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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

dear mn hq, please could something be done about the anti sn posts on mn

410 replies

2shoes · 10/09/2011 23:45

as I know you are aware(I have the emails) people from the sn community have left this week, due to the vile things that have been said to the/or about SN.
isn't it time that mn hq took some steps to eradicate this, as you do with trolls? surely disablist/anti sn/ personal attacks should be deleted and something done about the posters.
or do we just keep loosing well informed, SN educated people from mn.
(no I can't link to a thread as there has been too many)

OP posts:
Mouseface · 13/09/2011 17:16

Spot on about AIBU custy

Peachy · 13/09/2011 18:12

'IME, as a moderator on a large forum, it does cut down on bickering. Instead of derailing threads with a lengthy tit-for-tat squabble, people write something along the lines of "that's all I have to say, I'm putting you on ignore".

' i do that with hide thread anyway lmao

Mouseface · 13/09/2011 18:43

I love that "That's all I have to say, I'm putting you on ignore" Grin bloody brilliant! Can you imagine the uproar on here if we had messages like that?

"I find your language entirely inappropriate so I'm fucking telling" Grin

Original poster
2shoes · 13/09/2011 18:46

i see the AIBU thread is now a chat about a word and people saying it is ok to use it ffs.

OP posts:
Peachy · 13/09/2011 18:49

No, plenty disagreeing (or is it me? it's always me isn;t it? Sigh. (and a few otehrs; but it's a small group isn't it?)

Original poster
2shoes · 13/09/2011 18:51

sorry I have been sticking to this thread (apart from KM'S ONE)

OP posts:
GeraldineAubergine · 13/09/2011 19:23

Just read this thread and am saddened that people can treat people with sn or parents of kids with sn so awfully. My sadly departed mum was a clinical psychologist who worked with adults with learning difficulties. She worked tirelessly for 30 odd years to help her service users and instilled in me an understanding of how to treat people properly no matter who they are. When she died 40 or of her clients and their familiesorganised a memorial for her. The best thing she has left with me is an understanding of peoples basic rights and to never casually discriminate against people. She would be appalled at some posters on MN.

Kayano · 13/09/2011 19:24

The AIBU thread... I posted there but it was to say I used that word but thought it came from 2 other words...

I won't use it anymore but some people - myself included are being educated on this matter and won't use the words any more. So its not just a chat about how the word it ok... Sad

Original poster
2shoes · 13/09/2011 19:27

Kayano Thank you

OP posts:
IrmaMuthafucker · 13/09/2011 19:40

Yes to be fair there have been some comments but I think, in the main, it's people saying it's hard to know what's ok and what isn't and that some people are over-sensitive.

I've been called a hypocrite (off board today) for pulling someone up on using a disablist term because I admitted I had used it until educated otherwise. Now a sensitive poster might interpret that as more general ignorance and defence of disablist words. I suspect it's probably just a defensive reaction to being queried on something that they thought was perfectly ok so I've shrugged it off. But I don't have a disabled child or disability so I have not been worn down by the continuous hurtful comments.

What I am clumsily trying to say, is that there are people with no SN association, who can see things are wrong. I've already tried to make more of an effort. I've PM'd a poster when I saw an offensive term naievely used instead of just clicking report or ignoring. I've asked a poster to remember their manners when ranting and shouting at other posters (well caps lock but you get the gist).

I have also been posting as doublestandard recently after being pissed off about an inconsistent deleting decision but I'm happy to tell you my usual posting name if PM'd because I am not a bully and I try to behave properly on the board. I don't always get it right but I try.

4madboys · 13/09/2011 19:59

i need to go and catch up on the thread, but have a horrid headache and two kids to still get to bed and homework diaries and reading diaries to sign, pack ups to make etc, but i WILL once my nurofen has kicked in and the above has been done catch up and say anything i feel needs to be said :)

crazynanna · 13/09/2011 20:03

Just a bit of info:
Just saw on the news some guy got 18 weeks in jail for 'Trolling' on a teenage memorial sight.

Seems 'trolling' is becoming a bit more serious than pissing off other posters.

Mouseface · 13/09/2011 20:21

I saw that too crazynanna - I heard them use the word 'trolling' and had to rewind the TV to check. Seems it is more widespread these days.

What a shame.

