Anti-Religious Trolling On Mumsnet

[DioneTheDiabolist]

I get that not everyone is religious and that some people are very anti-religious (some with good reasons).

But some MNetters are religious, others are simply curious. So how come so many threads are allowed to be derailed by anti-religious trolls? Today a thread about Good Friday was deleted because a troll came on. FFS, it's Easter! Threads about Islam are regularly derailed by Islamophobes. On a thread seeking information on Judaism in the Philosophy & Religion topic, a troll has posted LMFAO. Ok, serious question, why does the Jewish God make all men wear a funny beards? She continues venting for a few posts before eventually exiting the thread saying that she is on drugs because It's Easter, party time.

She is a MN regular, like most of the anti-religious trolls here. I have reported her posts but they still stand.

Trolls are not interested in knowing what other people think or believe. They have no desire to discuss the point of actual threads and rarely start threads of their own regarding their issues with religion or belief. They just derail threads in the hope of driving all talk of religion and different beliefs off MN. And they are succeeding.

Why are MNHQ allowing this to happen? Deleting threads instead of dealing with posters? Allowing blatant anti-religious trolling to derail threads that people may find supportive or informative? Is MN a religion free zone? Because if it is, that's ok. I just think that religious posters should be told. Then they can go elsewhere if they wish to discuss their beliefs.

[BertrandRussell]

I'm finding this thread increasingly incomprehensible. I think it's because I don't think I know quite what a "purposeful derailment" is, except in the context of incredibly obvious and offensive posts, like the ones that happen sometimes on the feminist boards when the MRA invade, which can immediately be reported and deleted.

I do wish you could come up with one, capsium.

[capsium]

So what does the OP do if a large number of people are more interested in the supposed derailment and carry on discussing it regardless of her attempts to stay on topic? Obviously they can't be reported. I would say at that point she needs to recognise that actually the discussion has moved on, and leave it there.

Augusta, well in this case scenario I suppose the OP would have to start a new thread if they wanted to discuss the issue further. Seems a bit unfair and would look a bit messy (title # 2 : the one which is actually discussing this) in the thread titles but needs must.

Bertrand no point trawling over old threads now, but watch this space because, partly as a result of this discussion, I will be apt to point out comments / questions that are 'off topic' and potentially derailing, where I feel this is necessary.

[BIWI]

Yes, capsium, if someone is doing it deliberately to inflame - like they often do on the feminist board - then you report it. Have I not said that all along?

But your beef seems to be with the idea of derailing altogether! Which is a totally different thing.

Personally, I would say it can shut a particular discussion down, that is the discussion the OP wanted to raise, as the subject matter of the thread is diverted. The posters who wanted to have that original discussion feel shut down as the original discussion is lost

It's not lost at all. If someone wants to revert back to the original question, there's nothing to stop them whatsoever.

Yes, off topic comments can encourage debate but 1) a debate may not be the purpose of the discussion the OP raised 2) the debate may totally unrelated to the particular issue the OP raised.

But it's not up to the OP of any thread to determine the nature of a debate or the issues that other posters want to discuss. This is what you can't seem to grasp. That it's not up to an OP to dictate how the thread evolves through a discussion.

[BIWI]

... and if someone doesn't feel strongly enough to revert back to the original point/discussion, then perhaps it's because they have nothing to say on the matter?

[capsium]

BIWI all I am advocating, is a polite steering of the discussion back to the one the OP raised. As you say, if posts are deliberately inflammatory, they could be reported anyway. If the discussion cannot be steered back to the OP, then of course that would suggest people are not interested in discussing the OP's subject any further.

As it stands now, people can and do, do what I have suggested, it just has been a bit of an eye opener, for me, considering how discussions can be steered on here. This awareness has clarified my options, in this matter, for me.

[headinhands]

In light of the issues raised on this thread I propose the use of a pre approved list of responses:

1. I fully agree with everything everyone has said, ever, everywhere on Mumsnet and in real life.
2. Have you tried turning it off and on again?
3. Aren't fluffy kittens just the cutest!

[BIWI]

Agree.

[capsium]

Finally, people are beginning to learn, I am always right!

[ThirtyNineWeeks]

I would call it derailment when the same haters jump into Christian threads hollering 'Christian privilege!' It happens time and time again by the same posters but I'm not sure what can be done about it; it's not like Mumsnet prohibits crashing bores with massive shoulder chips.

[HelpfulChap]

I am not a religious person but I do find it offensive when posters pile into Christians with impunity on here time after time.

Anyone that does the same with Islam is immediately labelled a racist within a handful of posts.

Double standards. It is quite obvious that Christians are the easy target.

[BertrandRussell]

The problem is that criticisms of Islam often are racist.

And at the risk of being labelled as a crashing bore, I think it is a myth that Christianity is fair game and other religions are never criticized. A cursory glance through the popular press should show you that. Be careful, or I'll tell the story of my unsuccessful complaint to FaceBook again.............

[headinhands]

Anyone that does the same with Islam is immediately labelled a racist within a handful of posts.

I can easily see the difference between racism and criticism of a religion. Also, there's the stereotypical non-whiteness of a Muslim that makes people feel uncomfortable about criticising Islam. I'm not, because I know the difference.

[capsium]

Be careful, or I'll tell the story of my unsuccessful complaint to FaceBook again...

That sound like it needs putting into a whole discussion boards of it's own, never mind a separate thread, Bertrand!

[SilverBirchWithout]

Referencing Islam in a debate about Christianity has become like Godwin's Law in that it either is being used to shut down a debate that the poster feels they are losing, or alternatively reveals their agenda in protecting 'Christian discouse' is about an inherent bigotry towards other faiths and/or ethnic groups.

Hope that's helpful enough HelpfulChap

[AugustaFinkNottle]

Anyone that does the same with Islam is immediately labelled a racist within a handful of posts.

Only if the post is identifiably racist. Posts saying that, for instance, there should not be either Christian or Muslim faith schools don't draw that type of response.

[ThirtyNineWeeks]

I have massive problems with Islam. I'm getting rather fed up of people trotting out 'Terrorism Has no religion.' Really? So how come the world's terrorists are Muslim?

[AugustaFinkNottle]

They aren't, ThirtyNine. Have a look at this.

[ThirtyNineWeeks]

I really can't take seriously an article like that. Complete bollocks.

[BertrandRussell]

[BIWI]

So we're full circle back to trolling on P&R threads then ...

[ThirtyNineWeeks]

Besides, the writer conveniently ignores the fact that, where terrorism exists to attempt to wipe out the 'infidels', to destroy the West....that terrorism is perpetrated by Muslims. I do not care that moderate Muslims are fed up of being tarred to the same brush. There is something inherently evil at the heart of Islam.

[ThirtyNineWeeks]

Just because you don't like what I say doesn't mean I'm a troll. Just because I have a disdain for Islam doesn't mean I'm a troll. I completely support the assertions of the OP.

[SilverBirchWithout]

[ThirtyNineWeeks]

Now that's goady.