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

[Ghostofasmile]

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.

There is an "off" button, people

You are not alone, ThisJustIn.

Overall most members are happy with the way MNHQ run the site. It isn't up to members to dictate to MNHQ what they should or shouldn't do. Staggeringly arrogant to think they can.

MNHQ don't claim to be perfect and neither are the members. It's a free site that gives pleasure and support to a lot of people. It's not a branch of social services or an educational resource. It's just an informal grouping of thousands of different people with different lives and outlooks. MNHQ shouldn't be "held to account" by a few irritated members.

Some people on this thread sound insufferingly highhanded

Who the fuck do you think you are ?

Can I get sent along too? I know fuck all about trans issues and probably couldnt care less but if there is a trip....

I WOULD LIKE THE INTERNET TO BE ON MY TERMS THANK YOU.

crikey.

Bloody hell. People that run a website aren't perfect paragons of every virtue going shock.

This website has one of the most open and tolerant discussion boards going, Goady Fuckers notwithstanding. Direct your ire elsewhere.

No it isn't an educational resource. I agree.
So why - when there are multiple reports of upsetting posts, of vile racist or disablist or sexist comments do mnhq trot out the "let'set it stand and educate these posters" line?
You are dead right that's not their call.
But like any other uk company they - by law - must be held accountable for discriminatory views and comments left on this site.

Justine did apologise on the diabetes thread. But her apology wasn't good enough apparently because she added that children should still be told the grisly facts about type 2 diabetes. I and others agree with her. (I have two family members with T2D and I've made sure my children don't follow in their footsteps by being brutally honest with them.)

I don't see what diversity training would do to change anything.

But like any other uk company they - by law - must be held accountable for discriminatory views and comments left on this site.

So either a) posts aren't being reported or b) the posts aren't breaking the law in any way.

Justine was never going to win on the diabetes thread. She admitted she should have said T2 diabetes but whatever she said people wouldn't be happy.

I don't think people can demand that MNHQ go on a diversity course. I actually think they do well on most points although there are some areas where they'll never get it right (trans threads etc). I know there is a lot of debate about disablism at the moment, but people with disabilities and children with disabilities can't agree on what disablism is and isn't so MNHQ are never going to get it right for everyone.

I can assure you I've been on threads where people are repeatedly reporting but it just get ignored or the educate line thrown out

I agree with the OP. On the diabetes thread posters told justine why her apology didn't actually cover the things it should, but she doesn't seem to care.

What a shame that someone with such influence isn't prepared to take on board the range of views rather than the blanket view that the media frequently portray.

It's because T2 is demonised as the 'fat persons illness', when it's not always the case that it's weight related! People shouldn't talk about serious issues that they are not fully informed on, especially when it can cause further negative effects (such as continuing the idea that diabetes as a whole is due to a persons idiocy and inability to eat properly). It's one thing to have an opinion on an anonymous forum, but this was stated as fact by a person who is somewhat influential. That's why it's not ok.

Oh I completely agree. I mean my masters that force me to use this website, whip me when I don't post on threads I don't agree with and pour molten lead on me if I hide threads totally understand where OP is coming from.

Fucks sake.

What "influence" does Justine have ?

As the founder of one of the biggest parenting sites, obviously enough influence to be asked to speak on Jamie Oliver's latest ego trip campaign.

What was the problem with pointing out that diabetes can have life limiting consequences? Children who have type 1 or type 2 should be encouraged to take responsibility for their own care as far as they can and they need to know why. Plenty of adults with diabetes put their heads in the sand.
As far as the general site management goes I think they do pretty well considering the range of opinions they try to balance. If you don't like the site, don't use it.

I don't think Justine doesn't care I just she has her own, different opinion and that's fair enough. It's not really appropriate for the owner of the site to get into arguments with its users.

There is also a growing trend of people personally attacking members of HQ and I don't really blame them for disengaging when that all starts.

I can't think of any other site where people wouldn't be kicked off for similar posts.

I think HQ are trying, there is just a lot to deal with at the moment because so many people are unhappy about different things.

I agree with JustIn

MNHQ aren't perfect about every issue but they have a bloody difficult line to tread and do so very well, imo. Any time they're wrong they hold their hands up and never ever have the attitude of "our site, our rules". Which they are well within their rights to.

I don't think it's a bad thing if certain "ist" comments are left to stand for an educational perspective. I for one have been educated about things which I had no idea about previously, partly through these "ist" posts.

It's a free site and don't think posters should be making massive demands about what MNHQ SHOULD or shouldn't do.

I just think.

Feck sake.

AF - I REALLY wanted to say 'who the fuck do you think you are?' in my original posts but was a lone voice at the time and really couldn't be arsed with the flaming I thought I'd get. Not on a Thursday; I'm tired .

But that's the core of what I think about these sorts of threads. Which are numerous lately.

Blimey, MN is one of the least discriminatory, nicest bits of the internet TBH - try hanging out on Reddit or 4Chan for a bit

i think, for clarity.. that it can't do any harm for staff moderating and running such a public and well known forum, to have some kind of diversity training.

When they're been asked to referee with day in, day out ignorance of posters, then surely it can't be a bad thing if they understand the nitty gritty of what is and isn't acceptable?

It would certainly limit the 'oops, sorry, that shouldn't have happened' moments of inexperienced staff failing to delete comments that then leads to a firefight that the more experienced staff then have to deal with.

There is also a growing trend of people personally attacking members of HQ and I don't really blame them for disengaging when that all starts.

I agree