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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:
Robinw · 16/10/2001 16:29

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Lisav · 17/10/2001 13:11

Sorry Kia, your last mail did make me laugh! Yes we have moved on to discussing Anthrax threats, hopefully no-one can take offence at that!

I think it's awful how hoaxers are now appearing everywhere. From businessmen thinking it's funny to tell airline staff that they have a bomb, to sad sick people sending white powder in the mail. Do you think they should have kept quiet about what the Anthrax looks like to counteract these hoaxes? Because the hoaxers are now causing more panic and disruption than the terrorists. I just hope that they are caught and given a really severe punishment.

There is a bug going around at the minute with the same symptoms as Anthrax i.e. bad abdominal pains, vomiting, diahoerra, headache and fever. I'll bet the NHS is swamped with calls!

Kia · 17/10/2001 19:15

Yes, my work mate is off with that bug at the moment and I did catch myself wondering. Gave myself a good slapping and carried on. It does make you think and worry and get fearful. My workmate is expecting in February and I'm sure she's got enough on her plate without me having mild hysteria!!

Bugsy · 18/10/2001 09:17

I have to say I am currently far less worried about an anthrax attack than that the outbreak of new TB cases in London having risen to 3,000 each year. Although this was in the papers, because of the 'war against terrorism' it was a complete non-story. As we are now starting on the cough & splutter season, I sit on the tube wishing I was wearing a gas mask, so I don't catch TB.

Jodee · 18/10/2001 11:34

Bugsy, yes you're right, it was a major issue for London before Sept 11 but seems to have been forgotten. I was reading somewhere that it causes the most deaths in the World, but more importantly that there has been a 17% increase in the capital. What is the current view on vaccination? My ds is only 18 months and wouldn't come into contact with a carrier at school, but I go to plenty of toddler groups, who knows what could be spread about there.

Callie · 18/10/2001 19:20

I have only posted on this site a few times. A while back I got some very good advice from several ladies on dealing with my mil.

However I do lurk quite often and as I have said before this is a lovely friendly site full of intelligent women.
I have read all the posts on this thread even the ones that were deleted. And while I might not agree with connie imo she was talking out of fear not malice.
What I did find unsettling was the post written by scummymummys husband. Imo he came across as a bully . I know that my husband would not dream of coming on to mumsnet to attack a mum and say such horrible things to her.
I hope we all dont have to worry about this bully boy coming on and lashing out at us whenever we dont agree with scummymummy.
Sorry for rehashing but it makes me uncomfortable and anyone who read the post will agree knowing it was a man being abusive made it unsettling. He said some horrific things that I would hate my own dh to ever say to a woman even to a racist woman who by all acounts was feeding her child at the pc and could have been so tired she didnt know that she came across a s racist.

This is just my thoughts Carry on mums with your disscusions.

Callie · 18/10/2001 19:31

oops just read my post and felt I should point out I in no way agree with or condone connies views. A good friend of mine introduced me to this site and she too posts now and again but lurks a lot. She is muslim and I dont want her to get the wrong idea. She knows me too well. Sal email me if you read this tonite.

Kia · 18/10/2001 21:11

My head office was evacuated today because of a suspicious parcel. Everyone got to go home except us because we are not in the same buildings. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Callie, I am sure that Justine & Co will be watching for bully boys of any kind turning up again. I wish I had seen the original postings as I hate being told 'mummy knows best' but on balance I'm prepared to go with the moderators and the horrified reactions of everyone who remained. It is evident that what was being discussed hit home because you always find people resort to personal attacks when they cannot attack your views objectively. Mumsnet bites!

And Star, if you don't e-mail me I'll stamp my feet and hold my breath and probably then wet my pants!

Minx · 19/10/2001 02:35

Callie - don't want to rehash but he wasn't being a bully.

I know the name of the site should give a clue but I'm happy for anyone to give an intelligent opinion/response - regardless of gender.

Callie · 19/10/2001 06:16

Minx I totally agree but I dont think his response could be called intelligent . It was a personal attack against another mum. If he had put his point across calmly then fine. But he got very vulgar and thugish and I was surprised to think that language was coming from another mother. Then I found out it was a man. And to make it worse his wife is proud of him and says he is just the same in real life??
Ill bet its not with other men.

