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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wonder why on earth people report posts?

140 replies

curlew · 12/12/2013 14:16

Well, obviously if they are libellous or "outing" I can see why, but otherwise it just leaves bizarre gaps in the thread, and means that people have no idea how bad whatever it was was. It's particularly bizarre, I think when posts are reported on somebody else's behalf. How does the reporter know that person wants the post deleted? They may want it left up in all its glory.

OP posts:
lottieandmia · 14/12/2013 00:53

I agree that gaps in the thread aren't helpful but I think some people would be nastier if they could say whatever they like literally all the time. Sometimes words on a screen can be hurtful. There are consequences for posters who have a lot of posts deleted. I think that generally the system helps the site to be less of a bun fight than it would be.

southeastastra · 14/12/2013 00:55

god about how about just concentrating about taking about intersting/important things rather than just arguing the toss.

thecatfromjapan · 14/12/2013 00:57

southeastastra: what about the viewpoint that an un-deleted space isn't representative of free speech at all? The idea that such a space will end up reproducing the forms of power that silence weaker voices? By not removing homopohobic, sexist, disablist, just down-right aggressive speech, etc. you end up excluding and discouraging those other voices?

I think there is an argument there.

There's also an argument that mn worked well with v. light censoring/modding when it was small and far more of a community -of-thelike-minded. It's larger now - and there are more trolls, sexist gits, general arses than there used to be. No point in leaving a post up to shame them - they give not a shit and no point in leaving a post up to warn others about them - they are often on a namechange.

I say this as someone who has been deleted - For No Bloody Good Reason That I Could See Other Than That The Reporter Was An Arse. Seriously.

But, I do also report posts I suspect may be trolly or are seriously "off".

sutekidane · 14/12/2013 00:57

If you want to use Mumsnet's forums, southeast, thems the rules. Mumsnet want talk guidelines followed so reporting posts they want reporting is the price we all pay to use their free site. If you want nasty, racist, insulting posts to be allowed, why don't you start your own forum with your rules?

lottieandmia · 14/12/2013 00:58

That's what most people want to do but sometimes people set out to be downright nasty sometimes to vulnerable people. Those comments should not be allowed to stand, same as with racism etc. I think that way people are more careful to posts a debate than PAs.

Pepperandhotmilk · 14/12/2013 00:59

YANBU..unless the posts were made by trolls. Otherwise, leave the posts alone, already!!

lottieandmia · 14/12/2013 00:59

That was to southeastra

thecatfromjapan · 14/12/2013 01:01

That said ... I really don't like the idea (which I've hear a lot on mn recently) that there are sort of campaigns, where people organise their mates (or like-minded, crazy friends) to target and report posts/posters.

If that is true, it really, really sucks.

southeastastra · 14/12/2013 01:03

the internet should be free speech

if you don't answer it it won't go away

imo mn hasn't changed that much apart from twats that occasionally upon this site

NewtRipley · 14/12/2013 01:03

thecat

I've not heard that. Mind you, I don't do FB or anything

thecatfromjapan · 14/12/2013 01:05

It's popped up as an allegation on a couple of "Whither Mumsnet?" threads recently, Newt. I can't comment or offer an opinion: I don't do FB either. Grin

NewtRipley · 14/12/2013 01:07

thecat

Ah. I don't really like those threads, so I avoid.

southeastastra · 14/12/2013 01:08

imo it would not be a bad thing for people to realise that the internet gives everyone a voice and to realise that 90% of the population are ignorant twats you only have to watch terrestial tv to realise this

thecatfromjapan · 14/12/2013 01:10

The idea of how the internet should be free speech is an interesting one, in my opinion.

I think I am perpetually disappointed by the fact that men some people will cynically exploit the machinery of "free speech" to be woman hating bastards quite oppressive of others. I wonder if it is depressing or something actually structurally inevitable in the model of "free speech" we commonly work with?

southeastastra · 14/12/2013 01:10

would you let that other 95% censor your point?

southeastastra · 14/12/2013 01:13

we don't live in north korea we have free speech and mn is one of the last websites that allow us this freedown, let's not kill that

if it annoys you as a poster i am sure the daily mail website would welcome your 'view'

thecatfromjapan · 14/12/2013 01:14

It's also mildly disappointing that you offer people this amazing technology and by far and away the most imaginative thing most people can think of to do with it is to make, swap and view pornography.

Most of the speech of the internet is banal/hideous/exploitative shit.

I realise that we can see that this is merely a mirror of humanity but ...

the tain of that mirror is this amazing technology - which is also what humanity is, and is capable of ...

I don't know. It's very weird. Should you despair or live in hope? Simple acceptance seems lazy, liberal and banal.

sutekidane · 14/12/2013 01:17

I'm sure if being lightly moderated to remove racist, disablist and other hate speech annoys you as a poster, there are other websites that would welcome you too.

southeastastra · 14/12/2013 01:18

who is that aimed at sute? fgs has mn has a influx of stupid posters lately

thecatfromjapan · 14/12/2013 01:19

Hmm. I think that one of the signs of getting old is the ability to employ non-Manichean thinking and tolerate ambiguity.

I'm not sure that the world really does divide into North Korea (and the Daily Mail) on "one side" and mn, as some kind of anti-internetcensorsip Obi Wan Kenobe, on the other.

sutekidane · 14/12/2013 01:21

It's aimed at anybody who doesn't like the talk guidelines. That's the beauty of the Internet. If the rules on one website don't suit you, there's many more to choose from. And if there really isn't one that fits, you can create your own.

Also, I'm gathering you've been on MN a while. If so, it's kind of proof that there's always been stupid posters on here. :)

southeastastra · 14/12/2013 01:24

do you live you life formed by guidelines mapped out by others then? lol

sutekidane · 14/12/2013 01:25

No

sutekidane · 14/12/2013 01:26

I can see the difference between life and an Internet forum funnily enough.

lollerskates · 14/12/2013 01:30

southeastastra "the internet should be free speech"

Free speech in real life has restrictions. I don't see why the internet should be different tbh.

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