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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be shocked and frustrated with the Islamophobia that's bursting out all over Facebook today?

672 replies

Seekingsense · 22/05/2013 21:38

Following the awful tragedy in Woolwich today.

I have seen everything from "We want our England back" to "Kick out all the foreigners" to "Islamic infiltration of the UK" etc. I have paraphrased as some of the stuff is so horrible I do not want to repeat it.

This is from normal everyday people and lots of them. Is this really what people think?

I, like most people am horrified by what has happened to this young soldier in Woolwich, but why is everyone so quick to blame an entire religion for it and to jump on the 'kick out all immigrants' bandwagon.

What can we do about it? Ignore, delete, post, report?

OP posts:
Buzzardbird · 23/05/2013 12:37

I tried a post very similar to yours Fili but it seems common sense is being overlooked because everyone wants to blame someone and have a fight.

Filibear · 23/05/2013 12:38

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

Needingthework · 23/05/2013 12:42

Your poor friend, baking. I had tears in my eyes reading that. She must be so worried.

No crap has been spouted on my FB news feed, thank goodness, as I would confront them.

RIP to the deceased.

PrincessScrumpy · 23/05/2013 12:45

I've deleted 2 friends (husband and wife) and actually hope they notice and ask why, I'd like the chance to educate them but I doubt it'll help. I'm not surprised unfortunately but didn't have to think twice about deleting.

ICBINEG · 23/05/2013 12:47

You should have more mc friends. Only one person I know on FB has even commented on the whole thing and that was just a neutral comment about how terrible the news was....

ParsingFancy · 23/05/2013 12:51

Chance to post something positive!

Hope Not Hate and the Daily Mirror are creating a wall of images called "No Place for Hate".

"So please send us a photo, a video message or even just a tweet about why there is no place for hate in today?s Britain."

Blueskiesandbuttercups · 23/05/2013 12:52

Hmmm think it says a lot about your friends tbh.

I've had a couple of light a candle posts but absolutely nothing nasty.

I'm choosy who I'm friendly with and only form friendships with nice people.

Shocked at how many horrible people posters are friendly with allegedly having had no idea.Hmm

DreamsTurnToGoldDust · 23/05/2013 12:52

Oh Baking, that is so awful, I hope you and your friend are ok.

cfc · 23/05/2013 12:55

I was just saying to my husband last night that there's been none of that on my FB (nor his, it appears). I read that some MNetters' news feeds were showing such racist opnions from their 'friends'.

I wonder if people were calling for "all the Irish out" during the IRA's campaign of terror? This is a genuine question I am too young to remember, any older MNetter who does remember?

Meddlinkids · 23/05/2013 12:58

The person who brought race and religion in to the argument was the perpetrator.

EagleRiderDirk · 23/05/2013 13:03

cfc I remember by mum being abused a few times for being Irish, and a few choice comments came my way for having an Irish mum. I don't remember anything to this extent though, but possibly because my parents did largely try to shield me.

cfc · 23/05/2013 13:10

I must ask my mum when I speak with her later, I didn't think of that (duh!). We're from Co Kerry but have lived over here since I was in primary school.

Unforunately the most shit I've had re: the whole IRA/United Ireland thing has been from guys in Ireland who hear my accent now...sigh.

flippinada · 23/05/2013 13:10

A few posts have mentioned that they haven't seen anything like this on social media and people need to be more careful about who they have as friends on FB.

A couple of points -just because you don't see it doesn't mean the comments aren't there - and while you might be sure nobody you know would say those things, somebody is saying them. There are racist comments all over social media at the moment.

Secondly, You're (general you're) right of course that people should be careful about who they befriend, but you can't stop friends of friends posting their opinions, done if which might be offensive
Also, if you're a bit slack about your security settings, anyone could see and comment on posts you make.

Needingthework · 23/05/2013 13:14

I agree about friends of friends, flippinada. I blocked a friend of a friend who was spouting utter crap about setting fire to travellers once. So glad I did, as he has probably gone into overdrive over yesterday's events...

ballroomblitz · 23/05/2013 13:19

I woke this morning to find two of my friends 'liked' the EDL page :( Deleted straight away as I can now assume we have absolutely nothing in common.

Buzzardbird · 23/05/2013 13:43

Oh dear god, I will never sleep again Sad

PatPig · 23/05/2013 13:44

Lottie, Woolwich is an area with a lot of immigration. Islam has come to the UK as a result of immigration. The perpetrators hare are of Nigerian descent.

There are lots of Nigerians in Woolwich. It is the credit card fraud capital of Europe, because of Nigerian immigration (news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8193884.stm).

No doubt that most Nigerian immigrants are lovely, but on the other hand people might reasonably say 'Why do we have to have this immigration at all? I didn't vote for this. 50 years ago this was a Cockney area. I don't like it now. What has happened?'

flippinada · 23/05/2013 13:47

Baking that is just awful. Your poor friend.

flippinada · 23/05/2013 13:55

PatPig according to BBC news, one of the perpetrators was bought up in a devout Christian family and converted to Islam in 2001.

Not able to link from my phone, but it's on a report linked from the front page on the bbc news site if you (or indeed anyone reading) is interested.

difficultultimatum · 23/05/2013 13:58

YANBU

I have thinned out my friends list today

FunnysInLaJardin · 23/05/2013 14:03

Craps thats a great article and I have shared to my FB page

gordyslovesheep · 23/05/2013 14:05

PaiPig they are BRITISH not immigrants

My father is not British - please do explain to me how me and my children are Immigrants

cory · 23/05/2013 14:09

"No doubt that most Nigerian immigrants are lovely, but on the other hand people might reasonably say 'Why do we have to have this immigration at all? I didn't vote for this. 50 years ago this was a Cockney area. I don't like it now. What has happened?'"

It doesn't occur to them that if there are second generation Nigerians in Britain, this might just be to do with Nigeria having been a British colony until 1960?

KirjavaTheCat · 23/05/2013 14:12

This immigrant bashing is really irritating me, especially since the men are not immigrants. They are British. Pointing that out to people seems futile, however, you'll get branded as an extremist sympathiser, or accused of 'missing the point'.

I've given up tbh, you can't talk sense into people.

ParsingFancy · 23/05/2013 14:15

Shh, Cory, don't go telling people Facts. You'll pop their comfortable, inward-reflecting bubble.