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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Facebook bringing out the racist Islamaphobes

78 replies

Collaborate · 27/10/2015 14:46

Sorry - it's another Facebook one. I can't decide what to do.

Someone my wife and I were friends with around 15 years ago recently connected on Facebook.

Today he's shared an EDL posting about the banning of burqas.

Before I disconnect from him, WIBU to post a comment? My draft comment so far is:

I'm trying to detect irony, without success. On the basis that it's the EDL advocating this, I reckon we should all be required to wear one. What is their stance on balaclavas? Beards? Sunglasses? Hats? To be honest, I don't want to know. Unacceptable racist propaganda.

OP posts:
Forflipssake2 · 27/10/2015 14:48

Just unfriend them there's no point in trying to engage these people in conversation

caravanista13 · 27/10/2015 15:02

I think you should challenge it before unfriending. Passive acceptance of racism is as good as condoning it.

MrsJayy · 27/10/2015 15:37

I would not be so civil last person i deleted for this crap i just said I wouldnt expect this from you and deleted them

Leelu6 · 27/10/2015 15:40

Good post! Please do challenge him.

MajesticSeaFlapFlap · 27/10/2015 15:40

Oooh I got a great one pop up yesterday.

She blamed the WHOs announcement on processed meat on Muslim extremists

RealityCheque · 27/10/2015 15:42

It's Facebook. Get a life and move on.

And accept that other people will have differing views.

MrsBalustradeLanyard · 27/10/2015 15:43

Oh, just unfriend him. He's not even someone you are connected to in real life, so who cares?

LadyLonely1 · 27/10/2015 15:44

Goodness just unfriend and move on.

HotNatured · 27/10/2015 15:53

What RealityCheque said.

I have my own views and opinions on many subjects. For example, I am an atheist. I accept other people may be religious, so I just block their nonsense feeds and updates on FB, but remain 'friends'. It's really not something worth getting het up over.

YouTheCat · 27/10/2015 16:00

I had one of those ones about all these illegal immigrants coming over here to steal our benefits and get 6 bedroom houses. I pointed out he was a dickhead and that illegal immigrants couldn't claim a thing. Then I unfriended and blocked.

DontStopBelievin · 27/10/2015 16:01

Another that says what Realitycheque says. People will have differing views, whether you agree with them or not.
Just hide them if they annoy or offend you, then you don't get to see it.

Leelu6 · 27/10/2015 16:05

An old saying comes to mind:

The Only Thing Necessary for the Triumph of Evil is that Good Men Do Nothing.

PerspicaciaTick · 27/10/2015 16:14

To be fair, Facebook gives a platform to all varieties of unutterable nobbers, regardless of what their personal bigotries are.
And at least you now know he is a nobber, in the past you could have gone for years without realising you were socialising with someone who has such shitty view.

MrsBalustradeLanyard · 27/10/2015 16:14

Yes but making a comment on FB is as close to doing nothin as makes no difference...

iamaboveandBeyond · 27/10/2015 16:33

I quite like this...

Facebook bringing out the racist Islamaphobes
TheWitTank · 27/10/2015 16:37

I got rid of my DH aunt (not close) because of consistent EDL and Britain First bollocks. Get rid.

Original poster
Collaborate · 27/10/2015 16:44

iamaboveandBeyond I love the cartoon. Will use it in my brief reply before I unfriend.

Ultimately, I'll feel like a bit of a shit if I skulk away.

Thanks all for your input.

OP posts:
EnaSharplesHairnet · 27/10/2015 16:49

The cartoon is not relevant to the burqua though.

Also I know Catholic friends who admit they'd be heartbroken if their kids took up holy orders.

Just be honest about how you view the EDL, no sarcasm, it's enough you know.

LittleLionMansMummy · 27/10/2015 16:54

Well done on challenging it op. I've started to do the same. If they're entitled to fill my news feed with racist propaganda then I'm sure as he'll going to exercise my right to oppose their view... before hiding their updates or blocking altogether.

DH2R · 27/10/2015 17:04

I've un-friended a couple of people for doing it that I didn't know very well, without saying anything. I felt bad.

Since then I always challenge them on it and point out the error of their ways. And keep them as friends so I can continue to do so. I thought I'd end up with them getting angry, or them un-friending me, but remarkably I've ended up with them agreeing with me.

It's so easy to argue with them because they don't have a leg to stand on - and none of them want to admit to being racist/biggoted (aka thick/ignorant).

What pees me off though is that very few others jump in on my side or LIKE my anti EDL etc posts, even though I know they agree (they tell me in rl).

If everyone landed on anyone posting this kind of bollocks they'd soon stop doing it. The one's I've picked up on it have all but stopped.

So do it OP. Post your message. But keep them as a friend. I'm sure they have their good points. And their bad ones are only down to a lack of education.

Crazypetlady · 27/10/2015 17:11

Challenge it. I always do.
The stance of ignoring it because of differing views doesn't apply to racist/islamaphobic comments imo.

OfaFrenchmind2 · 27/10/2015 17:14

Unfriend him, it's your choice. And your French friends, and a growing part of your European friends. After all, those bastards have this ban as a law.

ptumbi · 27/10/2015 17:21

Oh god I've got someone on my FB who posted the same. He can't even spell FB, he's so thick. ( He's not even my friend; he's a friend of Dp - who doesn't have fb).

I unfortunately read the comments between him and another 'mate' who basically said they need to wear head-to-toe black as they are so ugly... This from a pig-thick 55YO who doesn't even live in the UK!

I intend to defriend and block.

Branleuse · 27/10/2015 17:22

im not sure the nun thing is a good analogy, since most girls arent expected to dress like nuns from puberty onwards,

not that i have a problem with religious dress if freely chosen

Puzzledandpissedoff · 27/10/2015 17:23

It's Facebook. Get a life and move on. And accept that other people will have differing views

This ^^ Personally I see nothing to admire about the EDL, but as long as they're legally allowed to exist I'm not going to start frothing because someone else feels differently