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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

How about a campaign where the users get MNHQ staff to take diversity training?

460 replies

Ghostofasmile · 03/11/2016 13:09

MNHQ themselves have displayed ignorance (at best) over the last few months and prejudice / discrimination at worst when dealing with certain situations.
For example Justine, the sites owner herself over the last few days has made some very ignorant and damaging comments about diabetes.
We have seen the same with many times with Racism too as well as low level disablism.

Unless you are white, middle class and able bodied HQ isn't a nice place to be.

Post here if you would like this to take place. HQ need training and they need it fast.

OP posts:
user1478347632 · 05/11/2016 12:28

hi

how do we even contact mumsnet staff?

I have tried by email but they don't even respond and it is quite important

NavyandWhite · 05/11/2016 12:29

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NavyandWhite · 05/11/2016 12:32

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user1478347632 · 05/11/2016 12:47

ty navy

DixieNormas · 05/11/2016 12:48

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NavyandWhite · 05/11/2016 12:52

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LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 05/11/2016 12:53

I'm absolutely astounded at the egos jostling for position on this thread. To coin AF, "Who do you think you are?".

You're blisteringly rude and obnoxious about posting on a free forum and having the option to report posts that contravene the rules and yet you believe that you're justified in pressuring the site owners to arrange 'diversity training' because they're not 'jumping to it' whenever you think they should be. It's not just on this issue it's several and I think it's to their credit that they're even listening to you rather than giving you a final warning before booting you off for good. Really, do go and set up your own websites!

NavyandWhite · 05/11/2016 12:54

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user1478350730 · 05/11/2016 13:07

STOP THIS!!!

PLEASE!

Stop trying, they are not listening, they won't listen, the reason they like contact made on sitestuff and not with Emails is becuase of Advertisements and money, simple really.

Nothing is going to change, it doesn't matter how much the discrimination is pointed out, it's not going to stop.

Someone posted this forum on one of the other thread, No, it's not nice or right to have to change forums, but Mumsnet isn't suitable, it never will be. IF YOU DON'T FEEL WELCOME YOU PROBABLY AREN'T as hurtful as it it it is a waste of energy to try and change things here, it's not working.

Please instead of causing hurt to yourselves please migrate to another site, staying isn't worth the upset.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 05/11/2016 13:14

Yes well that forum isn't going to cut it, User because most of the members here appreciate and enjoy the 'diversity' of discussion and the ability to be bitchy-within-bounds and have a good old wrangle 24 hours a day.

I don't think any sort of moderated board would appeal for those reasons because if it did, the members would be elsewhere and not here - snapping their fingers. So whatever they say, there will be no flouncing, just impotent grumbling.

DixieNormas · 05/11/2016 13:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 05/11/2016 13:29

... I know, you're stuck here... shame there isn't something like FB where you could all meet and chat (because you aren't happy with how it is here). You're free to do that, why don't you if you're so disgusted with MNHQ's ethos? Put your money where your mouth is, so to speak...

Why is it that bunfight threads have hundreds and hundreds of posts, hmm? The 'what's for tea' don't hit those numbers. Say what you like, many posters thrive on friction and fiction - and adore the troll threads. 'Shit or get off the pot' is very applicable here.

user1474627704 · 05/11/2016 13:31

Unless you are white, middle class and able bodied HQ isn't a nice place to be

Have you even been to HQ, OP? Hmm

WorraLiberty · 05/11/2016 13:56

user1478350730 Why are you here then? Confused

Or did you de-register, join the forum you're advertising, realise it's nowhere near as busy as Mumsnet and come back here to drum up trade?

Either way I'm having trouble understanding why so many people 'leave' this site and then come right back again.

Surely that means MNet is not that bad?

DixieNormas · 05/11/2016 13:58

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 05/11/2016 14:13

No Dixie, I really didn't think it needed saying... what with us being adults and all. I didn't see those threads but saw this one and couldn't believe my eyes.

Leave or stay, nobody cares and probably wouldn't even notice. Do what's right for you.

NerrSnerr · 05/11/2016 14:22

This is what I don't get, there have been loads of threads about how dreadful MNHQ are, how they don't care etc. that's fine, you're allowed to think that but then why do people get so defensive when it's suggested that you don't have to use their website?

There's a small number of people with huge egos who think they're right and MNHQ need to act on everything they say. It doesn't matter if other people say they don't agree (even people with similar difficulties) because they know right. I have no idea why they put so much effort into one web forum.

slenderisthenight · 05/11/2016 14:41

Seperately to this it does seem like there would be a great business opportunity to set up a specialist forum for those with disabilities and their families - it could have all sorts of expert guest blogs, practical help and support, get sponsorship from charities etc etc

You're right in one sense but in another sense you're absolutely wrong. Disability should be mainstream. All the things you mentioned should be available from 'able bodied' sites.

