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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think banning the sale of the daily mail goes against all free speech stands for

132 replies

BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot · 09/01/2018 19:50

Now I'm not a fan of it but everyone is allowed to speak their views. Aibu to think banning the sale of any one news outlet goes against the principles of free speech?

OP posts:
rcit · 09/01/2018 19:51

Has this been suggested somewhere?

Original poster
BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot · 09/01/2018 19:52

A link would be useful!

BBC link.

OP posts:
WineCheeseSleep · 09/01/2018 19:52

Where is it being banned? I saw Virgin trains were no longer selling it but that was because it wasn't selling well.

honeyroar · 09/01/2018 19:52

Perhaps, but I'd be pleased if they did ban it.

MirandaWest · 09/01/2018 19:54

Virgin west costs are stopping stocking it on their trains. This says it was one of a handful of newspapers they sold so presumably there are others they don't sell

Eltonjohnssyrup · 09/01/2018 19:54

Richard Branson is having a hissy fit because of Brexit. I didn't even know Virgin Trains sold papers and I doubt it's sales are significant. Print media is almost a thing of the past. It's just boring irrelevant virtue signalling from another millionaire. Who cares?

Original poster
BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot · 09/01/2018 19:54

It's political wording otherwise known as "we don't agree with what they say so they're not allowed on our trains"

OP posts:
WineCheeseSleep · 09/01/2018 19:54

I see it was a bit more idealogical than I thought but it hasn't been banned. They only carry a small range of papers and DM wasn't popular.

Kintan · 09/01/2018 19:55

Anything that slows the distribution of that hateful rag is ok by me. I don’t think the erosion of free speech is an issue in this case and it’s disingenuous to suggest otherwise.

DriggleDraggle · 09/01/2018 19:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OddBoots · 09/01/2018 19:57

Don't they only sell a few papers anyway? They don't sell every single paper available and very few people were buying it, why would they continue to stock it if it is just taking up shelf space. Or do you think they ought to sell every single paper there is?

TrojanWhore · 09/01/2018 19:57

They are no longer provided on the trains, but there is no ban on you taking a copy you have bought elsewhere to read on the journey.

KenAdams · 09/01/2018 19:57

Do you disagree with The Sun not being sold in Liverpool as well?

echt · 09/01/2018 19:57

There's nothing to stop customers from bringing their own copies, so it's not an attack on freedom of speech.

SwedishEdith · 09/01/2018 19:57

"we don't agree with what they say so they're not allowed on our trains"

It is allowed on their trains though - just buy it at the station.

LouiseBrooks · 09/01/2018 19:57

If they stocked every other paper bar the DM, you might be right but there are lots of others they don't have on their train, so no.

Notevilstepmother · 09/01/2018 19:57

Freedom of speech is about the government or others in power stopping people from voicing an opinion.

Choosing not to stock a newspaper is not in any way the same as banning it, and it is not a freedom of speech issue. There is nothing stopping them from going to print, and nothing stopping Virgin passengers using the online version.

YABU.

MissionItsPossible · 09/01/2018 19:58

O/T slightly but did anyone see the debate between the Guardian columnist and Daily Mail columnist just now on Channel 4 about this topic? Grin The DM guy was speaking and a young couple walked past in the background arguing and started shouting at each other telling each other to "Fuck off" and they had to temporarily cut the link

justicewomen · 09/01/2018 19:59

Right to free speech does not extend to a right to be stocked in a retailers, or distributed, or have an audience guaranteed or be invited to speak at a university. It just means (save for defined exceptions) it is not illegal to say something. It also does not prevent people from criticising you, boycotting your advertisers or questioning your public appointment (Toby Young)

greenmagpie · 09/01/2018 19:59

So a retail outlet has decided not to stock an item. If you think that's a "free speech" issue I suggest you take a look at what free speech is. Spoiler: being protected from the consequences of what you say is not 'free speech'.

Would you allow Nazi propaganda leaflets to be handed out on trains or would that be free speech too?
Do you personally buy the DM wholesale and sell it on? Why not?

mscongeniality · 09/01/2018 19:59

Firstly, they haven't 'banned' it, you can still buy it elsewhere if you fancy it. Secondly, there's a difference between free speech and hate speech and I would argue that the DM is the latter.

Darkstar4855 · 09/01/2018 19:59

YABU. Choosing not to sell something is not the same as banning it. In the Virgin Trains case people can still buy a copy elsewhere and bring it on board.

There is no law that says shops must sell ALL newspapers or NO newspapers!

Also freedom of speech does not mean everyone is “allowed to speak their views” if the views in question are racist, sexist, abusive, homophobic etc.

ClaryFray · 09/01/2018 19:59

Meh, banning it won't do much. People can access and share it online so it's still around.

Besides I need it to use for my ferrets poop!

YouTheCat · 09/01/2018 19:59

So long as it is still allowed to be printed then I don't see the problem.

I personally wouldn't wipe my arse on it.

mothertruck3r · 09/01/2018 20:00

If people are so concerned with banning "hate" speech perhaps they should ban the sale of the holy books of the 3 major religions (Christianity, Judaism and Islam)? You'll find plenty of hate speech in them in the form of racism, misogyny and homophobia, far more than the Daily Mail.