Dear Haters

[Buttonitboris]

Is it just me or are other Mumsnetters being bombarded with ads, on this site, from the Scottish Government entitled 'Dear Haters' followed by we won't stand for transphobia, race hate crimes etc. I am unreasonable in finding it deeply offensive to be addressed as Dear Hater and do Mumsnet HQ feel it appropriate that users are addressed in this way?

Are these ads appearing elsewhere or is this an attempt by the Scottish Government to shut down debate on this site regarding trans/women's rights?

I'm getting ads for Victoria's secret. Deeply amusing as I am more of an apple catcher wearer these days.
I find the 'haters' adverts deeply offensive and immature. No sensible body or organisation, especially not Government in any shape of form should be wasting tax payers money on these fatuous adverts. Spend the money on something useful and tangible for marginalised people. They can just piss off with their woke wash.

@KiriAndLou

I wouldn't start thinking "why do I keep getting this dear dad ads on my page, why am I being addressed as a dad". A bit naive, isn't it?

I'd definitely start wondering why my ad preferences thought I was a dad.

That's the problem. It didn't "think" you were a dad. It doesn't know who is behind the clicks. So the question is a bit along the lines of "why are robots taking over?"

Someone wrote they are only on mumsnet so shouldn't get ads like this but they're on this thread. That's going in their 'clicks algorithm' and I assume they may have been on other threads like this or clicked other click-baity posts, etc.

@Quaagars

Quaagars I have never harrassed a trans person. Ever. Your assumption is very unpleasant

I never said you had! If you never have, then I wasn't referring to you, was I?!

Uh huh. Of course you weren't implying anything about me personally.

Anyone I'm done engaging. Have a good day.

If you mean me you misunderstood me!

Mumsnet is the only place I discuss anything even vaguely beyond cake recipes and dog walking.

Why is the Scottish government targetting Mumsnet?

You either get personalised ads (tracks your clicks and displays ads based on this) or random ads if you choose to disable personalised ad (It doesn't track your clicks so you may get something about Scotland when you're not in scotland or other random ads like "Dear Squigglers").

You will always be shown an ad (random or personalised) unless you have an adblock that blocks all ads.

That's the problem. It didn't "think" you were a dad. It doesn't know who is behind the clicks.

Well, it's an algorithm so technically doesn't think anything. But I would wonder how it had decided my profile was of a dad. As it is, most adverts from Mumsnet don't show up on my phone (no idea why, I've not got an ad blocker) but I do notice and wonder why when my ads on other sites are off-target.

If you aren’t transphobic / sexist / racist / ableist etc then it’s not aimed at you, is it?

It IS aimed at us, because we are called transphobic when we are not. It's an attempt to shut us up.
Not fucking working though!

This is weird. The thread was just at 160 messages, I refreshed, and it is now 158. How does that even happen?

There have been glitches involving multiple posts, the mods may have taken them down.

I'm not sure that an ad starting "Dear Haters" is going to do anything other than switch the Haters off. It's hardly an effective way to engage a hostile audience and engage them in debate to change their minds. Surely it is REALLY about virtue-signalling ie aimed at the "non-haters" so the Scottish Gov can crow about how progressive they are supporting minorities.

@TheKeatingFive

There have been glitches involving multiple posts, the mods may have taken them down.

Yes, thanks, should have thought of that

Yes, I agree PickleWithEverything, it's nowt but empty virtue signalling.

Yeah it's such a childish, crappy advert. Apparently it's on loads of buses and trains. No "dear sexists", tellingly. I think it's a rubbish ad, very sneering and sounds like an American teen starting a vlog

Except Pickle falls for the ad's tricks by calling me a hater; I must be since the ad made me "switch off". I am just a normal person who would like to retain my sex based rights, thank you.

But "hostile audience", yeah, you bet I'm hostile now

Interesting that an ad in Scotland calling people "haters" is apparently more acceptable than I❤️JKRowling.

What strange times we live in.

Another reason to go Premium :-)

Yeah! Cos we are all nasty aren't we? Don't obejct to The Bollox Wimmxn, that's how you identify yourselves!

Er, did I say you "were all nasty?"
No, I didn't.
If it doesn't apply to you, it doesn't apply to you.
A pp said people seem to be more concerned about being thought of being hateful than the actual act itself, and I agree

@MangoesAreMyFavourite

Another reason to go Premium :-)

I don't get ads on the app.

A pp said people seem to be more concerned about being thought of being hateful than the actual act itself, and I agree But you are missing the point... the political point!

As has been outlined a few times by the people you seem determined to think are defensive rather than taking in what theyhave posted and undertsand that they are annoyed, bemused that a nation's government would do this in the first place!

Which is what led to my first sentence, which you also chose to twist a little!

That line is still running, twisting, hazing....

The problem is that people don't get to decide whether it applies to them

Why is that a problem?
I mean, for example, outright, blatant racists never know or indeed acknowledge that they are being, and carry on thinking they're right.
Should they be able to just carry on as they are, spreading/stoking hate/fear/harassment online?

@Quaagars

The advert perpetuates hate, though. That's the point many people are making

So what are you saying, that we shouldn't call out hate because that just creates more hate?
We should all just stay quiet instead and turn a blind eye, or what?

Absolutely. I strongly agree with calling out hate as long as it actually is hate. That's not what's happening here. Disagreement is not hate. Criticism is not hate. Women objecting to the redefinition of the word 'woman' to mean the gender stereotype associated with their sex are not being hateful. This ad hasn't appeared out of a vacuum. It's clearly in response to proposed legislation which is deeply problemativ. A government body calling people 'haters' because they disagree with something the government is proposing is something that should worry all of us. It is incredibly dehumanising and encourages a 'them versus us' narrative that helps no one.

I don't get ads on the app.

Neither do I but I think I used to!

Every six posts there is a grey band where I assume the ad goes/used to go.

What's going on? As it happens I have no money to spend on shite, but "they" wouldn't know that surely?

Absolutely. I strongly agree with calling out hate as long as it actually is hate
Women objecting to the redefinition of the word 'woman' to mean the gender stereotype associated with their sex are not being hateful

OK, can see where you're coming from there - can you not see though that how is it OK to target trans people online? (Eg, today's US election, first transgender person won in one of the states) some of the comments towards her were disgusting.)
There's a bit of difference between objecting to the word woman being redefined and abusing people solely for being themselves.
So that's why people don't get to choose what is and isn't hateful for themselves - I'm sure racists want to be able to say whatever the hell they like too and send whatever messages they like too (some disgusting ones underneath for example Sainsbury's daring to promote BLM, and saying racists not welcome)
cue loads of people outraged at that If you're not racist, why are you so up in arms lol?! Weren't talking to you then, were they?!
Same here in this instance on this board

I have not seen one.