Mumsnet have a responsibility to create an 'accessible site' (in the sense that it is inclusive and ensures that people with disabilities are not discriminated against, abused or excluded) in the same way that every other public body or business does. Disabled users are completely within their rights to demand that.

You wouldn't think Tesco could shrug their shoulders and say 'start your own supermarket' if, for some reason, their products or premises were found to be offensive or inaccessible.

If you make money out of the public (doesn't matter if the forum is free) you take on various responsibilities that the UK has signed up to in relation to disability, GLTB issues, racism etc. (although less so post-brexit).

What you and others like you should remember witch and waitrose is that it's very hard to be disabled and you simply cannot understand how bloody-minded and confrontational it's necessary to be unless you've lived it. Rights for disabled people may be enshrined in law but the reality is that most businesses and public bodies dodge it until they are publicly challenged about it in front of the able-bodied world, or the Equality Commission. Disillusionment is the first experience of being disabled; since you represent costs, hassle and potential legal issues, disabled people aren't valued customers. They aren't shown the 'nice' side of businesses or establishments. Most organisations aren't as caring and accommodating as their image would suggest and mumsnet is no different, it would seem.

People with disabilities often have to make ten different phone calls and quite literally read the human rights act in order to have an experience that anyone else takes for granted. It is dehumanising and exhausting to fight like that and you're expected to be grateful to an able-bodied society that thinks, deep down, that they're being awfully nice to lift a finger.

The upshot of all this is that people with disabilities may sometimes appear unnecessarily adversarial. You have no idea of the backstory. As someone who was once disabled and am disabled no longer, I've learnt that you can't judge because you just don't know.

slenderisthenight · 05/11/2016 14:46

Also witch if disabled people left every organisation and business that has failed to accommodate them appropriately they would be isolated and marginalised. That's not the way the UK has decided that people with disabilities should live. Thank goodness.

But a lot of failure to accommodate disability arises from ignorance of what it is like to be disabled and the accommodations that are needed and possible. The same could be said about sexism or racism. Hence training is appropriate and no one is asking too much to identify when it's necessary. Who is going to care or notice apart from disabled people themselves? Of course it will be they who make the request - or demand, if they are ignored for long enough.

WaitrosePigeon · 05/11/2016 14:46

I've never actually divulged what disabilities I have or haven't had experience of, or what my current situation is with regard to disability in my life.

My original gripe was the derailment of a thread a few weeks ago - HQ dealt with it. The fallout has been from that.

I of course agree that Disablist language intentional or not needs to be brought to attention. The posts that are disablist that have been deleted recently that have 'we've deleted this post because we believe it is disablist' is a step in the right direction.

On the other hand it must be incredibly difficult for HQ to please everyone. I do not have the answers but I do wish the sniping would stop.

slenderisthenight · 05/11/2016 14:49

Your 'sniping' is another person's reasonable complaint.

NavyandWhite · 05/11/2016 14:57

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crashdoll · 05/11/2016 14:58

Slender but there are people on here who have disabilities themselves or care for someone who has a disability and we do not all share the same opinions. I was once told that even disabled people can be disablist which is laughable given that I've probably spent more hours writing policies and working with government organisations than they've had hot dinners.

If you don't agree with the vocal minority on MN, some people do make assumptions about you. You did about WaitrosePigeon having had no idea of what her life is like nor the experiences that she has had. I also find the opinions reflected on MN are not reflected in the people I live and work with and I spent a lot of time; both personal and professional in the communities where people have additional needs.

Queenbean · 05/11/2016 14:59

i was once told that even disabled people can be disablist which is laughable

How is that laughable? One disabled person may use the word moron and think it's acceptable which another doesn't

Disabled people don't all think exactly the same you know

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 05/11/2016 15:02

slenderisthenight... by the same token, you have absolutely no idea of anybody else's situation either. I don't disagree with the fact that disabilities shouldn't be ignored or the people suffering from them be marginalised. What I absolutely do disagree with is the ranting at MNHQ, very rudely, including name-calling, when they don't immediately leap to attention to attend.

There is a very clear policy on Mumsnet that racist, disablist language is not to be used and, when posts are reported, they are deleted. What some posters have said is that they aren't being deleted quickly enough. That's not worthy of a thread, that is something that should be reported directly to MNHQ as they've asked us to do.

I don't think you will achieve whatever is your agenda because, whether you like/accept it or not, this is a venue. MNHQ has no control - other than deletion - of disablist/racists/other rule breaking posts and this they do. I think they do a tip-top job of it actually although you may disagree.

What do you actually want them to do? They're already deleting posts, they delete many posts. If they're missing them then tell them, they've asked us to do that.

I've never found that pompously telling organisations what they must and must not do actually works for me and I certainly wouldn't expect MNHQ to take the abuse that they have on this thread. Instructing them to attend 'diversity training' is just rude and patronising... as it was intended to be.

This thread is nothing more than an ill-disguised, disgusting rant at MNHQ and I'm not going to be party to that.

I'm Lying or LyingWitch btw.