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).

Anyone who says 'Mumsnet is...' ought to be aware that by using such lazy language is automatically including themselves in that group, since they themselves are posting on Mumsnet.

Great post @LolaSmiles , although reading it made me angry, and sad for how women are often treated.

Do you lot ever think you're the ones making the site shite? The snap judgements and pile ons before clarifying what a poster actually meant? There's a reason why everyone name changes like fucking crazy.

Old internet had tonnes of niche communities. It was nice. Most have needed to expand membership to survive. There's nothing wrong with pining for old internet. I browse many sites but I'd still like a place to go to that revolves around the experience of being a mother in Britain. It doesn't mean I hate men, childless women or foreigners ffs.

There are few predominately female sites left. Those that remain are gossip sites for young girls. Most of the remaining British communities are male-dominated and set up for their interests. Are the blokes at Farming Forum bigots for having a site for British Farmers? What about L chat for being a forum for lesbians?

Keep digging that hole ...

A reflection of wider society in recent years then, which is pretty much what I expect from any site with users numbered in 7 or even 8 figures (depending on which numbers you take).

I remember when it were all fields and there were some stylish Parisian posters...

It depends on your definition of 'transphobia'. I have yet to see any actual transphobic thread on this site after being on here for many years. However if pointing out that humans can't change sex (gender, yes) and that our elder feminists fought for sex-based rights for women is 'transphobic' in your opinion, you therefore, imo, are femphobic and will close your ears and eyes to the evidence of women and girls being hurt, and you will the one who will have to answer why you ignored all the evidence, and 'hid it' and pretended it didn't happen. You'll need to have a good excuse for why you turned your back on the hurt of women and girls, and "I wanted to be a cool person" won't cut it.

I agree.

I think, too, that a surprising number of posters don't realise that this is a post-moderated site. MNHQ only see threads/posts if they are reported to them. And when they are dealing with reports I'd say - most of the time - they deal with things well.

Best place to read

Great post @LolaSmiles. Being on MN has certainly made me much more willing to point out this behaviour in real life as well as it's clear how prevalent it is.
Where once I may have bitten my tongue, now I'm more likely to say something
Same here. Once you read dozens of threads and you see the patterns it's hard to unsee. Like Yellowdays it makes me sad and angry that so many men treat women this way, and how many women have been socialised and conditioned to accept this behaviour.

It's not anti-men to identify unpleasant male pattern behaviour (again usual NAMALT disclaimer to avoid the poor men cries)

The old www (“old”: 20 years, easily recollected by most of the population) has gone. It is no longer about sharing knowledge and experience and democratisation. It is the Wild West, but worse: operating within the modern cultures of trying to cause as much trouble, abuse and exploit everything in sight, for nothing more than a quick ego boost or maybe a steady growth of status.

I hope western cultures, as well as their enemies, are proud of the modern values they have created while trying to pretend values are a thing of the past. I know I’m not.

I agree with you 100% .