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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

to be really bothered by a thread title, to complain about it & not be satisfied with the response?

260 replies

allhallows · 03/10/2007 09:24

Maybe gross blasphemy is acceptable in the UK these days. Maybe I'm too sensitive. Tell me what you think:

Regarding a certain thread title "oh my f*cking god". I complained about it to MN, saying it was unacceptable, especially as a thread title, where you can't avoid it. I asked that it be deleted. I'm not easily offended but this was beyond the pale for me. Here's the response I got from MN:

Hi there
Many thanks for bringing this to our attention.
We agree that this comment was in poor taste but we don't tend to delete on
those grounds because it would be really hard to know where to draw the line

  • what one person thinks is funny can be another person's sensitive spot and the truth is we don't think we should be the arbiters of what people should fine offensive and what they shouldn't. On the whole we think it's better to let the boards self police in these instances, as it's very rare that a tasteless comment is left unchallenged. Certainly in this case, it wasn't and the OP has apologised. Best wishes

I'm not satisfied that in this case it would be "really hard to know where to draw the line".

AIBU?

OP posts:
Desiderata · 03/10/2007 22:24

Oh, dear. What world are we living in these days?

If someone walks up to you in the street and says "Fuck off" for no apparent reason, you've every right to be offended.

But how can you possibly be offended by a thread title on Mumsnet that is in referral to a spider big enough to go to work? If that thing had come at me, I would have thought of an even older Anglo-Saxon term to describe my horror.

GOD!

MorticiasMother · 03/10/2007 22:27

I think the reason people were upset is that it was constantly in active convos and therefore you saw it all the time.

It was also in capitals to make it stand out more.

There has already been a debate about swearing in titles as some Mumsnetter's kids peer over shoulders and it's a pain to have to keep shutting the page down so that nosy kids can't read it.

Not to mention it lying uncomfortable with Christian Mumsnetters who do find blasphemy offensive even if no-one else does.

The poster was informed and she was genuinely sorry, which is why I have suggested an option whereby the poster who starts the thread can edit the title.

TheCurseOfTheMhummy · 03/10/2007 22:32

So can I get hacked off at the amount of times I see ffs? because if taken literally they are usually not for the sake of fucking

edam · 03/10/2007 22:38

I didn't realise MN was supposed to be an evangelical church. There are people here of all creeds and none. You can't expect everyone to live by your rules...

MorticiasMother · 03/10/2007 22:40

True, so would you then consider putting "Oh My F**king Mohammed" in the title then?

Thought not!

Desiderata · 03/10/2007 22:42

I'm sorry, but if you don't like it, don't Mumsnet. It's a living, organic website seething with emotions and intelligence and bitchiness and all manner of human vices and attributes.

With regards to the blasphemy, I too am baptized in the Christian faith and I've no wish to belittle the offense you feel. But the expression, as was used, is such common parlance in the English language, that I doubt whether few people see it as such.

I do understand why certain Christian members might feel chippy, however, especially in light of all the recent racism threads, when the majority are quick to point out the offense caused by minorities and their religious beliefs.

For what little it is worth, and for the sake of equity, I will certainly make sure that any threads I make in the future do not use offensive language to any belief.

NappiesLaGore · 03/10/2007 22:43

er, that has been covered earlier in the thread mortitia.
if the word mohammed was as assimilated into common parlance as the word god then yes, it woulf likely drop up more often. but it isnt. give it a few hundred years, maybe.

and in the mean time, click on my link. sage advice contained therein.

Desiderata · 03/10/2007 22:44

Sorry, I meant to say 'caused to minorities ...

Slightly different context in my typo

NappiesLaGore · 03/10/2007 22:45

i will prob avoid too des, but i wont be proud of it.

id much rather have the brains and quick wit to deflect any criticism of my honest belief that 'respect' for peoples superstitions is held in too high a regard. i think uqd expresses my thoughts on this better than i.

MorticiasMother · 03/10/2007 22:49

Hey I'm only playing Devil's Advocate! I'm trying to make you see why some would be offended.

I didn't like it. I didn't complain though as I figure by the looks of it, it wasn't worth it. Besides it wasn't as bad as some of the ante-natal ones have been!

SueBarooeeooeeooooo · 03/10/2007 22:49

Oh for crying out loud, the word used was 'god'. Christians have no more corner on being offended by a generic label than any other religious believer.

I understand that the original title had an expletive that isn't allowed on daytime telly, and I'm fine that it was offensive and changed.

I'm as evangelical, fundamentalist nutjob as they come, and I'd have completely lost my banana to be offended enough to complain about someone saying 'oh my god'.

I don't say it, because I know to whom I would referring as my god. Someone else saying it is neither here nor there.

hunkermunker · 03/10/2007 22:51

I wouldn't put oh my fucking Mohammed in the title because I don't have a Mohammed.

I do have a god though. He looks a bit like Shrek.

Desiderata · 03/10/2007 22:52

Quite true, Nappies.

I believe that all religion is something that ought to be kept private. I have little respect for any outward display from any of 'em.

However, Morticiasmum has a valid point .. in that if we were all to start using Islamic blasphemy, we would be deleted. In light of that imbalance, and not because I agree with it, I shall personally avoid the expression in future.

The country is full of ponces very enlightened people.

Amen

MorticiasMother · 03/10/2007 22:53
Desiderata · 03/10/2007 23:05
xXxamyxXx · 03/10/2007 23:08

we had better all buy rubber soled shoes to avoid being struck down by lightning

ChantillyLace · 03/10/2007 23:37

Only just read OP and have to say you are being way over sensitive!!! The prase is only blasphemous to those that believe nd only ofensive to those that believe or are agnostic. I am through and through Atheist so to me and many others like me it is only a sentence!! FGS get over yourselves! What the hell happened to freedom of speech?????!!!!!!!!!!

ChantillyLace · 03/10/2007 23:38

god my spelling and typing look atrocious!!! believe it or not my effing keyboard is effed!!

edam · 03/10/2007 23:41

Look on the bright side, apparently your exclamation mark is working overtime.

ChantillyLace · 03/10/2007 23:42

lmao!!!! well that's ok then!!!!

Blu · 03/10/2007 23:49

Well, I'm glad the thread title was there for a bit because I got banned for saying what I said about it, and i'm very excited to be in the notorious company of TheDullWitch and Cod, who were also banned - and ladyMuck who got done for namechanging!

And i've never been deleted before, let alone banned!

Heathcliffscathy · 03/10/2007 23:51

eniiiiid!±!!!

erm...you don't work in mumsnet....so the situation with the 'sensitive' muslim is NOT comparable you suspect person you.

Cammelia · 03/10/2007 23:52
xXxamyxXx · 03/10/2007 23:59

will a can of bavaria get me in too!

expatinscotland · 04/10/2007 00:48

Cod and the Dull Witch got banned?!

WTF?!