MNHQ

[Waltermittythesequel]

I've been a member of MN for almost a decade (I had to re-reg after the hacking debacle). I know there has always been contention and controversy but I can honestly say this is the first time I've ever been sickened by MN members and by you, HQ.

Over the last few days there has been thread after thread bashing Ireland, being xenophobic, insulting and downright nasty and you, HQ, have let them all stand.

I believe now, that the English attitude to Ireland is unfortunately as bad as it ever was and it is perpetrated by business like yours for not taking a stand against it. I can only assume you agree with the shit being spouted.

I have loved it here but I can't engage on a forum where such behaviour is tolerated without even an attempt to do something about it.

You should be utterly ashamed of yourselves. I'd like to say it's been fun but frankly, the last few days have negated any enjoyment I've ever had here.

I've just read two threads in active conversations that have been the straws that broke the camel's back.

I'm not expecting anyone to give a shit about my flouncing, by the way. I'm not expecting attention. I AM expecting a barrage of abuse and oh-so-hilarious insults. It doesn't bother me.

For a 'supportive' website, MN, you've really let yourself down.

OP - I sympathise with you - the "Should we Save Irish Women?" Thread was (at the time) the most offensive opening posts I have ever read on here and yes it went past patronising to Xenophobic - because of course, we Brits know what it best for all (NOT).

But sadly the attitude goes beyond just the Irish atm, the attitude to so many groups - who dare to question the strict Rad-Fem line that is taking over this site is ruining it.

But Any Radical Group will do that

That is so mealy-mouthed from MNHQ

Treading such a fine line they don't even bother with a sappy "peace and love" post with guideline reminders? They are just ignoring it.

I believe now, that the English attitude to Ireland is unfortunately as bad as it ever was and it is perpetrated by business like yours for not taking a stand against it. I can only assume you agree with the shit being spouted

Well - if that's not damning an entire population of a country based on a few threads and some responses to it.

Personally - Irish politics - especially NI politics is a minefield. Nothing much know about and people on all sides have very passionate views. Better not to get involved if you don't know anything. People are very sensitive.

Juggling I actually agree with you. There have been hugely supportive and congratulatory posts on here and in fact all over social media around the
Irish referendum. Lots of them from english people. I'm half and half Irish/ english with a bit of Italian thrown in, but I identify as Irish more than anything else.

However, there has been a very nasty undercurrent of anti Irish threads on here, that have been started with the deliberate intention to Insult and denigrate the Irish. The rescuing women Irish thread is utterly disgraceful Who the fuck do these people think that are!!
I've seen it on here most notably with all things scottish, and probably to a lesser extent against the Welsh. this is obviously deemed ok by mumsnet.

I think anyone is sensitive at being called backward and weird, and being informed that they need rescuing by British feminists!

I am old enough to remember the troubles and I am delighted at these days the relative peace between our nations.

I don't however believe that censorship is ever sensible. I am not happy with MN's constant censorship at all. I think people need to grow thicker skins and if cartoons or anti abortion or pro gay or whatever comments offend them they need to go into corners and cry or get therapy not stop freedom of speech and ditto housewives and working mothers and all the rest.

God preserve us from British feminists

Ive not seen any ridicule of the Irish. I saw lots if supportive posts about the referendum. I saw people also taking a critical view of it especially in terms of women's rights and abortion. All that is perfectly valid in my opinion.

Can I point out there were also anti-English comments which were offensive. Not that I care particularly.

I'm not sure what you want HQ to do? Maybe we should all just stick to discussing weaning?

The OP said the threads where xenophobic and should've been dealt with on that basis (which im sure we'd all support had there been xenophobia) the point is that's a falsehood- there hasn't been any and it doesn't matter whether you're English Irish or Dutch, it's either there or it's not.

Many Irish people have clearly been offended but MN don't delete threads which people are offended by, as a rule.

