To think that people who 'want to switch off' from BLM are the ones who have chips on their shoulders?

[Moomin8]

I use a cloth nappy group on FB. A few days ago someone accidentally (I think, I didn't see it) made an offensive remark.

The next day one of the admins, very sensibly set up a thread for people to post educational resources relating to the BLM movement which encourage us all to think about how we can be a part of the solution rather than the problem. The issue of course, is that a lot of people don't even know that they are contributing to systemic racism.

That was fine until someone posted a comment saying this wasn't nappy related and they just wanted a space for nappies etc. After that it turned into a bit of a bun fight and got quite nasty.

There were only a few people who seemed to have this view but it left me wondering, why would someone complain about something positive that we could all learn from. Cloth nappy communities include people from BAME backgrounds (obviously) and why would you not want to take action against something that could hurt other people?

Also how do you get through to people who don't want to listen? Is it possible to get someone to change their position?

If I joined a group about cloth nappies I would expect it to be about cloth nappies not to “educate me” on any other issue be it BLM politics or any how to make a vegan curry or cook a turkey at Christmas.

YANBU. If they’re tired of #BLM imagine how much more tired black people must be living it.

Tbh I think it’s reasonable to just want a space for cloth nappies without lecturing them in what they should think about other things. I am totally in favour of BLM but can understand why people don’t want to be lectured.

I don't think every space should be politicised.

Tell me, how can we be part of the solution?

I'm not going to donate, demonstrate or educate myself. I think I'm educated enough on it.

It was one thread @Proudboomer

Do you also object to #BLM threads on MN?

Check your privilege.

If theres other non nappy related posts then no problem

The reason why it was set up was due to a racist comment which had been made by a member.

So that people of colour in the group are not made to feel marginalised.

I suppose your group could ensure that the nappies are made by people working in decent conditions, and not in a sweat shop - otherwise I wouldn't be too pleased about a nappy site being used to educate me

Just ban the racist person?

Where would you draw the line OP? Should your cloth nappy group be discussing climate change, homelessness, drug addiction, transgender rights, equal pay, FGM.... If not, why not?

Maybe you shouldn't be discussing cloth nappies at all, which is surely a first world privileged issue if ever there was one, and instead should be devoting your online energies to these social issues?

I am totally in favour of BLM but can understand why people don’t want to be lectured.

Yes but if people are making offensive comments in that space (as can happen in any space) then people do need to be educated.

I don't see how we can move forward when racism is an issue that pervades life generally, if some people only want to see it mentioned when they feel like it.

I think that a group that has such a narrow focus like cloth nappies should actually do what it says on the tin: cloth nappies!

Check your privilege.

Having used this phrase you may now safely be ignored.

If I want to find out about BLM or any other political movement I will go and look for it. I don't want it everywhere I look. I'm sick of being told what to think.

Offensive comments need to be removed and the person informed as to why the comment was removed. But that has nothing to do with the purpose of the group, which is cloth nappies.

Where would you draw the line OP? Should your cloth nappy group be discussing climate change, homelessness, drug addiction, transgender rights, equal pay, FGM.... If not, why not?

If an offensive comment has been made towards a group member then yes it needs to be addressed whatever the subject matter.

Op ban the racist person and move on.

What purpose does 'education' serve?

I don't think it's ever changed an opinion.

Most of the successful groups on facebook have a really strict policy on keeping on topic. I like that and I imagine it works for most members most of the time.

Like I'm into mid-century furniture and the mods there are fierce but that's fine, because that's the place to go to to look at pretty pictures of furniture.

Somewhere like Mumsnet is different, but even then if people post in the wrong topic the post is usually moved or the poster is told off.

I think that's fine, that's what I've signed up for.

So I think you are being U, because that's how groups work no matter what the subject.

People say nasty things online and in real life all the time.

Deal with the nasty person and carry on. Nobody would get anywhere if everything we ever did was derailed by constant education sessions

If I want to find out about BLM or any other political movement I will go and look for it. I don't want it everywhere I look. I'm sick of being told what to think.

Maybe some people are fed up with being marginalised every time they leave their house? Maybe they are fed up with having to tell their black teenage son that he needs to not go around with his hood up or he'll be stopped and searched.

I'm sure people like that would prefer to be able to switch that off. Don't you think?

Cadent I don’t object to any thread on here as it is an open forum so a bit different than a group for cloth nappy users.

And don’t give me that check your privilege bullshit as you have no idea of my ethic makeup from my pixels on a screen.

Blah blah blah!

"Call me out" - as someone like you would say, on those threads then. Not really on to drag posts from other threads onto others. And do report anything I post which you deem to be against MN rules won't you?

Was the educational post about nappies or more general?

I’m on a breastfeeding group and there have been some heartbreaking posts about breastfeeding in slavery which I didn’t know about and was saddened but glad to understand. They were entirely relevant to the group and designed to raise awareness of how history has impacted in black women and breastfeeding. The group doesn’t contain posts about non-breastfeeding so it wouldn’t have things on vegan curries or festive meats.

Depends on how it’s done.

When members of a group display racist views or don’t adhere to terms of engagement they should be kicked out. It’s not an excuse to “educate” everyone else I don’t think.

I think the more you push an agenda onto people then the more opposition you will create. You can only educate people who want to be educated, the others you'll just piss off and make them more anti.
"What you resist persists" as the saying goes.