe that a human being deserves some dignity in death.

Comments like 'I hope he burns' are just crass given that a man has just died.

But...
Please don't delete, the free speech on this site is what makes it what it is and it's why many of us prefer it here to elsewhere.

We're also adults who can filter out what we find offensive and just move on. He was always going to divide opinion and to expect a consensus on MN is naive in the extreme. Hell, we can't even agree over P&T spaces in supermarkets or what to call our daughter's genitals so one of the most contoversial figures of modern times aint gonna do it!

Just one thread as we do in all these cases.

great molly.... almost as good as stavros flatley!....the Xfactor rejects did a brilliant version of earth song....painfully wonderful.

If MJ's family and friends are busy looking at non MJ related forums to see what is being written about him then they deserve to see what people think.

Everyone else really shouldn't be personally offended afterall he is nothing to him, let them stand otherwise where will you draw the line in future?

Keep it to one thread only.

It's the same people generally who are vile on those sort of threads, leave them all to it in one place.
That way i and anyone else who doesn't want to read their tripe can hide the thread and read something of interest.

Justine - I know the dancer on the front right of that clip

I dislike the really nasty 'haha, glad he's dead' type posts, and think that the so called 'jokes' are repellent. I have hidden the threads. Not sure I agree with any kind of censorship.

(should have explained, is on an Evening Standard billboard saying 'London blamed for Jackson death'!)

just don't blame it on the sunshine

(actually just nipped out to get a sandwich and they are blaming it on London!)

I think it is relevant to note that he was tried and found not guilty.

I would delete the very nasty comments and keep it to one thread which people can choose to hide if they wish. I've not read the comments but I can guess what they relate to.

one thread, keep all comments. If someone is rude enough to put something innapropriate then it makes them look bad.

I suppose if it were up to me I'd keep them in one (or two opposing) threads and delete the most extremely nasty comments.

I'd also keep track and 'out' anyone who managed to put him down for months and then ALSO do the 'competitive sadding' thing

I don't have strong feelings one way or another. He was just some guy, you know?

if there had been no MJ, there would never have been this - another diversionary link

what rhubarb said. and soon may it all blow over. dull.

Limit it to one thread and delete tasteless jokes/comments. He is still someones father/brother/son/friend.

I think things like this just bring out the worst in some people and that depresses me. You can argue don't read the threads if you don't want to read some quite nasty and hateful things, what about the other side of the coin? Why post on such threads when all you can post is rumor, innuendo or just downright vileness?
MNHQ need to protect their site, and also I think distance themselves from any child abuse 'jokes'

Oh whopper!

Was listening to the songs on the radio and thinking what a damaged person he was and what a non-childhood he had. I suppose that makes me agree with Rhubarb that the really foul ill-wishing, the abuse should be deleted. debates about what he was or wasn't - fine.

I think that comments such as 'I hope he burns' should be deleted. Because it's a very strong, direct insult. No matter what he may or may not have done, he was someone's son, someone's brother, someone's father, someone's uncle.

I don't care about the crass jokes, or debating as to whether he was a paedo or not, these things are out in the open anyway. But very direct, very strong insults are not on. For the simple reason that they are hateful comments.

Obviously posts that leave mn open to legal challenge should be removed but other than that I feel quite outraged by the idea of moderating mn. It would be like someone interrupting a conversation between friends and demanding that statements are retracted.

There are quite often comments that I find offensive but I don't need protecting from them and I'm sure others don't too.

I do feel very sorry for those saddened today, especially as they can't mourn without also having to hear the allegations, they are repeated with every new bulletin I've heard. But censorship - no.

Dittany why on earth would you want to pay your respects on Mumsnet though - surely he has his own website?