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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder if any of you read the Daily Mail as a 'guilty pleasure'?

123 replies

Dolcelatte · 10/11/2011 04:26

I am new to MN and have noticed the repeated references to the DM and readers of it as being bigoted, racist and generally beyond redemption. This surprises me as my impression of MN is that its membership, whereas diverse in some respects, mainly comprises those middle of the road, middle class females who work hard at their careers, marriages, families etc: in short, exactly the sort of people I would expect to read the DM.

The DM has a huge circulation and somebody must be buying it. So hands up all those who have this 'guilty pleasure'.

Btw, I confess to buying the DM on Sundays, as I really like the mag.

OP posts:
TheOtherKardashian · 10/11/2011 05:09

I read the 'sleb bit on the website Blush

I can't bear to read the comment left though. Seriously.

TheOtherKardashian · 10/11/2011 05:13

*comments.

Original poster
Dolcelatte · 10/11/2011 05:27

Btw I didn't mean 'middle of the road' to sound patronising in any way. It's just that I associate both the DM and MN with 'Middle England' so can't help thinking lots of you must be covert readers but are afraid to let on.....

(running for cover).

OP posts:
PrimeSuspect · 10/11/2011 05:50

I would disagree and say the Daily Mail is The Sun in disguise for people with a Hyacinth Bucket attitude and that they think reading it makes them look middle class. Most mumsnetters are more guardian/times readers I would guess which are much more middle class than Daily Mail. If you are educated you are more likely to read something with a bit more substance and analysis though all papers are slanted politically which I always think is a shame.

Having said that I sometimes read the celeb rubbish online and love all the comments that are left - you can't believe what get's written half the time!

PrimeSuspect · 10/11/2011 05:56

Ignore my comment about being educated as that came out wrongBlush Just meant if you have half a brain then you wouldn't waste your time reading something like the DM and it's homophobic, racist and alarmist reporting.

TartyMcFarty · 10/11/2011 06:51

Only links to showbiz news on here, which are many and varied! I'm always surprised how many MNers just 'stumble across' this stuff.

troisgarcons · 10/11/2011 06:55

Its the easiest on-line paper to read.

It's also the second most accessed on line paper in the world, just behind the NY Times.

The comments are, the funniest thing I probably read in a day. I love other peoples moral indignation.

LindyHemming · 10/11/2011 06:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

comedycentral · 10/11/2011 07:03

No I don't read it, it really is a rubbish newspaper. However I find myself accidently on their website as their is often a new thread on mn every day based on a DM story. Many of them say 'Sorry about the link to the DM'or 'I don't read the Dm but....' how else did they end up there?!

trixymalixy · 10/11/2011 07:04

Guilty as charged Blush. keeps me in touch with the views of the dregs of society.

comedycentral · 10/11/2011 07:04

there rather, it really is early yawn*

wellwisher · 10/11/2011 07:05

I read it and I love it, especially the showbiz news. It is definitely my number one guilty pleasure.

I don't BELIEVE it though. I check out any news stories on the BBC/other papers, rather than accepting the DM version.

Animation · 10/11/2011 07:13

I like the Saturday supplement. Blush

Usually a good interview in there, nice recipes, Cainer's horoscope, and a good TV guide.

troisgarcons · 10/11/2011 07:16

It's also the first paper that throws up on google if you are looking for articles.

Bearcat · 10/11/2011 07:16

Read it on line and buy the Times on Saturday (brilliant Saturday newspaper, and the first thing I always read is Melanie Reid's column which I am addicted to. What an inspiration. She is someone who refuses to give up and keeps trying all sorts of things to help herself in some sort of recovery after breaking her neck and back in a horse riding accident).

HauntedHengshanRoad · 10/11/2011 07:29

What depresses me more about the actual content of the Daily Mail with all its grammatical errors, typos and bigotry, is the comments posted. It reflects terribly on English attitudes.

The Daily Mail is misogynistic, misleading, sensationalist and celebrity-obsessed. It reflects and encourages everything we ought to be ashamed of about Britain, including the racism and bigotry that is still rife, despite us being a supposedly civilized nation.

Reading the DM "just for celebrity" news is pathetic, to be frank. Boycott it completely, for ever.

Robotindisguise · 10/11/2011 07:35

The majority of Mumsnetters seem to me to be broadsheet readers. I say that because that's where the majority of articles are linked from. There were even more broadsheet links before The Times went behind its paywall.

nikon1968 · 10/11/2011 07:36

I agree it is the easiest paper to read on line.

I read it all Sad

If there is an article on there that interests me I will look more more views on the internet.

I do not consider myself any class and belittling someone for the paper they read is a bit ''up yourself''

I read the sun too and the guardian.

exoticfruits · 10/11/2011 07:36

The Daily Mail is misogynistic, misleading, sensationalist and celebrity-obsessed. It reflects and encourages everything we ought to be ashamed of about Britain, including the racism and bigotry that is still rife, despite us being a supposedly civilized nation

I can't think of a better way to put it.

The article that finished it for me was one advocating 'tough love'- It was a about a difficult teenager and the idea of good parenting was that you gave love if the DC did as you wanted. The poor DC had run away and ended up as a murdered prostitute and the parents and DM couldn't see where they had gone wrong.Hmm

AVoidkaTheKillerZombies · 10/11/2011 07:40

I like the showbiz pages. They have their 'favourite' celebs which makes me laugh. They seem to have an obsession with 'The Saturdays'!

PoppyWearer · 10/11/2011 07:40

I read the sleb twaddle every day online, too ashamed to buy Heat magazine or Hello.

Never. Horrible newspaper. Hate it. They gets their facts all wrong anyway. Not that I know, given how I never read it. Grin

sparkle12mar08 · 10/11/2011 07:43

I'd also add "..fit only for lining cat litter trays". It's a disgusting piece of hatred masked as 'journalism', and yes, I judge those who read it. Trying to salve yourself with 'but I don't actually believe it' kind of misses the entire point. By buying it or giving them the hits on the website you are actively choosing to contribute to their disgraceful activities.

GirlWithALlamaTattoo · 10/11/2011 07:43

I had a phase of reading it, when I was about 22, in my first FT job and kind of learning how to be a grown-up.

I realised I had to go cold turkey when it stopped making me cross. It took a worryingly short time to become immune.

tentative123 · 10/11/2011 07:59

I don't go near it - like the llama tattoo I fear it will brain wash me if I do. ( like it has my mother - who now believes that children shouldn't go to nursery because they are all run by peados)

LoveBeingAFirework · 10/11/2011 08:22

It's free to read on my iPhone so I read it but I take most newspapers with a pinch if salt tbh. Except the celeb gossip, that all true you know Grin