JustAScreenName - I haven't been on mumsnet that much lately and haven't seen the threads you are talking about, but I'd just like to say that I feel THRILLED and proud of what the Irish people have achieved this week. I haven't been able to think or talk of the subject without either snottily crying or grinning from ear-to-ear. After the devastation of the General Election result here, I have grabbed onto this piece of good news for hope and humanity like Rose in Titanic did at that driftwood I still think there was room for Leo , and I can assure you that to the best of my knowledge, everyone I know feel the same way.

to Ireland.

Evening all,
Many apologies if our answer was not sufficient, but as you know we are reliant on people reporting posts for us to consider.
So if people report entire threads asking us merely to take a look (as TakeMeUp did, for example) they will generally be asked to report more specifically, so that we can go straight to the source of the problem.
It's not meant to be mealy-mouthed, really we are asking for more assistance in getting it sorted, as often (in fact particularly on warm weathered public holidays) we have a ton of reports to get through, all of which are urgent to the person who has reported.
So please, if you have seen posts that you think break our guidelines, please do report them and we will take a look. Many thanks for your assistance.

Many Irish people have clearly been offended but MN don't delete threads which people are offended by, as a rule.

If a minority group is telling you, that as a group, they feel offended and that there have been a significant number of posts that are Anti that Minority Group, its not up to you to tell them all their concerns are baseless. That isn't how it works.

MNHQ seem to have lost the plot on deletions lately. So many threads getting deleted as they are 'not in the spirit of MN', (mostly celeb rubbish) but this thread seems to show break MN guidelines and nothing is done. I suspect Hi5 may have a point, those who shout the loudest are getting the most delineations. Added to somebodies point that MNHQ probably lack understanding of a very complex situation (I don't understand, but even I understand Irish women need saving is highly offensive) so fail to delete when they should.

What is a delineations? Deletions I meant!

Personally - Irish politics - especially NI politics is a minefield. Nothing much know about and people on all sides have very passionate views. Better not to get involved if you don't know anything. People are very sensitive.

This is the stance that MNHQ took on the thread about NI that wigglesrock mentioned.

It is a fair enough stance for an individual, because I agree, it is a minefield. But for the moderators of an online forum, that is unacceptable IMO. If you are in a position of trust and you don't know about something then educate yourself, don't just shut your eyes and yell "la la la" and hope it goes away.

I reported my OP, Helen and never received the courtesy of a reply.

I don't think anyone has said the concerns are baseless. Just that offence isn't a reason to delete a thread.

Politics is always going to offend someone. Difficult ideas need to be thrashed out otherwise nothing ever changes.

Winter you seemed determined to keep telling me what to think. For the millionth fucking time, being offended is not the same as being a victim of xenophobia. Which is what, AGAIN, the OP said she was suffering.

So if people report entire threads asking us merely to take a look (as TakeMeUp did, for example) they will generally be asked to report more specifically, so that we can go straight to the source of the problem.

MNHQ, the problem isn't always specific posts, nor do the posts specifically break the guidelines. It is a bigger picture, a general attitude.

Though I don't know why I bothered even replying to this thread because I have a very strong sense of deja-vu right now. Sigh.

And likewise - does the poster who shouts the loudest get to decide what threads are deleted on a particular issue?

I am literally writing the reply now, Walter, but perhaps we should clarify that while we endeavour to answer every single report with a personal response, it's sometimes not always possible if we are terribly busy and we sometimes take the view that answering on the thread will get the message across more efficiently to the interested parties. Apologies if that is coming across discourteously.

Another person taken aback by the anti-Irish sentiments expressed on MN lately.

Calling an entire country backward deserves, at least, a "play nicely" comment from MNHQ. I would expect nothing less if an entire other sub-group defined by a protected characteristic (e.g., Jewish people, Asian people, people over 50, people with physical disabilities, take your offensive pick...) were denigrated in a similar way.

Those peace-and-love warnings appear for much more wishy-washy reasons.

Please don't leave, OP.

And please step the fuck up, MNHQ.

Isn't it about how offended you want to be on an anonymous forum?

Walter is cross and upset then seeks attention to vent.

MNHQ doesn't really care until it's brought to their attention.

Job done by Walter who awaits a reply from HQ and then what?