Shutting down discussion

[CheeryPye]

Why do people do it? Ganging up and hounding anyone who doesn't agree with them and endlessly hammering away at the report button to sensor any debate on the undeniable uncomfortable truths contained in some subjects, which people on a public forum have every right to debate? There are some topics that by their very nature raise significant moral questions and those very real truths may make some people feel uncomfortable but is it right for those people to go to such extreme lengths to bully and shut down that debate just because they don't like it? What made them so special?

Are we only allowed to discuss what other people decide we can discuss in the way they decide? That's how dictatorships begin. Time and time again threads are left impossible to follow like a patchwork of deleted posts because someone has got a bee in their bonnet and just doesn't want other people to have an opinion or raise obvious questions they don't want people to discuss. Why is their solution to try and cancel any opposing views by repeatedly reporting other people in a concerted effort to censor their views and get them flagged up as a problem to HQ in an attempt to get them banned from MN.

Is it not better to just not read the thread rather than desperately trying to control debate and frantically bashing away at the report button to control what other people think?

Oh happy Easter by the way 😊

But isn't that troll hunting itself reporting people because you think they are a troll?

With respect you are being a bit naive having that much faith that MN never ever get it wrong. They quite clearly do. Other people have alluded to the report button being abused. It is also quite apparent that some posts are removed just to pacify serial button pushers with MN not even being able to cite a breach themselves, other than a vague reference of the guidelines.

Some people can’t handle a complex discussion or civilised debate without being condescending, nasty and rude. Which is what I see most of the time on AIBU.

I think Mumsnet do their very best to make a broad judgement and I was really supportive of the moderating up to a couple of months or so ago, which always seemed very fair and reasonable.

However I’ve recently had experience of being on threads where it’s fairly evident that the most reported posts - in this instance the minority viewpoint - are deleted the most.

I suppose it’s inevitable on such a huge site that it gets impossible to follow every thread in detail. Especially when posts are coming in from all over the world at all hours. But it does seem very unfair when posters use reporting to shut down genuine debate.

Your disagreement with their decision does not necessarily make you correct, or mumsnet HQ to be in error.

You may not understand why a post breaks guidelines, or you may not be privy to background information that MNHQ can access, relating to PBPs.

Your posts suggest have a surprising belief in the validity of your own point of view relative to everyone else’s, which is not indicative of good debating skills.

(BTW nice straw man argument there - I never suggested occasional human errors don’t occur, but that’s the logical fallacy you’re choosing to argue from 🙂)

The ‘that shoe’ troll likes to post stories/descriptions of children wearing those shoes as a punishment at school and asks others to engage. There was a similar troll who would go into detail about their ‘daughter’ being forced to wear their PE gym knickers at school etc. It’s creepy and nauseating and I’m perfectly happy for MN to shut that down even if it means that poster’s freedom of speech is violated.

I've already said I wasn't talking about me. Perhaps try reading before replying 😉

Perhaps you need to correct the (more than one poster on this thread) who also firmly believe the report button is being used to shut down debate. Perhaps they also have a surprising belief in the validity of thier own point too.

Sorry - I don't care. 🙂

No. I don't keep getting my posts deleted/banned. Troll hunting isn't allowed by the way 🙂

If you're not happy about how MNHQ administer the site you could reach out to them and offer to fund a full-time professional moderator or two (although they might decline if it doesn't fit with their strategy).

Alternatively you are free to set up your own online forum with your own rules or accept this is how they do it 😊

I agree AngelQuartz there’s a lot of condescension and point scoring. People have lost the skill of debating objectively.

Absolutely! This thread is a pure example. So ironic 😂

I agree totally with this. What happened to allowing someone to express their opinion and letting it rest there for others to read and agree or disagree as they like?

Instead posts that are contrary to the majority get picked apart again and again.

I know someone who is now reluctant to post on a particular board because they have been the subject of so many pile ons. They are a very respectful poster too.

😂😂 about soup blender controversy!

Agree with you about not replying further. By far the best strategy. But the problem is, that when there’s a multiple poster aggressive pile on, everyone feels obliged to reply in a fairly direct and brusque way just to keep their heads above water, even if they are normally polite and stick to talk guidelines. And then everything ramps up a notch.

Ha ha, that was my thread! Am happy to report that the soup maker is being used regularly so will not, in fact, destroy the planet.

How exactly is this thread an example any of that? It's a completely different subject altogether. Some people seem to have lost the skill of comprehension.

Sorry, did any of that actually have anything to do with the post you quoted? That was a reply to someone else. You can address me directly without quoting other people you know, I really don't mind 😊

This is exactly what I am talking about and I'm baffled that so many posters either seem oblivious to it or full on deny it even happens. I'm glad you've witnessed it as well. There are a few people on this thread who see exactly what I mean because they have also seen it happening. It's quite evident that some people do use the report button to shut down debate.

Definitely op. I hope this can be addressed by Mumsnet Towers who do a great job generally to keep conversation flowing. Using reporting to shut down debate is really not on but some posters on specific boards have seen that it really works as a strategy and so carry on doing it.