A black owned social media channel

[Lndnmummy]

The plaster thread and MNHQ questionable moderation policy has left quite a mark in my soul. I’ve approached mumsnet for a discussion on their moderation policy, their conduct and how they see their responsibility as the owner of this platform. I’m anticipating a response.
I wonder if there would be an interest from POC in a black owned social media engagement forum? I’m not black so wouldn’t be the right person to drive this but I discussed with my friends and family who are and they were interested in taking it forward and would have the skills and backgrounds to do it. We were just interested to see if there would amongst those group be hypothetically speaking an interest in that type of community engagement?

And my response:

You’re very articulate, well written.

Their response is insulting.

Yes, It’s problematic and disappointing. But as my husband says “bad answers are your answers too”. I think, the way forward is another platform. I guess (and I’m processing this in my mind as I write) that it comes back to objective. Right?! So it’s a case of “what are you looking to achieve?” A safe space for WOC and allies OR educate and change “the system”. Ideally the answer is both. But there is no point in flogging a dead horse, so if the two can’t be resolved the answer is simple. Disappointing, but simple

OP I'm not surprised to their reply to your message as MN have made it clear to me in the past when I've reported posts that they rely on posters to police threads. This includes posts that are anti-vax, racist or bullying certain life styles.

It is lazy moderation.

I also think it is deliberate as it brings traffic to the site so increases advertising revenue.

Oh and I feel that this space is a tick box. They can now pat themselves on the back as they have listened to "the black lives matter" campaign.

Again, I’m falling victim of my own naivety. Time and time again I do this. Like a sad puppy, coming back for more. I seem to think that if only I can explain myself, clearly enough then eventually people will go “Oh I SEE, is THAT what you mean. We are so sorry, of course we will change, NOW that we get it”. But that never ever happens so I have no idea why I that’s so hard for me to comprehend. The answer does not lie in lack of understanding, does it. It lies in not wanting to change the status quo. It lies in white privilege.

@Lndnmummy your correspondence with MN is brilliant.

Their response is indicative of a refusal to engage with anti-racism, and I suspect that is borne out in a mostly or all white organisational structure.

With any organisation/ institution/ space, if the answer to the question ‘what is your anti-racism policy?’ is anything other than ‘here it is’, it means there will be systemic racism, and blindness to racism, resulting in on-the-ground instances for all who are involved in that space and refusal to remedy/ denial.

I agree about another platform. As mumsnet always says... if someone tells you who they are, listen. Such a shame. I wish they would do better. All the resources are there.

I think the failure to answer your questions @Lndnmummy is shocking.

So that is MN response to all the points you raised in your letter Lndnmummy? I am beyond expecting any better to be honest. It is par for course, poc being told that they do not really matter, I am afraid.

I can think of another space on this site, where threads had become problematic, and some activists drew attention to this with advertisers, and new policy was implemented. While that space is still not one id recommend for that particular marginalised group, it has curbed some of the very overt postings.

I really do think another platform would be good, BUT a better moderation policy could ultimately change the tone for people who do still chose to use the site?
There is some argument for the stay and fight approach because there will always be a range of people who find MN to be a valuable resource for many things, and currently they have to enter an unsafe space to access that resource?

I wonder if collecting screenshots of content into a dossier and applying pressure to advertisers might focus the MN mind a little.

I find the refusal to engage astounding and arrogant. It’s such a blatant disregard. Like why would you not welcome the dialogue or attempt to engage? I’m not really asking, it’s all rhetorical. But there isn’t even an attempt to look at any of the questions, not even one of them. It’s the “show us where we have fallen short”, “show us what had been racist”
Come on! It’s YOUR site. It’s for YOU to police it. I have asked the questions YOU should be asking, now you want me to answer them for you too? So what part of the ownership here are you taking? Again all rhetorical. I had to go and and drown my sorrows. I’m so sick of this shit.
.

@Freebleweeble

I wonder if collecting screenshots of content into a dossier and applying pressure to advertisers might focus the MN mind a little.

Yep

100%. Hang on in there.
We need to collect the receipts.
Should we post to a thread or collate elsewhere?

What was the plaster thread?

This one

Thanks @BIWI

@Lndnmummy

I’ve written to mumsnet with some very specific questions on how they see their role and responsibility as the owner of the platform. I’ve asked to have a dialogue with them but I very much doubt I’ll get a response. I paid for a “premium” membership and I don’t want to be part of a platform that doesn’t take an active stance on racism and who is not an active anti racist advocate. *@Freebleweeble I don’t think it’s right the BMN is the de facto anti racism forum. That would put the onus on the women in here to educate others and to me this is what @PatricksRum* and the other fighters of this board wanted to mitigate against to a certain degree. They wanted a safe space to discuss issues impacting them without the need to defend against and enlighten the ignorant masses. It doesn’t feel that BMN is that space. I think the solution is outside of mumsnet. With a robust and pro black narrative, ownership and objectives.

Thanks for tagging me. I haven't seen this new plaster thread so I shall have a look for it and come back and read through.

This was a recurring issue when I first requested this board, however, and I really do think there needs to be a black moderator of some sorts. The racism on here is so de-emphasized.
The constant threads on MM are a starting point.

@PatricksRum Hey! Been thinking about you ❤️

@Freebleweeble

100%. Hang on in there. We need to collect the receipts. Should we post to a thread or collate elsewhere?

Let’s collate elsewhere. I’ll PM my email to those interested. Let’s collect the receipts as it were offline.

Hello everyone. We've received a number of reports about this thread and have already removed some posts that broke our Talk Guidelines.

This type of discussion can attract subtly (and not to subtle) racist posts, which we don't accept on the boards.

I’ve questioned this response! Where it’s acknowledged these types of threads attract racism yet they allowed it to go ahead

Yep saw that. I’ve just responded too referring back to my original questions. It’s like walking around the same mulberry bush a thousand times.

“I don't believe that we systematically allow racist posts to stand when they are reported, no. If you think that's the case then that's very worrying and clearly we need to look into it, so if you could provide examples of that I'd really like to know about them? Our policy is to disallow racism by deleting racist posts that are brought to our attention.”

But WHO decides if the post is racist? A white moderator or a black one? Who makes the call? It’s a pretty basic question. And HOW do they make the call? Based on what training? Again, just answer the bloody questions. We know the posts are racists. I’m not asking if the moderator is right or wrong. We know they are. I want to know WHO is making the decisions and HOW they arrive at them. That’s it.

I’m NOT asking for help in determining what’s racist!!

Grabbinf screen shots of the plaster thread.

I really do think there needs to be a black moderator of some sorts.

Needs to be more than one person otherwise they will be the token.

@RedMarauder

I really do think there needs to be a black moderator of some sorts.

Needs to be more than one person otherwise they will be the token.

Well quite, we all know that one or two black and/or brown faces do not diversity make. An active anti racism agenda has to form part of the overall business strategy. Otherwise there will always be a systemic issue. That's why I want to know what the make up of moderators as well as the senior leadership team are. And what the agenda is. This really should not be controversial but pretty straightforward.

Hi everyone there is yet another thread that’s gone unmonitored despite my numerous reports. It’s about religion rather than race but highlights the lack of moderation. Honestly I think there must be a white, atheist, middle class white man being the only moderator in mnhq land.

Sorry I know it’s off the topic of this thread but I needed to go arghhhhhhh somewhere. Like some threads it didn’t start off too badly but just got worse. 🤬