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Gas Masks/Nuclear War!!

193 replies

Mima · 25/09/2001 09:00

Have been reading with interest in the papers the last few days about the panic buying in both British and US shops for gas masks and I wondered if any Mumsnet members are "panicking" and buying such things. Also just heard on the news about people stocking up on such things as long life milk and tinned goods. Just wonder what other members views are on these things. Incidentally most of the British shops have ran out of gas masks!

OP posts:
Joe · 13/10/2001 06:47

Scrummymummy, dh works at an american company and are on permanent alert from genuine risks of a terriost attack.

Faith · 13/10/2001 08:29

Good Morning Scummymummy, Minx, Lizzer, Sweetie,
Sorry, I just gave up and went to bed. In todays Guardian Mark Lawson writes: 'a good working definition of democracy is having to listen to stuff that makes you want to vomit'. That about sums it up.
Thank you Sweetie for your sane, informed opinions. We are all human, good, bad and just plain ordinary, trying to do the best we can for ourselves and our families.

Scummymummy · 13/10/2001 08:42

I know I'm biased but I still don't think that what Boz (Sheikmummy) wrote was anywhere as bad as Connie's efforts. Still, luckily he considers being deleted his greatest hour since being permanently expelled from the Portal of Evil message boards!
Joe, I'm sorry your husband is at risk from further terrorist attacks. I imagine that is a very scary situation. I do think it is grossly unfair to assume that all Muslims condone such terrorism, however, and I'm very surprised to hear of your husband's experience. Mine has been precisely the opposite- people have gone out of their way to make their horror and sadness clear.
Sweetie- I think your post is excellent. I'm glad there are people like you in the immigration service.

Tigger2 · 13/10/2001 09:39

I think that it is time, everyone sat down and CHILLED, bit early in the day for a Gin!
Have a good day all, we're busy at the silage when the weather is good. We are having glorious sunshine today and all my cows and calves are lying down very happily, glad for it not be raining!
Though I'd let you all know, try and cheer up this thread a wee bit.

Joe · 13/10/2001 10:14

Thanks for your concern scrummymummy, yes it is a bit scary, but you just have to try and get on and not think about it too much. The people he works with are very much in everybodys face and in the minutes silence they walked around the building chatting etc. I know that they are not all the same and I dont tar everyone with the same brush but it has only taken a few to throw the world into the situation it is in at the moment. Believe me, we all need to be on our guard right now.

Robinw · 13/10/2001 10:28

message withdrawn

Joe · 13/10/2001 10:31

robinw, now you have made me think, my cupboard is probably full of out of date stuff and things that I have bought but we havnt eaten because we dont really fancy it after all. Time for a clean out and emergency stock up, cheers for the extra work this weekend, will I ever be able to forgive you.

Robinw · 13/10/2001 11:22

message withdrawn

Lizzer · 13/10/2001 16:08

Faith - how well put by the Guardian journalist and what good timing.

Joe - hope you can remain positive and cheerful as ever through this.

Scummymummy, I think although sheikmummy (v funny) was slightly more cutting than I ever would dare I think most of what he was saying was the absolute truth and it was worth being deleted for. I really like your acidic messages too (just read the 'Annabel Kingsmill' comment and nearly wet myself laughing)

Sweetie - good post, nice to have some imput from another different view-point.

Robinw - sorry, not trying to re-start this again I promise - What were you saying about the Mormons though?(joke!)

Rhiannon · 13/10/2001 18:18

Glad I missed that lot! R.

Minx · 13/10/2001 19:55

Sweetie - reassured to know there are immigration officers like yourself. I was under the impression they were all issued with jackboots on appointment - but thats' my prejudice, isn't it?

Scummymummy - sorry sheikmummy was deleted but at least the post was read by the person it was directed at.

Cher · 13/10/2001 20:25

I am white, blonde, blue eyed and a MUSLIM. Yes we exist - white muslims - so how would Connie know I was a muslim if I sat next to her on the plane? And I as a muslim do not applaud anyones killing. My husband is Pakistani and neither does he! It's like saying all Catholics would kill or be killed for the Irish cause - my mum and dad are Catholics and I know they wouldn't.

Natt - I'd love to hear about your blue milk.

Minx - You are right I have learned a lot about the Pakistani culture and they have learned from me and I think it is great that my son will have access to and understanding of both cultures - not only that he has a year round tan (lucky so and so).

Louisa · 13/10/2001 20:44

I was thrilled to read shiekmummy's (now deleted) message, when I thought it was being written by a woman. I'm not sure why, but the revelation that it was actually a man disappointed me . Does he feel that he was pretending to be someone else when wrote it?

I wrote a mild criticism on another discussion board and it attracted quite a hostile response, so I suppose I wanted someone else, another woman,
to be outspoken like me.

I accept that tech felt they had to delete the message in question, and that some people feel they need to be protected from strong opinions, although they could try just not reading things they dislike. Also, Connie's comments might be looked at unfavourably by the Campaign for Racial Equality, as unlikely to promote racial harmony.

I may be repeating other's comments, but does anyone else think that being afraid of Muslims because of al-Qaida is like being afraid of all christians because of the UDA calling off their cease-fire?

Did you know that fatwa just means opinion?

I would like to know of any other discussion boards/chat rooms where arguments can get heated without censorship.

Finally, shiekmummy you were very funny, but I would stop short of the personal attcks, stick to the reasoned argument.

