MNHQ .. Can we talk about disability bashing?

[Brownsugarshortbread]

Over the years i have posted on and enjoyed MN.
Sadly there seems to be a growing culture of it being okay to have a go at disabilities, those who claim DLA and those who's children have 'invisable' disabilities such as ADHD and ADD.
The terms 'freak' and 'scrounger' have been batted around and comments from some posters IMO certainly boarder on harrassment and discrimination.

When certain posts or posters have been reported, some have been removed, yet a lot haven't.

And while I agree with free speech, these types of comment or reaction to these comments, are not an education for those bigoted posters. Nor do those whose lives are touched by disability wish to be used to educate those posters.

Disability Harassment

is unwanted behaviour based on disability,
impairment or additional need. Such behaviour may include comments that are patronising or objectionable to the recipient or which creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment for people with disabilities. Disability harassment includes inappropriate reference to disability, unwelcome discussion of the impact of disability, refusal to work with and exclusion of people with disabilities from social events or meetings.

at least make it pointy, riv.

Can I just say, thank you to everyone who has posted on this thread. I have read all the posts and what I see here, is what I would consider a really good debate about not only things that have been said on MN but the wider issue regarding attitudes and terms people use.

Hopefully peope Reading won't consider my point as being precious or ban all/ everything that may offend, but will take it away with them and just think before they make 'casual' remarks that truly do upset people.

I agree with the two issues raised and realise that it is a difficult situation.
Posts that are there purely through not realising or understanding the impact of how offensive these things are, I'm happy to educate ( as tbe majority of mners are).

Posts that say things along the lines of 'stop breeding' ( paraphrasing here) and the like, need something done about them, they are intentional.

MN is a good place to start saying these things are wrong and these things matter.

I thought Mumsnet were actively involved in highlighting the problems many disabled people ( and their carers ) face - didn't they run a successful campaign for extra nappies?

Ido agree that we can't go overboard, but the thread I reported yesterday was a deliberate move, the op knew the word would offend, ffs she had been offended herself yet still used it as an insult in the thread titile.
I think there should be zero tolerance on posts that are disablist, then perhaps we can get on with our lives.... as riven said disability hate crime is on the increase, mn should not be a breeding ground for this.

Thanks for highlighting this here. I really am speechless at how MN are taking such a softline on this sort of thing. Makes me wonder if they are really any different to FaceBook.

Have just started this thread at the request of another mum of a child with special needs:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1231585-To-ask-you-all-to-report-this-sick-and-abusive-FB-page-and-have-it-removed

So having seen this, how do Mumsnet and FaceBook compare in the having principles and morals stakes?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1231585-To-ask-you-all-to-report-this-sick-and-abusive-FB-page-and-have-it-removed

have reported that fb page, as per your request. i nevertheless think it is a disgrace that you are comparing FB leaving that up to HQ taking their time to delete comments that may or may not have been disablist. i am astonished, tbh.

Oh yes, aren't MNHQ fab because they campaigned for nappies and respite

Didn't do anything about the cuts to DLA though, despite a request. Plus they let some REALLY disgusting comments stand.

Hitler wasn't as bad as all that you know, he was a vegetarian. He cared about animals. (really need rolly eyed emoticon)

Glitter chill out! They are doing more than some so small mercies and gratitude eh?

Oh, I don't know about that really. Just opening up the discussion here. As MN seem to like a healthy debate. It's not about how long they are left up for really. More about how boundary's are set and how clearly they spell out what is and isn't acceptable.

A hateful comment isn't any less hurtful just because the victim / target only saw it once and only for an hour. Cyber bullying is still cyber bullying and hate crime is still hate crime - no matter how long they take.

The point is really a question / debate about how MN, FB or any other organisation deal with these retrospectively.

If they witness a hatecrime, have the ability to identify the poster then what "duty" should they have to take action?

If you were in the street and witnessed a serious hate crime, would you report it?

@Glitterknickaz

Oh yes, aren't MNHQ fab because they campaigned for nappies and respite

Didn't do anything about the cuts to DLA though, despite a request. Plus they let some REALLY disgusting comments stand.

Hitler wasn't as bad as all that you know, he was a vegetarian. He cared about animals. (really need rolly eyed emoticon)

Blimey that's a first! I do wonder what keeps you here if you think we're comparable to Hitler...

well if they were deleted and it isn't about how long they were left up for, then why are you comparing them to FB's notoriously shite attitude to getting rid of hate sites? MNHQ are people too, if you had just accused me of being disablist in the way you just have them (them, with their proven track record in supporting parents of children with SN) i would be furious tbh.
and i have reported a hate crime on the street in the past, at considerable danger to myself and my children, actually. although i do think it's utter bullshit that you are asking in such an accusatory manner.
opening up the debate my arse... what's the debate? they delete disablist comments, hell they even deleted the freakshow one despite it NOT being disablist, because of the amount of complaints it got.

GK - actually - I think Mumsnet were pretty fab to run that campaign - they didn't have to.

@LeninGrad

I'm not sure about the hate crime approach, just very simply people don't want to see this stuff on this site therefore I wouldn't host it. It's easy really.

But Lenin, lots of people don't want to see lots of things on MN - once you go down that route - deleting stuff that some don't want to see - you are on extremely dangerous ground from a moderation point of view. I know our moderation difficulties are not necessarily your concern, but we don't need to be coherent.

ah well, justine is here. she can stick up for herself. lenin, i don't think they do host it willingly, do they? they delete, from what i observe, more and more...

i haven't, then, lenin, but of course i take your word for it. do you think that HQ being able to delete a word rather than entire post would be helpful? i have always wondered why they don't do that, myself.

"but we don't need to be coherent."
sorry Justine but what does that mean?