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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

AIBU that mumsnet should intervene in a child protection post?

105 replies

bellybuttonfairy · 21/07/2016 07:44

I've read a couple of worrying threads on here recently. One was when a husband forcefully pushed a child and another very recently where a husband sprayed hairspray into a stepson face as in anger/punishment.

The post really upset me and when I checked the thread has been removed. Imy hoping that mumsnet were able to involve support agencies or do cases like this get lost in the ether of Internet anonominity?

OP posts:
acasualobserver · 21/07/2016 07:47

I think your final supposition is the most likely.

DonkeyOaty · 21/07/2016 07:53

How would MNHQ do it? Users are anonymous; we don't give addresses or contact numbers on registration.

Also - people may not be all they say so if you find yourself getting upset then tell yourself its all bobbins and switch off your laptop

NeedAScarfForMyGiraffe · 21/07/2016 07:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MumOnTheRunCatchingUp · 21/07/2016 08:00

Don't be ridiculous

I've been here long enough to remember that one time MNHQ did intervene...... Fallout was massive

Remember most posts will contain lies/fabrication/untruths

branofthemist · 21/07/2016 08:04

Why were the threads removed?

ParisGellar · 21/07/2016 08:05

Probably troll threads. These things probably didn't happen.

MollyTwo · 21/07/2016 08:05

So now mn should hunt down these people, who could also be trolls? And how do you suppose the anonymous aspect of this site would be maintained? Yabu.

DragonsEggsAreAllMine · 21/07/2016 08:06

IP trace would work but I doubt they report any child protection / fraud / abuse situations as its just a chat room essentially.

bellybuttonfairy · 21/07/2016 08:07

I can imagine that there are lots of made up threads on here but a mother posting about an assault on her child by her partner - I just think that would be less likely to be made up.

I just think it sad that something like that could be posted but there is nothing that can be done.

I know that there is an email address to register- I just hope that it would be passed to a support agency for the them to get a message to the mother - at the least.

The mother isn't protecting her son if she remains with her partner

OP posts:
hobnobsaremyfavourite · 21/07/2016 08:07

Do you believe everything you read on here?

fanofthevoid · 21/07/2016 08:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WellErrr · 21/07/2016 08:09

Yes, that would really encourage people to keep posting.

bellybuttonfairy · 21/07/2016 08:09

Surely - it can't just be ignored - child protection should be taken as a priority above confidentiality/anonymity? Isn't there a legal obligation to report - or at least a moral one?

OP posts:
Roussette · 21/07/2016 08:11

Don't be daft. What about trolls, what about fantasists, what about those out for revenge making up any old nonsense?!

Regarding your last post - who decides "what is less likely to be made up" ? Is there a MN Guru who will know these things?

Of course there won't be intervention by MN, that's not what they're here for.

branofthemist · 21/07/2016 08:11

I can imagine that there are lots of made up threads on here but a mother posting about an assault on her child by her partner - I just think that would be less likely to be made up.

you are wrong. It's exactly the type of things troll would post.

If they were deleted because mn suspect they are a troll or pbp, reporting child abuse the police would be wasting police time.

Roussette · 21/07/2016 08:12

No, there isn't a legal obligation to report. This is cyber space. No one knows what is true and what isn't, unless they are there witnessing it.

Maybebabybee · 21/07/2016 08:13

I'd say the vast majority of dramatic situations on this site are utter bollocks tbh.

MollyTwo · 21/07/2016 08:13

I just think that would be less likely to be made up

Don't be so gullible. You clearly haven't been here long enough to know that worse has been posted and have been trolls. This is a chat room space not for mn to be hunting down posters.

hobnobsaremyfavourite · 21/07/2016 08:14

"Less likely to be made up"
Really?
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

bellybuttonfairy · 21/07/2016 08:15

fanofthevoid how on earth am I being silly????? Surely - if you read something regarding a child being mistreated - isn't it just a normal reaction to want to help? Do mumsnet send an email to say that they are concerned about the post and give advice for contact to agencies such as NSPCC???

OP posts:
Spudlet · 21/07/2016 08:15

I think that someone is going to make something up, they're likely to want to go for a big impact through maximum shock value. There was a thread on here recently where someone falsely claimed that their child had been diagnosed with leukaemia. On another forum I use, someone once created a new user profile in order to claim that their original profile had been in a serious accident and was on the brink of death.

I didn't see either of the threads you refer to op, so am not suggesting these must be false. They may not be, and they sound very distressing either way. But trolls will do whatever to push buttons and get a reaction, so actually that's exactly the sort of scenario someone might make up to get a rise, sadly.

ABloodyDifficultWoman · 21/07/2016 08:17

You need to read the answers here OP and just spend a little time thinking the issue through.
Most of those threads - almost all I'd say - are the work of trolls, attention seeking fantasists and wannabe authors. You seriously want MNHQ to be bothering Police Stations up and down the country on the off-chance that one of them might have a grain of truth to them? Come on. Seriously?

bellybuttonfairy · 21/07/2016 08:17

How can you say that it's not true though? I'm well aware that lots of trolls live here. However, lots of threads are made by genuine people asking for advice

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 21/07/2016 08:17

I can imagine that there are lots of made up threads on here but a mother posting about an assault on her child by her partner - I just think that would be less likely to be made up.

Trolls will post whatever they think will get the most reaction. There are no subjects they won't use.

VeryBitchyRestingFace · 21/07/2016 08:17

a mother posting about an assault on her child by her partner - I just think that would be less likely to be made up.

Seriously?? You're a bit naive, OP.

Maybe best to give such threads a wide berth if they upset you so much.

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