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

[Dolcelatte]

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.

tentative123, don't worry as long as you read mn as well you are safe, it acts like a tin hat, they can't get into your brain

I read it, mainly to giggle at some of the frothy comments, but still, I read it.

refuses to admit she froths at the frothy comments sometimes

you have much to learn about the MN demographic

Only time I read it is when someone here points to an article.

I would NEVER buy it

I scorn those who do

But I do devour the 'sidebar of shame' on DM online

But don't you get the impression that some posters 'doth protest too much'?

Don't you have a sneaking suspicion that some are closet DM readers - a bit like claiming to drink Green Tea when you are actually knocking back the Coca Cola, claiming to be on a healthy eating regime and having a secret stash of doughnuts, claiming only to drink freshly ground coffee when you actually use instant, claiming to listen to Radio 4 etc, etc. Isn't that where the 'Hyacinth Bucket' comes in, but people are more sophisticated in 'keeping up appearances' these days?

Come on, some of you must be buying it or how come the circulation figures are so high? And why is the DM so much worse that other papers such as The Sun or the Daily Express, which are surely more homophobic? Don't all newspapers have their prejudices and don't we sometimes buy them so that we can have our prejudices reinforced?

thousandDenier - you may well be right. How would you describe the Mumsnet demographic?

I'll happily admit to consuming coca cola, doughnuts and instant coffee. But I do not and will not ever buy the Daily Mail, why would I lie about that?

oh, sorry - xpost.

You just have to dive in and see, it's incredibly varied. Of course there are a minority of DM readers amongst us, it's what can make the debates so fruity.

I probably read it once a week.
I hit the cafe and read whatever paper is available.

My brain is fine. I am multiple functional like that. I can read something and think 'gosh, that is interesting/shocking/astounding' or I can read something and think 'well that is a load of bilge.....I must remember to buy some more bread'

I can understand people not wanting to pay for it or contributing to the website hits or it's profile. But the express is worse and I have little patience with the Murdoch empire.

The hand wringing "we are all doomed" reaction on here is a bit hysterical given that we are assaulted by shite from all sides. WTF is 'daily mail alert -sorry' all about. Are we children who can't absorb information from multiple quarters and decide what we think?

Or is it that we are smart enough to do that but other people are thick as shite not

Disgusting drivel. And those that read it leave themselves open for judgement imo. I bet those that do read it judge the people that only buy The Sun for page 3 and the crossword???

I read it growing up as my mum took it and dad took The Telegraph. I don't read it of my own volition as an adult as it would be no good for my blood pressure, I can do without unnecessary stress. I read the mag if at home with the folks.

the dm (much as i LOVE it) is designed for the slightly thick. i have bought it (because it absolutely dictates what the entire british print and television media talks about) and i, like cyb, chomp down on a helping of schleb news every single day. [slightly thick]

I expect a large number of Mail readers in Liverpool would cite more than the crossword and page 3 Jenn1982

agree entirely with pag.

I do drink coke and eat doughnuts though.

love the idea that i am open to judgement, btw.

Well spoken Pagwash!

No, but I do binge read Heat, Ok and other Sleb-twaddle rags in the hairdressers/nail place so am in no position to take the high ground re the DM.

Why do you care so much? Even if the daily mail sells 10 million copies a day (and I've no idea if it does) that's still only 1 in 7 of the population choosing to buy it.

It sounds like you're trying to prove yourself right - you folks must read this paper, right? Lots of people said no, so therefore people on an anonymous forum are lying in order to keep up appearances.

I only ever see the Daily Fail when someone on here yet again links to their bloody website without any warning. grrr.

Just reading back - I agree the Express is just as bad or worse. At least the mail doesn't bang on about bloody Diana every other week.

I once made the mistake of reading the i and that was like reading Jackie magazine - seriously it was like a 3 word photostory for each section.

without warning?!! oh the absolute BASTARDS, what could they be thinking!!

are you sure you should be out on the internet on your own?