Is Mumsnet racist, sexist, ableist, homophones, islamophobic, transphobic, misogynist, anti-semitic, ageist, childish?

[ShowerMusings]

I see people constantly complaining on different corners of mn how terrible it is and I can't figure out why they can't make threads upon threads making their cases known. I also wonder why people stay where they hate. Makes me wonder if complaining just feels good?

I know I've left mumsnet many times once I couldn't handle it and after a few months or years, I've come back with fresh eyes and peace of mind till the next time it gets too much again.

So my questions are:
● If you're having an awful time on mumsnet, what's stopping you from taking a break?

● Is mumsnet really that bad? Is it really more racist, sexist, anti-semitic, ableist, ageist, childist, misogynist, homophobic, islamophobic, transphobic, etc than it was a year or more ago or have they improved?

● Are mumsnet moderators really not trying? If not, what more can they do to improve?

These are genuine questions and I'd like to know the problems and solutions from anyone who wishes to contribute. We all could benefit from it.
Thanks.

(And no, I'm not permanently on anyone's side. I simply say what I see).

💐
It's not a hive mind of course, but you may be correct in saying that you can detect tendencies.
There have been a few threads on Islamophobia recently, which does interest me because there's an issue about freedom and feminism and religious rights. However, both got quite unpleasant so I stopped posting.

I'm sure some people are all of those, but we need free speech. Hopefully the worst views will be shot down in the discussion.

I think the anti trans stuff has made MN transphobic and homophobic and more right wing . More so in the last couple of years.

I think the sex board attracts all the pervs

I think the child free board is a shit idea.

I think MN only care about the clicks.

These are buzzwords thrown around by people who are opposed to free speech and are trying to shut down people & opinions they disagree with.
This has been a successful tactic in the past, when they managed to shut down mainstream debate about uncontrolled mass immigration for decades, but it doesn’t work any more.

I'm childish. I try hard not to take this place seriously.

I think it's a lazy insult to throw out. E..g say women need single sex spaces due to safeguarding and you're suddenly transphobic. If you are appalled by Phillip Schofield it's because you're a homophobe rather than because he's been messaging teenage boys on Snapchat and abused his position of power. It's reductive and lazy and used to try to shut down arguments.

There are some brilliant posters here and it can be a great source of support and information. There are also some absolute morons. Just like "real life", there are all sorts here.

I agree that women need single sex spaces. I don't think that's a particularly transphobic opinion, although I have been accused of transphobia for expressing this in real life. What IS transphobic is the sheer level of negative posts about transgender people. Every day there are at least 2-3 posts and it's all the same argument - trans bad, biological women good. We get it. It's excessive at this point.

I reported a post that mocked me for being pansexual. Nothing was done. It was disappointing.

My partner very much passes for a man but he has a vagina. I fall in love with people and their parts don't matter, my partner isn't a man or woman he is a transman. Lesbians find him too butch (understandably) and straight girls well... He has a vagina so if you're straight that won't be your thing. He's a niche market as we say and I find him the sexiest thing on the planet. We are both aware though that being sexually attracted to him is not as simple as he has a vagina and therefore that's all that matters. He is quite handsome. Now I'm just bragging. 😉 The term pansexual has led to some cruel posts on here though.

I'm glad you've found someone so lovely, @Princessconsuelabananahammock9 , and if you're happy that's all that matters. If someone is deliberately and personally cruel or nasty on here it says more about them than you. I'm sorry to hear that your complaints weren't heard.

It is sad. You would be dismissed as 'woke' for your relationship on here. I'm glad you have found happiness though.

I don't think you can say 'mumsnet is' anything. In fact i think OP here is being childish trying to put a label on a large forum with a multitude of personalities backgrounds and opinions. I have read posts that I would consider ageist and very occasionally read a racist post but these are individuals who are usually shut down quickly. Of course there is going to be an element of this in a public forum, we know there is an element in the real life population so its reflective of this. I generally read the less controversial threads so maybe I don't see the worst of it. I feel the whole point of forums like this is freedom of expression and unless a poster is being attacked personally I don't think threads should be removed.

I do.

I don't think you read the OP except the title or if you did, you didn't read it properly because I agree with most of what you wrote. The labels aren't mine.

it’s just as as Christianphobic tbh

What is it you want the moderators to do exactly?!
From where I now stand (and where I used to sit) they do a pretty good job tbh.

Once again, I agree. I asked questions, based on what I've observed from posts, for people to give their own opinions/answers.

Thanks to those who've given their answers/opinions.

Definitely racist and anti-trans, to the point of being disturbing. Sometimes it puts me off and makes me want to leave. What I find odd is I would've thought it would be a more supportive place (and it can be), but generally it's people just making up for their insecurities so many threads end up being a pile-on. Name changing probably makes it worse. I'm curious how many active individual users there are as sometimes I wonder if it's the same 30 or so people

I don’t think that MN is racist, sexist, ableist etc I think it reflects real life, people are different plus they are more open and honest anonymously.
In real life we can restrict the circle of those with whom we communicate it’s not possible on MN that’s why some of us are often surprised at other people’s views (me included). Sometimes you can get one group commenting more than the other so the picture on 2 threads on the same topic might look differently.

I think that moderators are doing enough.

@PicnicBunny has nailed it!

The moderators literally can't read every post on every thread. so people need to report posts if they see anything untoward. The moderators can then step in.

Except they don't. Depending which one reads your report.

I think the childfree board is a great idea, I can already see people are getting lots of use from it, which is wonderful

Apologies!!