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.

"Insider" knowledge was not referring to someone being jewish

I have no idea what that term meant, i assume that someone who does know what it means has heard it before and therefore has "insider" knowledge

I've got no idea what this thread is about but I have never seen anything anti-semitic on this site

sorry for not being clearer Cote but the posts I saw were promptly removed

so this is, as someone has already suggested, a rare instance of a pointless thread here

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.

Very well put.

I'm familiar with the term but have only ever heard it used by people who are Jewish and who don't consider it particularly insulting. As was explained, it's essentially used to imply that someone is a prima donna.

In any event, it caused offence, was deleted and no one protested that it should have been allowed to stand so evidence surely that both posters and MNHQ adhered to the guidelines.

Several people on that thread questioned what the word meant - I had never heard it before, used in that way, and I have Jewish friends and have worked for Jewish employers - imo it's not something that most people would instantly recognise

The poster who used the term deliberately used it as a personal attack on the OP.

The thread in question wasn't about circumcision but posters turned it into one.

Is there a way that someone can post the word concerned without being deleted?

We can just type the word "beck" can't we ?

I am not applying it to anyone, so shouldn't be deleteworthy

I thought we were talking about a singer who won some awards and then seemed to disappear off the radar. Nothing to do with Jewish princesses at all.

Short form of Rebecca.

I have never seen anti Semitic comments on this site. If I did I would report.

I see plenty of antagonistic posts about Muslims which I report.

I see people expressing their opinion on circumcision which they are free to do.

But the casual bigotry towards Jews mentioned in the op has quite clearly passed me by.

As in Glenn Beck? Famous anti Semite?

Seriously baffled now. I think I might go to bed.

I'm glad if I've made a small fuss about nothing, I'd rather have asked the question than not even if I didn't do a particularly good job of it.

No, as in, she's a beck, short for Rebecca, who is a girl who is a bit of a princess. It's expanded somewhat so that being a beck is identified by mannerisms, clothing, aspirations etc.

@thedevilinmyshoes

thanks Olivia

am glad most people here find the reporting system works well

Us too.

Never heard that expression. Wouldn't know it's offensive.

Hmm, but it's fine to use the name "Wendy" to refer to a person who is a sly, friend stealing bully? As is so often done on MN. What's the difference? Serious question.

It's because it's a stereotype of Jewish women. Specifically Jewish women.

As I guess I would say because 'Wendy' can be applied to any woman whereas 'Bec' can only be/is applied to Jewish women.

Is this a name created by Jewish people for Jewish women would you say?

FGM is not analogous to circumcision. The first is a hate crime, the second is not. Whatever one feels about the rights or wrongs of the circumcision of babies for religious and/or cultural reasons, to liken it to the horror of FGM is to grossly minimise the struggles of survivors of the latter. Please think for a moment about what survivors of FGM are living through, before you conflate the two acts.

Listen, as a Jew I can say that beck is not such a bad term . In fact it's a bit of a reluctant compliment as becks were always pretty , well groomed and usually popular . I agree that the word must have come from someone Jewish as its really north west London slang and use of the word doesn't really travel outside the Jewish community well

And having been here for over 14 yes I can honestly say I haven't seen much anti Semitism at all. I do find the Israel threads very difficult simply because people's views are very entrenched and sometimes I find my mouth dropping open at the injustice of accusations or views attached . Whilst debating a political situation is fine these threads do sometime turn a bit sinister and it is very easy for an antisemit to hide in an anti israel cloak and start usimg more questionable language and arguments as a debate goes on particularly where there is an imbalance of opinion and no challengers

OP, MN has quite a few anti-religious posters and some will seize upon any discussion to "other" those with faith.