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Original poster

To think Mumsnet is no longer the bastion of free speech that it was

130 replies

MumsTheWordFact · 13/12/2021 20:30

I've noticed a number of threads that I've been following have been deleted lately. The latest one was about a mother saying she had been 'cancelled' by her children.

I even had my own thread pulled down about a month or so ago with absolutely no reason given as to why.

Have Google or Facebook bought out Mumsnet and I just didn't hear about it?

OP posts:
Capricopia · 13/12/2021 20:38

When was it ever?

Theeyeballsinthesky · 13/12/2021 20:43

Selective screenshots of that thread were posted on twitter & I’m sure it was reported multiple times with the aim of deletion

It’s always very noticeable which threads get targeted by the flying monkeys….

RaPumPumPumPum · 13/12/2021 20:46

YANBU.

I was banned for a week a few months ago for saying to a (very smug judgmental and self congratulatory) OP, who didn’t like that some people found parenting hard and express it, “Well done you OP come and get your medal”. I challenged the ban and was told it wasn’t in the spirit of the thread Confused which to me did not require a well long ban!

Sparklingbrook · 13/12/2021 20:55

I even had my own thread pulled down about a month or so ago with absolutely no reason given as to why

What did the deletion message say?

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 13/12/2021 20:59

YANBU - thread deletions are like a F1 race directors' decisions.

Franca123 · 13/12/2021 21:06

I was deleted for stating a dictionary definition. Furious doesn't even come close to describing how I felt. Who are mumsnet to decide that the meaning of words need to change. I also complained about something I thought was damaging to children and didn't even get a response. So they clearly have their priorities very confused.

Original poster
MumsTheWordFact · 13/12/2021 21:34

@Sparklingbrook

I even had my own thread pulled down about a month or so ago with absolutely no reason given as to why

What did the deletion message say?

I can't remember word for word but it was along the lines of "we need to take this thread down for a while while we investigate", it never came back and no explanation was given as to why.
OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 13/12/2021 21:46

@MumsTheWordFact if you had emailed MNHQ they could have explained why it was taken down and why they needed to investigate?

Original poster
MumsTheWordFact · 13/12/2021 21:48

I suppose, but frankly it should be the other way around. Admins should have to write out a reason which gets emailed to the person automatically. Forcing them to justify what they're doing might make them them less trigger happy.

OP posts:
Beamur · 13/12/2021 21:49

I think in the main, MN is fairly moderated and is clear about the rules.
It's a private enterprise and facilitates a lot of discussion that is stifled elsewhere.

Needspace21 · 13/12/2021 21:51

I got canceled and banned for asking advice and giving true details about my life. Mumsnet claimed I was making stuff up and 'didn't have the best of intentions.' I was so sad as I rely on mumsnet a lot for support as a single parent. I hope I don't get cancelled again for even saying this.

Sparklingbrook · 13/12/2021 21:55

@Needspace21

I got canceled and banned for asking advice and giving true details about my life. Mumsnet claimed I was making stuff up and 'didn't have the best of intentions.' I was so sad as I rely on mumsnet a lot for support as a single parent. I hope I don't get cancelled again for even saying this.
They banned you but you're still able to post? That's not a great ban is it? What do you mean by 'cancelled'?
DdraigGoch · 13/12/2021 21:55

Here for the deletion message.

Hawkins001 · 13/12/2021 21:55

It is a mix at times, I wish there was more information about why x thread gets pulled

AdaFuckingShelby · 13/12/2021 21:56

I've just been deleted for stating facts. No insults, just facts. I find it bizarre and chilling. So I stated them again just to make sure I am understood. I'll probably get deleted again. It's fucking scary. Not allowed to say men aren't women.

FitAt50 · 13/12/2021 22:01

One persons Free Speech is another person Hate Speech.

DdraigGoch · 13/12/2021 22:03

By the way I read through around ten pages of one of the threads mentioned before it got zapped with still another thirteen pages to read. So can anyone fill me in? Did we ever hear what JK Rowling is supposed to have said that was so bad?

thatsallineed · 13/12/2021 22:09

@FitAt50

One persons Free Speech is another person Hate Speech.
... is another person's scientifically proven biological fact. Or religious or political viewpoint, conspiracy theory, whatever.

I've noticed that things haven't been the same on here since about a year before Brexit.

groundcontroltomontydon · 13/12/2021 22:15

One persons Free Speech is another person Hate Speech
“[F]reedom of expression … is applicable not only to ‘information’ or ‘ideas’ that are favourably received or regarded as inoffensive or as a matter of indifference, but also to those that offend, shock or disturb the State or any sector of the population.” A quote that any journalist/publisher should know by heart.

OMG12 · 13/12/2021 22:34

Freedom of speech/expression are so last decade. We now live in a woke dystopia where groupthink is the only acceptable way to exist. Now go take some Soma otherwise you’ll find a cage of rats strapped to your face and wake up with two blokes/mumsnet moderators in your room whilst you await a trial for a never disclosed crime.

Newpandrawer · 13/12/2021 23:01

Facilitating free speech is not a commercially wise business plan unfortunately.

The original unmoderated corner of the internet was Usenet, which used to be fantastic, but now is virtually dead.

Signed

Old bag

RuggerHug · 13/12/2021 23:05

There's way more hate and general offensive/deliberately cruel stuff being everywhere online the last decade or so about many topics. Mumsnet is no different.

ilovesooty · 13/12/2021 23:23

@RuggerHug

There's way more hate and general offensive/deliberately cruel stuff being everywhere online the last decade or so about many topics. Mumsnet is no different.
Agreed.
StoneofDestiny · 13/12/2021 23:36

Has a 'we've taken this thread down to investigate' thread ever come back up again? I've never seen one.

coatilove · 13/12/2021 23:38

OP i completely agree. Some threads I see taken down are beyond ridiculous.

Any thread about race tends to go up on smoke which I think makes MN part of the problem.

I saw a thread about Adele disappear the other day purely because the OP suggested she seems arrogant lately. I mean come on, it's beyond silly some of the things threads and messages her deleted for.

Not sure what the answer is though as ultimately they can do what they like it's their site.

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