Civility - what we should and shouldn't allow

[JustineMumsnet]

Hello all,
We've just deleted a thread entitled:
"AM a bit pissed so this isnt gonna be worded as eloquently as one would wish, but Gordon Brown is a bit of a cock sucker so who the fuck are we gonna vote for?" on the grounds that some folk had complained, it's a personal attack and also we'd like to get him on for an online chat and we didn't think leaving it up would be helpful in that regard .

But it did get us thinking about what sort of guidelines (beyond posts which break the law) we should have as a rule, particularly with regard to folk who are in the public eye - celebs etc.

We've always shied away from deleting on the grounds of poor taste (who's taste and where do you draw the line?) and we certainly are not too fussed about swear words. But naturally there's a lot of comment on MN, much of it tongue in cheek for sure, that could be construed as as abusive towards famous folk - equally true is that it's an awful lot tamer than elsewhere on the net.

Mumsnet (as you know ) is pro freedom of speech as a rule and have no wish to censor or stop the conversation flowing. What's more our stated aim is to make parents' lives easier - and a bit of bit of a vent/laugh is often a useful thing but should we intervene more or is it a case of just reminding/ urging folk to be civil and treating each case on it's merit?

Should there be one rule for celebs and one rule for the rest? Had the Gordon Brown comment been made on the thread and not in the title of it, we might have been inclined to let it stand - but does that make any sense?

We'd be very grateful if you'd let us know your thoughts about where you think the lines should be drawn and what sort of level of intervention you'd like.
Ta very mucho,
MNHQ

[Porcupine]

i in a rahter sad ex head girl way always point out a potentially leibellous thread to mn

[WelshBoris]

I reported someone last week because there name was knobrot.

I am turning into my grandmother, I'll be shopping in Bon Marche next.

[WelshBoris]

their

[SmileysPeoples]

Porcupine I presumed it was you.

I've never reported anyone.

I'm more offened by the baltant stupidity or smugness (often together) that appears on here, than by foul language.

and then I'm not offended, just outraged and insensed..momentarily..until something else diverts my miniscule attention.

[Porcupine]

ah smiley bog off wiht your eyeliner

[Porcupine]

lol at nob rot

[WelshBoris]

I really did and Carrie said "think we'll leave that one pass"




Awful name though, and I don't like swearing in thread titles. Or swearing for swearing sakes.

Like Greeny and Hunker do all the time.

[SmileysPeoples]

I've moved on from eyeliner.

I have lipstick issues now.

[WelshBoris]

Yeah, you've got some on your teeth

[Katy44]

I didn't recognise the porcupine

[Holysmoke]

Shucks, Greensleeves, I've been misinformed. I was definitely told that this was the place for repressed Christian fundamentalists to come party.

[VeniVidiVickiQV]

LOL! Boris - you swear all the time!!!!! Especially off board

[MrsBadger]

Katy I can see how you got confused...

[VeniVidiVickiQV]

You are allowed to....i say it all the time

[lljkk]

Would prefer to see vulgarities not in thread titles, can tolerate them in a few messages. C&&k sucker definitely not on, though I suppose it reflects worst on whoever authored it.

[WelshBoris]

Not just random swearing for no reason.


Lapin, you're calling me a LadyBoy?

[Katy44]

MrsB - that thing is weird (no offence, spikey one!)

[monkeytrousers]

I think that's perfectly reasonable.