Non-racist chat forums

[PinotGrogio]

Not sure if this will appear in Active but really I just want to hear the experiences and opinions of Black (and even Asian) MNetters here.

Given the descent into racism of this site, are there any other non-racist ones you’d recommend? I’ve had a look at Tattle and quite frankly that’s worse so it’s a no from me. Plus they’re kind of obsessed with “influencers”, in whom I have no interest.

It’s just a shame that the racism has seeped into all boards here - even TV and S&B is no longer safe. Anywhere else that isn’t a total cesspit?

I mean the Internet is the Internet. You can't guarantee anything. There's Lipstick Alley but it's American and really toxic.

If you find one let me know..

Unfortunately, arseholes exist everywhere...

Let me know too OP. I'm south Asian, but agree there aren't safe spaces for minority groups on these forums.
Also, this has appeared on Active so well, you know what to expect

Interesting @RedRidingGood. I’m sure there have been numerous requests for this board to stay off active, like the way the Jewish MNetters forum has been set up, but the requests have clearly been ignored.

There was a post on the S.Asian board where the OP had stated that she was seeking advice RE an incident but was told by white posters that they had the right to comment as MN is a public forum.
I have to admit though that sadly the worst racism that I've seen is on the Black Mumsnetters. The gaslighting and the attacks always leave me utterly enraged.

I have gone onto Lipstick Alley a few times, and they do have some interesting topics going on. But it is not really to my taste. I think that they have a very young demographic there. It is a shame that I cannot seem to go one day on MN, without seeing some thread title, which is like moths to a flame for the racist, or some offensive post.

I used to be on LA years ago but not sure it’s for me now. As you say @LadyKenya, it seems a much younger demographic.

I would love to find a space too - I hoped this board would be that space but alas.

I agree @skullbabe . Apart from the odd iffy poster on here, it would be good if there were more poc using this side. It is quiet around here.

How is the Jewish mn section set up?

It does not appear in Active @BunniesRUs

I think that honestly if the threads didn’t appear in active it would be a really good space.

I definitely don't post here as much as I'd like to. In my experience if you post about racism white posters feel attacked and come over here in droves to tell us that we are imagining racism, lying about racism or we should talk about it in a different tone. Unfortunately MNHQ is yet to cotton onto the fact that disrupting black people's conversations about race is a way that oppression is perpetuating.

And that in itself is problematic @NewNameNigel . Why are the mods at MN seemingly unable to grasp what their black members are saying to them? The complete lack of understanding is palpable. There must be no black mods! Why? And as a few posters have said, why does this section keep coming up on Active? I would like to know. This was meant to be a "safe space" for poc to be able to discuss topics that are pertinent to them. No one wants to feel that they are being heckled by posters who have zero concept of what is being discussed, but feel the need to voice their opinions anyway.

Perhaps @MNHQ can tell us why they’ve agreed that other boards can be kept out of Active but have ignored our requests to do the same with this one?

It's because @MNHQ don't care @PinotGrogio . It's a flick of a button to remove a board from active but they enjoy the fractious discourse.
Frustratingly we (black women) don't have leverage/power enough for them (MN) to care to listen to us.

Hi @PinotGrogio we try to avoid taking whole boards out of Active because it reduces visibility and means posters who could benefit from a topic will be unaware of it. The Jewish MNers board was in Active but due to the current conflict, it was attracting a very large number of trolls. We removed it from Active as a temporary measure and we intend to put it back soon. We're interested in hearing the views of MNers who use this board so please let us know what you think.

On a site as large as Mumsnet, you are inevitably going to get trolls and troublemakers, but we are very clear in our long-established guidelines that we have no tolerance for hate-speech and will delete racist posts. We're also clear that this board is primarily for the use of Black MNers who are under no obligation to educate, inform, or answer questions about race issues.

Posts we believe are dismissive or aggressive or designed to derail a conversation (or just generally made in bad faith) are likely to be removed, so please report this kind of thing to us.

Thanks.

ugh it’s constant. Even if you do post about black hair 😭

@BeckyAMumsnet I would say that due to the amount of racism and racists this board also attracts a lot of trolls. So why can it not be removed from Active? As you would’ve read on this thread, some posters believe it would be used more by Black MNetters if it was. It is not a safe space if it keeps appearing in Active and attracting trolls. Why do you listen to one marginalised group yet dismiss the voices of another?

Also, I have reported numerous racist posts and posters and nothing is ever done about them. Do HQ need anti-racism training or something? Racism is more than burning crosses or skinheads - it can be far more subtle and pernicious but your moderators don’t seem to understand this.

Well said, PinotGrogio.

@BeckyAMumsnet The moderating team clearly don't have the resources to monitor this part of MN as well as the racist trolls and posts on the rest of MN, especially outside office hours.

I know this because I have reported racist posts both in black MNetters and elsewhere on MN. Outside office hours it takes ages to get a response but regardless of the time when I do get a response I'm told the thread is being monitored but the offending posts aren't deleted.

If the thread is on this part of MN the posts are then later deleted, while if they are on other parts of MN entire threads are later pulled.

The delay in taking action shows the moderating team clearly don't understand what posts of are racist, whether this racism is against black people or other minority groups. This racism includes racist name calling even though this isn't the majority of racism on MN.

As MN don't have the resources and knowledge to deal with racist posts, would it be better to remove Black MN from "Active"?

I have also reported racist posts on here which have been left to stand.
Maybe I should create a sub reddit....

We're interested in hearing the views of MNers who use this board so please let us know what you think.

I think this is the most infuriating part of the response. Many of us have let HQ know what we think, even on this very thread, but they ignore us.

Same. Reported but left undeleted. Told to challenge it on the thread.

Point being I don’t want to have to all the time!