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.

What can I say, I hate the cream and jam combination. Cheese is surely better than sultanas or cherries, no?

runs and hides

A peach, perhaps!

I'm also sorry to hear it. You'll be missed. Your own wellbeing comes first but I for one hope to see you back once some of the craziness has ebbed. 🌺

Cherries sound like a good idea, and definitely cream first. Certainly better than cheese, urgh. A bit like cheese croissants, just no.

And I sympathise OP. I’ve largely given up. The last few days have been relentless, the flag threads are like banging your head against the wall. Depressing. And probably best just walked away from.

😂😂

Fair enough, I was genuinely asking you though as that seemed to be what you were suggesting. I wasn't being accusatory, so apologies if that's how it sounded.

The problem with the argument about people passing through safe countries to reach the UK means that we wouldn't take our fair share and we'd end up with no asylum seekers - which is a conclusion that usually pleases the people who make these types of arguments.

The definition of an economic migrant is based on the reason they left their home country. An asylum seeker is still an asylum seeker, regardless which country they finally stop in.

I think all of us - if we were forced to flee - wouldn't just stop at the first safe spot we found if we didn't speak the language and had no way of building a new, safe, life. As I say, it's not as if they're all making their way to Britain, proportionately more stay in Europe, even when taking into account our smaller size, we're still taking less than many others.

It just feels as if this whole "they're not real asylum seekers as they deliberately made their way through safe countries to Britain" is a real denial that asylum seekers are allowed to build a life, settle, and become contributing members of the community. I think some people use this reason about safe countries as a cover to say that they just don't think asylum seekers should be here (not suggesting that's you, but in general).

whatever you do, don’t use crackers. We’ll be getting salty over that one ✌️

Me too, Mrs B.

Sorry, I missed the scone conversation. I typed my reply ages ago and then was interrupted to do actual real life things. Absolutely unacceptable.

Cream has to go first - because it's dairy, like butter. And then jam, preferably strawberry. It also means you get a fruity burst of flavour with the creaminess underneath. Cream on top means the jam gets lost.

I have heard of cheese scones but thankfully such an aberration has never crossed my plate.

I just make myself feel a bit better by offering up liberal emojis of thanks, agree and love.

Hope people notice and appreciate them as being a small token of appreciation of your courage, clarity and conviction.

Don't be offended if I have not loved you!

I liked you until that.

Is trifle a mad abomination to you? Or do you put the cream at the bottom???

I like croissants filled with ham and cheese too

Big cheese fan 🧀

I do love crackers and cheese

Graham crackers are great for smores.

I agree with this.

After all, to want to prevent people trying to voice their legitimate concerns, and to put your fingers in your ears, throw insults and to want to live in an echo chamber where you don't have to listen to the uneducated (tic) worked well for Remainers. Pretend it's not happening and it will all go away. Them and us!

@SpidersAreShitheads in your reply to @tee you say "some people think we shouldn't take anymore asylum seekers".
Given the problems we have with our economy. That would be beneficial for nearly all of us don't you think?
Our energy bills will increase, announced this afternoon.

Alternatively, if you’re concerned about energy bills, how about banning fossil fuel profits ?

Aaah, I do like trifle. Strawberry obviously, I'm not a savage.

DP especially likes it when I buy trifle as I scoop some of the cream off the top of mine and put it on his plate.

The cream to jelly/fruit ratio is all wrong on trifles. I could obviously rectify that by making my own but <insert excuse here>.

Actually, I'll tell you the best way to eat scones - with buttercream not clotted cream. Buttercream is bloody delicious and I might even be able to bear the cream on top. Maybe.

Are you going to give any examples? Real tangible examples of what is seen that is racist. If not, then it’s not true and you are making it up. Which is a ‘you’ problem.

Legitimate concerns? Does that include dehumanising a small group?

Brexit is a big success? It has been a huge factor in the rise of boat crossings.

quod erat demonstrandum

Edited to say I forgot to add: Scons - cream first then jam; scones (as in 'stones') - butter first then jam then cream; cheesy ones - toasted with butter; cherry ones - butter only; any other fruit are an abomination.

This is what I’ve been doing too. Showing appreciation with the various reaction buttons rather than actually pitching in. I’m reading many of these threads end to end but have come to the point where it seems that there isn’t much actual debate on here so much now, just polarised one dimensional bun fights; nothing is going to be gained by getting involved with most of those posters, which, as a pp on page one said, may well simply be here from some murky bot farm, on MN to just agitate and stir.

This is the exact thing that could be said back to someone concerned about women’s rights to label them a transphobe.

Trans Rights Activists do not believe women’s concerns are legitimate.

Trans Rights Activists believe that transpeople are a small, vulnerable group being dehumanised.

The brexit thing can be swapped with suicide rates I suppose.

It might be beneficial but not fair. There are lots of countries that aren't doing well economically that have even more asylum seekers than us - both proportionally and in total number terms.

We can't just excuse ourselves from the world stage when it suits us. We are an island and vulnerable - we'd be really up shit street if we couldn't count on others to help us if needed. Even if we weren't in crisis, we still rely on the other countries for many things, we're not self-sufficient. The world is really volatile right now, we need to be forging alliances, not breaking them.

That's why we have to play our part and act with compassion, not just because it's the morally right thing to do, but also because we can't afford to stand alone.

Half the problem is the media whipping people up about what's going on with migrants without reporting the wider story. If there are any genuine people who aren't racist who are saying these things, I can see how they could be persuaded into believing certain "truths", just because it's being reported so poorly.

The cost of living crisis isn't because a handful of asylum seekers are here. But that's the narrative that's constantly being pushed.

That was a neat diversion.
We cannot afford to shelter the world 's problems. However much we sympathise.

It's easier to have a scapegoat

You can be concerned about women's rights without hating trans people in the same way you can be concerned about immigration without dehumanising asylum seekers.