should we address the casual antisemitism on MN?

[thedevilinmyshoes]

I rarely venture beyond my narrow range of interests on MN these days so I don't know if it happens a lot, or if a similar level of hatred is extended to other groups, but what I saw tonight was sinister (particularly against the current backdrop of a surge in antisemitic crime in UK). I wondered if we had an agreed definition of what constitutes antisemitism or if people feel the issue is covered and handled well enough within the existing guidelines.

I've never seen any anti Semitic posts on MN, but I'm not familiar with terms that specifically insult Jewish women so possibly could have missed it.

I'll say it once more and then give up: disagreeing with circumcision is not per se anti-semitic. Nor is taking issue with Israel. But how you do it certainly can be anti-semitic, and it would be nice to see posters being a bit more reflective about this.

an example of an antisemitic view? any expression of hatred towards Jews

not general discussion about wider issues but negative stereotyping, that kind of thing

I realise a consensus is hard to reach on these things, with some people thinking any criticism of Israel is automatically the new antisemitism but for the purposes of this thread it would be anything antisemitic in the reader's opinion

Oh and circumcision is by definition genital mutilation, as it involves mutilating genitals.

oh do give over golden apples

To answer the question in your OP - yes, obviously anti-Semitism should be addressed if it occurs on MN. But I take issue that there's 'casual' anti-Semitism here - your OP makes it sound like there's a lot of it. And there isn't!

and if israel doesn't want criticism then they shouldn't commit war crimes. Sorry i said it not sorry and if we live in a world where a country can commit such crimes but everyone is too scared to say anything for fear of being labelled racist then that's exactly how these people get away with it.

And no i'm not expressing hatred towards Jews - it is towards the government and the people behind those crimes. I know there are many jews who strongly object to Israel's crimes.

I don't see how equating circumcision with FGM mutilation is anti-Semitic, I honestly don't. I don't think it's an acceptable way to treat a baby or child. Nor is FGM. It is certainly true that there are a very small number of men who need circumcision for medical reasons, which obviously isn't the case for FGM. But that wouldn't be relevant as those men/boys are not being circumcised because of their faith.

I am not personally aware of any terms that specifically insult Jewish women and would like to know what they are so I can avoid them.

I have not personally seen any anti-Semitism on MN. By this I would mean posts specifically attacking Jewish people for their actual Jewishness. Disagreeing with circumcision isn't the same - it is not only practised by Jewish people.

I am not anti Semitic.

I am, however, anti infant circumcision, and anti Zionist. This is a perfectly logical position to hold, whatever some people like to pretend.

OP is not clarifying because there's not much to say. I was on that thread. There was one questionable comment made, which pretty much no one on the thread knew the meaning of, which makes me think the person who made it was probably Jewish themselves. The rest was the usual anti circumcision opinions always found on MN. Not a particularly pleasant threat but not worth this thread being started imo. As for anti-semitism being an issue on MN; I have been here for seven years and never seen it. I have absolutely idea why this thread needed to be started.

HEllo
Sorry we have had a minor technical issue this evening, which led to a delay in deleting that thread - we posted at Thu 21-Jan-16 20:11:41 to say that we would be deleting it (and we usually leave a few minutes grace for folk to read our comments before we hit delete) but it took us a bit longer to do so this evening, meaning that the discussion went on further.
Hope this clears things up
Thanks
MNHQ

The thread you are referring to had one offensive comment on it which was deleted. It was one word which tends to be used within the Jewish community. The vast majority of posters didn't even know what the word meant and had never come across it.

The post was, in any event, reported and deleted.

The rest of the thread had several posters including myself commenting on circumcision. The thread wasn't about Judaism which you well know. Given that this is a TAAT, there's really no need to be so cryptic.

Ah I know what you mean now, and I had no idea what it meant either, so I think you're right that it was probably another Jewish person who wrote it

Circumcision, for medical reasons, in a hospital, with anaesthetic and pain relief is not equitable with FGM. Circumcision of an 8 day old baby, who cannot consent for himself, with no anaesthetic or pain relief is analogous.

nick

I agree that no one seemed to know what that word meant, i assumed that the person who,made the comment had "insider" knowledge so to speak

I'm not aware of any anti-Semitism and am pro free speech as long as it is not intended to wound others.

I'm more concerned by people crying racism, anti-Semitism, etc to close down arguments and deny others the right to express their opinions as I see that far more frequently

"Circumcision, for medical reasons, in a hospital, with anaesthetic and pain relief is not equitable with FGM. Circumcision of an 8 day old baby, who cannot consent for himself, with no anaesthetic or pain relief is analogous."

It isn't, actually.

"an example of an antisemitic view? any expression of hatred towards Jews"

No, that's a definition.

An example would be a post on MN that you find antisemitic.

Ah I know what you mean now, and I had no idea what it meant either, so I think you're right that it was probably another Jewish person who wrote it

How can you possibly know that!?

I'm not Jewish, but I knew that word was offensive.

thanks Olivia

am glad most people here find the reporting system works well

What on earth word was it? I literally cannot think of a single thing.

i assumed that the person who,made the comment had "insider" knowledge so to speak

'Insider' knowledge

I'm not Jewish. I reported that post and knew what the word meant.

And you wouldn't have used it would you shut? Because you're not Jewish. I recognise the name of the poster who made that comment and while I can't be sure they're Jewish, I do know they've been here a long time and they're not someone I have ever noted to have offensive or racist opinions in the past.

I agree that only an "insider" would have made that comment and that is the sense I got from that post.

Opposing male circumcision is no more anti-Semitic than it is anti-American or Islamophobic, unless that opposition is based on the fact that It's part of the Jewish faith. I do agree that discussions can become fraught with such strong feelings on both sides.

Believing circumcision should not take place except where medically necessary is a perfectly rational point of view that need not be linked to any prejudice towards groups that practise circumcision.