Gracie · 19/10/2001 07:30

What made me feel most uncomfortable about the discussion that those who were of the view that they occupied the moral high ground felt able to adopt such a bullying and trimuphal tone. The first "f-ing bigot" accusation was totally uncalled for in my view.

Star · 19/10/2001 10:15

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Lisav · 19/10/2001 14:35

That's what I love about Mumsnet, everyone will be discussing something really serious, and then someone else will come in and talk about wetting their pants!!

But I do agree with what Callie is saying. It's easy to condemn people and insult them, but what everyone must remember is that email is very impersonal and some things do across in the wrong way. I've been misunderstood loads of times. And when you're distracted by your baby, you don't often read through what you've written. I didn't read Connie's message, but from her others I wouldn't say that she comes across as a racist, I've heard worse anyway. And she didn't insult anyone personally as Sheikmummy did. I would hate for her to think that she can't contribute to Mumsnet now for fear of being attacked.

Scummymummy · 19/10/2001 19:11

I didn't really want to post on this thread again but... Callie and Gracie- I do take on board what you are saying about Connie's views most likely being based on fear and the danger of taking on a sneering tone when you feel you're in the right. However, I do find it difficult not to become heated when someone has expressed views that are a total anathema to me, I'm afraid.
As you would expect I disagree with your view that my partner is a bully boy. He just has a particular sense of humour which is not to all tastes- eg he is a big fan of things like The Onion. His humour was obviously not the sort to raise many chuckles on Mumsnet in this instance.
I also think that for an issue such as this the gender of a contributor is largely irrelevant. Why is it worse to get a post one finds offensive from a man?

Kia · 19/10/2001 20:14

Scummymummy I would expect that you will come out and defend your husband, but please also understand that one person's 'forceful and charismatic' is another person's 'bully'. And if someone continues to post with an attitude, then expect to hear it said over and over again.

That's my five pence worth,I'm now going to pick my old man up from the pub - I may even join him there! I do hope this thread gets put out of its misery, its beginning to stink!

Minx · 19/10/2001 21:15

I'm not going to make any more comments about anyone else's comments because I'm right, you're wrong, ner ner ne ner ner!

Anyway, a bit of light relief to be found at: www.terroristornot.com/

I'm sure it'll offend someone, somewhere but..........

Scummymummy · 20/10/2001 01:46

Ooops. I've reread my last post and it sounds all stilted and sniffy. Was trying to be concilliatory and apologize for offence caused but ended up being defensive. Sorry.
Maybe it's something to do with my nickname- the scummy side of me is showing up on this thread more than I like. Am now changing my name...

Fluffybunny · 20/10/2001 01:55

Am I nicer yet?

P.S. Hi Minx. Thanks for all your support- it's really meant a lot to me.

Star · 20/10/2001 06:58

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Minx · 20/10/2001 10:12

Cher - thanks for the info. It has certainly helped clarify that point for me.

ScummyFluffs - no problem. Very satisfying to rant sometimes. I always remember going to see Billy Bragg and he was talking about tackling racism wherever you find it - however minor it may seem. Struck a chord. Anyway, all the best.

Kia · 20/10/2001 16:33

Bloody Hell, Star! Respect!

Gracie · 20/10/2001 23:51

Yup Minx and that's why it is as unacceptable to make a comment that if somebody works for an American company it must be Burger King or Mcdonalds as it is to make a "joke" about how an Asian muslim is likely to work in a corner shop.....

Minx · 21/10/2001 00:06

Mmm, not quite Gracie since Americans aren't a race. Anyway.........

Kia · 21/10/2001 12:54

As a matter of interest why don't you consider Americans to be a race? Is this some kind of human biology thing or do you mean people who claim to be of afro-caribean descent, for example? What constitutes a 'race'? I read about a book recently called the 9 (?) faces of Eve where the premise is that we are all descended from this minute amount of women anyway. How many hairs do we want to split?

Marigolds, anyone?

Gracie · 21/10/2001 16:49

Americans are certainly as much as a race as "Asian muslims" under the definition used by the Commission for racial equality. Otherwise of course nations as divese as Australia, Belgium or dozens of others wouldn't be counted in the same manner.

I'm sure you are aware that mulsims aren't of all the same ethnicity Minx. Youe message and seems to suggest that prejudice and steropying ARE acceptable when directed at certain groups of people but not others.