Because yes you get trolls and people with extreme views. But I think most of them were/how people genuinely think and feel
This. I was on that plaster thread too and that was the most shocking part.
I'm white, and I understand this isn't my space so I'm just posting in solidarity with the OP and others who are expressing frustration, and I'll go back to lurking.
There were several posters on that thread I wanted to send virtual flowers to, continuously attempting to shut down irrational logic and mental gymnastics. I work with a few black women who live in the US, and from our discussions they are at various levels between tired and exhausted, particularly this past year. I always believed them, but the thread today served as another reminder of how exhausting this must be to be engage with.
A "probably well meaning" white person starts a discussion. Black people respond differently (surprise!). White people fall over themselves with some from of non-issue or ridicule. Comments get more... just more. White people comparisons, black people comparisons. Mumsnet does nothing. People argue. White privilege. Offence taken. I can't have white privilege I'm white poor. Mumsnet does nothing. Outright racism. Mumsnet does nothing. Mumsnetters completely fail to grasp what racism even means. Mumsnet does nothing.
Who gets a conversation foisted upon them and who ends up even more exhausted..?
The only thing I hope is that in not shutting it down, someone took something from that thread that might help them learn and teach their children better.
And final point on moderation or lack of it (should MNHQ ever read this or anyone be interested in my completely anecdotal experience). I find it odd? noteworthy? that just a couple of weeks ago in my US-centric professional group someone was completely removed and effectively sacked, by average and not particularly "woke" white men, for stating exactly the same comment I've seen said and go unchallenged on a thread here around the same time. Reported that comment and nothing was done.
What is going so wrong in awareness and education of adults, both on MN and in wider society, that two white men (one a trump voter if that's relevant) in the US, with all it's problems and systems, have at the very least learned to spot a dog whistle / racially charged comment while we and the entire Mumsnet moderation team are somehow incapable? Like I said... odd.
I was about to say almost like two different worlds and I guess in some ways they are... but when you stack trump voting America against leafy left-leaning Mumsnet... who would you (mnhq) expect to come up better on the subject of moderating racism? 