Racist Threads

[PhilippaGeorgiou]

Wasn't sure where to post this, but I thought AIBU would be ok. I am not running this as a poll, because I don't care about anyones opinions on the matter. And if anyone wants to respond with more racism, don't bother because I won't be engaging for even a second.

Right at the moment this site is not being overrun by racists because MNHQ has determined that there are no racists on the site and it's abuse to tell anyone they are a racist (even when they are). However, there are multiple threads expressing racism every single day, all rehearsing the same old misinformation and bogus narratives. Not one of those posters want to engage - they become abusive and offensive if anyone produces remotely evidenced facts. Their "facts" are the only truthful facts. Everyone else is a "woman hating woke leftist". Which is apparently not abus, according to MNHQ. MNHQ have made is abundantly clear that they will not moderate misinformation, and are blithely happy to allow most abuse to stand.

Here's the thing - there's pretty much nobody on those threads that is genuinely interested in having a discussion or debating information. There is nobody jumping on those threads saying that they don't really understand the different views and positions and would like to know more. Unsurprising, anyone who actually wants to explore the issue, the absolute last place to look to do that would be yet another toxic thread here. Probably the only good thing is that it really is highly unlikely anyone with a real curiousity about the subject would look to form opinions based on the toxic formula of MN.

The only thing that these threads are good for is clicks and ££££'s in the bank for Justine and the site.

So anti-racists - I suggest that we all stop answering these threads altogether. I know it is hard to see the racism stand (although apparently not for the owners of the site or the moderators) unchallenged, but every single challange does nothing but feed the flames and earn money for MN. You all know that the people who are not racists will spend 20% of their posts posting misinformation and 80% posting goady barbs and personal insults, just to keep the threads going. It will be incredibly boring for them if they only have each other to talk to. The threads will die without oxygen. And MN makes no money out of clicks that haven't happened. It's a win all around.

And if you want to do something proactive, instead of engaging with people who aren't going to listen, why not raise your concerns about the racism with the advertisers? They are being associated with it by their presence, and are clearly far more likely to influence the owners of the site than the people posting on it.

It does seem that there has been a remarkably herculean lurch to the far right on here whether you look at the comments or the poll statistics. I was just contemplating taking an indefinite break from Mumsnet because it's utterly soul destroying to think that this online community may just reflect the real world out there at the moment. Or maybe it's just AIBU, which has never been renowned as a safe space for anyone. I agree that a huge number of comments appear to massively overstep the mark of decency and respect, under the guise of free speech. I fully expect some goady Tommy lover to be along shortly to prove my point by saying that the woke leftie snowflakes are way more fascist than the fascists. In reality I'm a centrist. I just hate racism and refuse to tolerate it just because it's dressed up in the fancy clothes of free speech.

I think this site - influential as it is - is likely being targeted by the billionaire oligarch capitalists behind Reform UK / GB News / the flags bollocks / hotel yelling.

Anti-Irish racism is rampant and has always been accepted on here. It's just taken a step further and now racism against any and all foreigners is accepted. I assume most of the those posters have similar attitudes towards locals who are not white.

I'm not sure totally ignoring them is the way to go as yes, while the posts will die, not challenging them can be seen as tacit approval.

I can see your point but I don't see that challenging it makes any difference. I would rather spend my time challenging it in real life where I actually can make a difference. It's also better for my blood pressure.

YANBU @PhilippaGeorgiou.

Indeed. A year ago sweet well meaning people were posting things like " Am I being inappropriate if I wear a sari to an Indian wedding?".
Now it's " There's a brown man in the park!" or " My children are not safe at school!". MN does nothing.

Maybe we should fill the threads with flowers.

It doesn't make any difference to the racist poster. However, I think for those who are the target of the racism, seeing other people saying it is unacceptable can be helpful.

I think you are probably right PG.

I have spent a lot of time arguing against the racism, producing actual facts and figures. It is all ignored, piled on, laughed at.

I do see @OchonAgusOchonOh 's point too about tacit approval, though. But if we did all stop engaging and MN became just an echo chamber of racism, maybe MNHQ would be more stringent.

MNHQ has got a bit better recently IME and a few of the more obvious racist trolls have had the boot. But others are left to run riot.

Anyway, no doubt this thread will be piled on very soon.

Oh. I like that idea!

I really wish we could have a separate board for all these 'there are so many racists on mumsnet,' and 'mumsnet is so racist' threads.

So I could hide it.

Hiding this thread, in 3... 2.. 1!

A few days ago, I don't know how I got there, I was reading threads about the Battle of Bamber Bridge, where the British made it quite clear that we didn't do as the white Americans from the Southern States demanded and learn their advanced habits of segregation here. (Aus and NZ) too. We were proud not to be disciplined into their ways, and protected their black troops. And our own, who they thought they could impose their home laws on.
From comments, the locals in Lancashire have pride in the side they took then.
Where have these racists crawled out from, since they weren't in Bamber Bridge, or Bristol or Cornwall then?

This was my thinking. You can't argue with stupid as the saying goes, but I do worry about people who are vulnerable to misinformation or who are directly impacted and harmed by such posts seeing them and taking silence as approval or agreement and the same misinformation being spread further.

It's deeply worrying that this may reflect public opinion but equally I wouldn't be surprised if there was a targeted approach to this behind the scenes and flames are being deliberately fanned.

I also don't understand how someone can say or do racist things, but not be deemed racist? Surely they are only saying or doing those racist things because they are inherently racist? So I'm not sure why this cannot be called out without being labelled a personal attack. The two go hand in hand.

You can always scroll on by if you don't care about the issue.

At one point when it was disablist threads every day, some of us took to discussing recipes or what we were having for tea. It incensed them no end (and a fair few of them are on the wrong side of the racist threads).

@PandoraSocks a few of the more obvious racist trolls have had the boot
I don't think so. They have name changed or have set up another account. The writing styles are identical.

Me too.

Simply put a 💐 after every post that's racist/ offensive/ massively overstepping. Instead of the good old fashioned mumsnet biscuit. Suggest doing the same with painted roundabout too!

It does feel very despairing.
My thoughts are, that to be a racist you have to be in quite a lot of emotional pain already. It’s trauma dumping in the most easy way, i.e. not being able to own your own pain so dumping it on the most vulnerable in the community.

They probably just need a hug, but unfortunately the behaviour is so repulsive, they become even more isolated and lonely and in emotional pain

Hmm - but a bunch of flowers could be taken to indicate giving someone flowers / thanks. It would need to be something consistent and also clearly anti-racist.

Sadly, you are probably right about that @PhilippaGeorgiou as the same disinformation is spammed across the boards by an ever changing influx of posters.

One poster admitted they were all following a link from X or Reddit. Can't remember which.

You are saying that "racist" posters don't want to engage in meaningful discussion....but you also say that you won't engage either, with any opinions that differ from yours?

Perhaps once the 💐 has been used a few times, people would cotton on?

Because we have all tried millions of times. It is a waste of energy. It isn't about "differing opinions". It is about counteracting racism. Big difference.

Perhaps we can lobby for a Racist’s board?

Every board is a racist board when certain people post on it!

If only we had way of blocking those people!