WhollyGhost · 13/09/2011 20:42

I also saw it. The news report mentioned that he has aspergers.

Is that actually relevant? They wouldn't have explicitly mentioned if he had been black would they? Surely having aspergers is not a defence at a criminal trial, for an offense like this...

garlicbutty · 13/09/2011 20:55

Yes, Asperger's can be a defence for exactly this sort of thing. It means he may not be able to control obsessive behaviours, nor understand why they are harmful to others.

madwomanintheattic · 13/09/2011 22:41

oh dear - i think crazynana meant it to point out to people that persistent trolling on sites could end them up in hot water with the law rather than divert a couple of hours of social time.... but if other reports say the 'troll' has aspergers that lends a rather different air to it - as he may have been unaware of the social conventions surrounding the bereavement site and hadn't sought to cause mischief...

maybe not a great example to hold up to people who find it amusing to pick on parents with kids with additional needs... Sad i suspect the posters on here rubbing their hands with glee when a bunfight breaks out (or causing one) don't have a disability themselves.

crazynanna · 13/09/2011 22:47

Guys,I didn't know the lad had AS Blush
It was just one of those quick BBC news clips inbetween programmes that gives you a 10 word report on an item...and it didn't mention he had SN.
I didn't mean to be an ignorant twat Sad

madwomanintheattic · 13/09/2011 23:06

no, no, you weren't nana. it was just one of those things where you didn't have all the information! didn't mean to suggest you had posted knowing he had AS. it just shows how easily it can be manipulated by the media though. such a pertinent piece of information and ignored by the media outlets in some cases. Sad mind you, media coverage of this sort of thing just perpetuates the ignorant idea that people with AS are dangerous.

hope you're ok! x

crazynanna · 13/09/2011 23:17

Yes,madwomanintheattic,that is it with the media,you just never get the full story. I was a twat for not doing my research before pressing post message Hmm am pissed with myself for that. I was just a bit taken aback that 'Trolling',as it were,has become a subject for criminal proceedings.
Thank you for caring...yes I'm ok Smile

WhollyGhost · 14/09/2011 06:56

crazynanna you are NOT an ignorant twat, I was an arse for pointing it out, it was not relevant to the point you made.

I think that there can be little doubt that the man involved set out to cause mischief - he targeted several bereaved families with abuse. The court must have decided that he did understand that he was causing them harm.

It is tragic if his inability to control obsessive behaviour is due to AS, but I am very glad that he has been caught and jailed. Such trolling does a huge amount of damage, as we've seen here. It must be even worse away from an anonymous talk board.

Trolling, especially on sensitive subjects (we've seen it here on threads about bereavement, SN, rape, mental health...) is fundamentally unhealthy destructive behaviour. It is good that some trolls are now being made to answer for the damage they are doing. It is even happening on an international level e.g. here:

thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/18/prolific-web-troll-arrested-with-help-from-atheists-on-twitter/

BeastandtheHarlot · 14/09/2011 07:01

any idea how they enforce his ban on using the internet? even dh who never uses PC's said that seemed unworkable

Sevenfold · 14/09/2011 14:56

so did anything ever comeback from mn hq, cos I seem to remember on sunday they said they were going to discuss it on monday.........now wednesday

Mouseface · 14/09/2011 15:38

Yes, Sevenfold I was going to ask that too...... Anything at all?

Peachy · 14/09/2011 15:55

ASpergers is not a defence (might be taken into account) ; it's why I know my AS child may well end up in trouble for something he is totally incapable of understanding (he doesn't get emotions / offence or cause and effect very well despite a generally high IQ).

Which is NOT to excuse it btw; I'd understand the reaction, heck if it worked- well 11 years of me telling him has not.

For a long time he would ask Mum how rotted Nan was in her grave; Mum I thought did well to cope at all with that but he had absolutely no concept of why it was wrong.

Not that it's always negative- my younger child (ASD) managed to dissipate a large group of hoodies yesterday by pointing in genuine hilarity nd shouting for ages about how stuid they were for wearing their hoods up in dry weather- this group has plagued the village for ages, ten minutes nagging from an autistic 8 year old with his mum begging him to stop and they were gone!

Peachy · 14/09/2011 15:56

OOps sorry

Yes MNHQ- any come back?