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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

MNHQ Racism policy

337 replies

ThePigOfHappiness · 31/12/2013 15:17

Hi,
I was just wondering if you could let us know when the racism policy has been amended? I'm sure following today's discussions on NI that it needs to be looked at.
It's clearly breaking the equality act to discriminate based on nationality as it is racist, yet MNHQ don't acknowledge this?
Ta

OP posts:
Pan · 31/12/2013 16:05

No, HQ weren't correct on that point, as I'm sure they will acknowledge. The purpose of the Act (which is a conglomeration of other legislation) is to protect 'difference' in demography of the public, and those features you describe are some of those differences.

isnirelandanation · 31/12/2013 16:08

Pan. Either it is or it isn't. It can't be out there in the baig bad world but not on here in the internet.

Northern irish and irish posters were offended at the attitudes on that thread. That's a fact. And when it was stated over and over and over on the thread we got a Grin and an Ah Well

Which really leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Pan · 31/12/2013 16:08
LifeofPo · 31/12/2013 16:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

isnirelandanation · 31/12/2013 16:10

If the thread had said

"AIBU to think some black people need to grow up and stop complaining about racism"

how long do you think it would have been allowed to stand and do you think a black person complaining would have been told they had to educate and that people on MN get offended with each other all the time and to take it up with the poster?

Because I really don't think so. Not for one second.

Pan · 31/12/2013 16:12

Yes it covers both RL and netty stuff.

I'll stop posting now. I'm implying/stating that HQ were incorrect and an apol is in order and that really is up to them.
Hope you have a good NYE.

Original poster
ThePigOfHappiness · 31/12/2013 16:20

Po, you don't think people should stop perpetuating a racist attitude? You think that it's censorship to remove hurtful posts? That depresses you?
Unless in taking you up totally the wrong way?

OP posts:
isnirelandanation · 31/12/2013 16:25

So, I'm white, you're Asian.

I say something. You say "I find that racist and offensive I don't like it"

Do I say

"Ah well shame"

or "that's as may be but legally i don't have to do anything about it because you're not properly Asian.

Or do you say "I am really really sorry I take that back and I will make sure I don't say anything like that again"

Because one of those marks you out as a decent person who gives a shit. The others, well, not so much.

HappTeeNewYear · 31/12/2013 16:28

Now I'm even more glad I hid the thread.

And glad it was deleted.

Not glad that it sounds like HQ were dismissive.

MaeveBehave · 31/12/2013 16:29

What happened? I'm Irish (as you might guess). Once or twice over the years on mn I've pointed out that a comment was offensive and I was just told I was wrong. So I think there does need to be some tightening up..........

MaeveBehave · 31/12/2013 16:36

Ok, I think I can sort of figure it out and I'm glad I didn't read it.

neunundneunzigluftballons · 31/12/2013 16:37

I presumed that it would be taken down after a quick scan from mumsnet hq. the ignorance on the thread was staggering I am really surprised if they re opened it.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 31/12/2013 16:39

Mumnet don't delete (IMO wrongly) if posters slate a particular nationality as opposed to a particular race.

If you read some of the Scottish Independence threads there is some really shocking anti-Scottish comments on there left to stand because Scottish isn't a race. I'd like to see MNHQ take a look at their policies too as it seems there is a gap between PAs and racism that needs to be clarified.

Original poster
ThePigOfHappiness · 31/12/2013 16:41

Maeve there was was a thread earlier on about some Irish needing to grow up and just get over the "flag waving and marching" so there could be peace in the north. It was pointed out that it was pretty inflammatory and derogatory but due to so many reports MNHQ waded in dismissing people's concerns because the op was not properly thought out. Despite explaining how actually it was pretty racist, MNHQ decided being Northern Irish is not a race or ethnicity, rather a nationality so comments would be allowed to stand as they're not racist. When it was pointed out that actually nationality is part of race MNHQ said they would look into it and sorry if people were upset but it's the internet and lots of people find lots of things offensive, it couldn't be policed, to take it up with the op.
I think we all know that if it were black people, Indian people, people from the moon, ffs ginger people there would be uproar. MNHQ clearly need to look at what exactly is racism because at the moment it seems pretty fucking half arsed to me!

OP posts:
wannabedomesticgoddess · 31/12/2013 16:41

LifeofPo you were just as offensive on that thread as the OP and HQ.

And hiding behind "everyone is entitled to their opinion" is minimising it all.

If I held the opinion that black people were inferior (which I don't) I would be entitled to hold it, but not entitled to say it on an internet forum, or in RL.

isnirelandanation · 31/12/2013 16:43

Agree with Wannabe and ThePig. Again.

MaeveBehave · 31/12/2013 16:44

Thanks Pig.

wannabedomesticgoddess · 31/12/2013 16:44

The Scottish threads disgust me too FWIW. I remember one ages ago where people complained about things that were being said and IIRC it was left by HQ.

SquirtedPerfumeUpNoseInBoots · 31/12/2013 16:46

I was so annoyed with the thread and the attitude of MN that I went and cleaned the shower grout with an old toothbrush.

I too will be interested in the response in the new year when they are all back at their desks.

wannabedomesticgoddess · 31/12/2013 16:50

And actually, the people being censored on that thread were people from NI who were defending themselves.

Original poster
ThePigOfHappiness · 31/12/2013 16:56

I've never even opened any of the Scottish threads. I'm not from there, I don't know anything about it. How could i possibly comment? I also don't give advise on topics I don't know anything about. It only makes me seem like a twat.
I'm really re-thinking MN at the moment. I thought it was the forum for me, there is such a strong feminist movement who I admire, I make woolly hugs for people I've never met but cried for online. I throw myself in to threads, I've been educated on so many things I never knew about. But I know Ireland. It's who I am, it's where I'm from and it's what I love. Yes, there are problems, find me a country that doesn't. But I won't fucking stand for this shit and if MN decide that really we don't matter then it's really not what I thought.

OP posts:
isnirelandanation · 31/12/2013 17:02

I was deleted for making racist comments. Which I was making to make my fucking point. That it isn't acceptable about any other race or ethnic group or nationality and it shouldn't be about the Irish or the Northern Irish.

And I'm seriously disappointed that it takes days and days for MNHQ to see that and a big conflab when everyone is back at their desks. It didn't take that long to delete the posts I made about other races Hmm

(which by the way I did not mean - I only said them to illustrate the point)

HappTeeNewYear · 31/12/2013 17:02

Oh did I get deleted? Bummer, I should have stuck around and said what I was really thinking.

It wasn't very nice though.

Of course, neither were most of the people on the thread.

Including you, Po.

Whether NI is a race or not, it's certainly horrible what was being said.

But, then, I say that about a lot of the America threads and basically get told by HQ "calm down dear". Not always. But a lot of the time.

ExcuseTypos · 31/12/2013 17:07

I didn't comment on the other thread but do feel MNHQ get this type of thing wrong.

If something is offensive it really doesn't matter if it has or hasn't an official term, it shouldn't be allowed to stand.

MNHQ
RowanMumsnet · 31/12/2013 17:08

Hello

Just to let you know that we've seen this one and will come back to you when everyone's back at their desks.

I'm very sorry if my tone seemed patronising or flippant - the grin and the 'ah well' wasn't intended to dismiss anyone's distress, more to alleviate some of the tension. Many apologies for getting that wrong.