Louisa · 13/10/2001 20:54

ps.Wornout, contacting the police when people begged at your door probably added considerably to the woes of those families. So your concern that they were abusing their children rings hollow. Why do you feel your doorstep is sacrosanct?

Lisav · 13/10/2001 22:16

Oh dear. Surely we can all accept everyone's opinion (even Connie's) in this democracy? Just because we do not believe in what they are saying does not mean that they do not have the right to say it. None of you particularly liked my opinions on raising money for the victim's families in America, yet it provoked discussion and didn't resort to personal insults.

I do not agree with what Connie said yet I can understand her, does that make sense? After all, fear generates racism, and Connie is scared, rightly so. Don't tell me that none of you boarding a plane in the near future would not look twice at any male Arab passengers. It's like that race advert with a woman passenger on a bus, and a male gets on next to her, she is nervous and breathes a sigh of relief when he gets off, why? Because he is black. It made a good point and it is sad to think that Muslims will now be stereotyped the same way.

Judging by the amount of controversy this thread has provoked I'm surprised Jbr hasn't added her point, she usually has something controversial to say!

Pity in this time of war we can't all be nice to each other and tolerant of other views. How else do we educate 'racists' (and I don't think that Connie is one) other than with patience and example. Insults are not funny and no-one should be proud of having been deleted because they made a hurtful to remark to another person.

And we never did find out about the blue milk!

Minx · 13/10/2001 22:53

Cher - it's a side issue, and probably warrants a thread of it's own but, I presume you converted to Islam. With so much disinformation and misinformation about Islamic culture I'm interested in what you found was in it for you.

I know nothing about Islam except the Pass Notes that have been prevelant in the press in the last few weeks. However, what does stick in my mind is the idea, in the Koran, that the evidence of a woman is worth half of a man's. Is this true and, if so, how do you reconcile this with, I'm presuming, the contrary Western viewpoint of your upbringing? Apologies if I have made too many assumptions here.

Scummymummy · 14/10/2001 02:07

Lizav - did you read Connie's deleted message? If you had you might not feel like defending her...
Robinw- I disagree that it is best to ignore unpleasant comments. On the contrary, I think it is important to make it very clear where I stand on issues like those raised in this thread.
Lizzer- thanks. I think your posts are fab too!

Sheikmummy · 14/10/2001 03:13

Hello, Mums…

I’m about to re-register as SheikDaddy.

Louisa – Sorry I disappointed. I was watching Liz (ScummyMummy) getting more and more wound up by ignorant, know-nothing, bigoted posts on Mumsnet and I was… jealous.

Joe - I figured out where your DH works… It’s Burger King isn’t it? That’s the only American firm I can think of where a proportion of the staff might have openly-held anti-American views. Or, McDonalds, of course.
So… I’ll have a large McBigotry with a side-order of Prejudice and a tall, cool Chocolate Sheik, please.

Robinw · 14/10/2001 05:38

message withdrawn

Joe · 14/10/2001 07:05

Sheikmummy, no he does not work at either of those and I am genuinly worried so I dont really appreciate you making light of it. But you carry on thinking that the only american interests in this country are the fast food outlets if you wish.

Minx · 14/10/2001 10:20

Scummymummy - just want to support your comments really. It's very noble to suggest rising above ignorant and offensive comments but Connie didn't realise how ignorant and offensive her comments were. I'm sure she still doesn't. However, I cannot sit back passively and let people make openly racist and hateful comments. I don't do it in "real life" so why would I do it here?

In a way, I'm sorry Connie's comments were deleted - they expose the frightening irrational ignorance that a war situation breeds. Plus, anyone who didn't read it probably can't imagine how offensive they were so she gets off lightly really whilst her objectors are portrayed as pc bullies.

Scummymummy · 14/10/2001 11:39

Joe- I'm sorry if "Sheikdaddy" went over the top with his post last night. We'd been out for the first time in ages- the kids are at their Nana's house- and we were pissed as farts! I'm nursing my hangover now while he goes to try and find the car. He'll probably kill me for apologising for him but I am sorry- I think alcohol can sometimes convince you that you're being ever so funny and witty when actually you're just being silly... Still, it was great fun spending a whole night being childish and silly without the boys!
I really agree with your post btw, Minx.

Faith · 14/10/2001 12:05

Minx, I agree that people who did not read Connies deleted post cannot understand just how offensive it was. Where are you Connie, you've been very quiet since. I thought Sheikmummy's response was excellent. It made me laugh for the first time that evening.
Scummy mummy, I'm glad you had a good night. We didn't go out, but cracked open a bottle of champagne and had a good time staying in. Not really celebrating anything, except perhaps our personal good fortune in such troubled times.
Cher, I'm so pleased you spoke out. I'm sure your post will give pause for thought to all those who assume all Muslims are fanatical terrorists, born anywhere but in Europe.

Joe · 14/10/2001 14:14

Forgiven, just abit nervy right now. Sounds like you had a great time but why do we always have to have a hangover.

Lisav · 14/10/2001 22:40

Sorry but I don't think that anyone who makes offensive posts and gets deleted because of it has anything to be proud of, and that includes Sheik Mummy and Connie. No I didn't read what Connie said, or Sheik Mummy but I presume it must be bad to be censored. However, at least Connie hasn't boasted about it - take note Sheik Mummy!

Let's just make light of a bad situation and talk of blue milk shall we!?