MNHQ - where is the line in the sand on comments about trans people?

[yetanothertranswoman]

Or does anything go?

Do you have a line in the sand about comments people can make? How do you decide if comments go too far?

There are plenty of things that get deleted on MN about other groups. Plenty of controversial opinions. But trans people seem to be a group where almost anything goes.

How do you decide where the line is?

What was the response you got from MNHQ

They said they would take a look at that thread and delete any posts they feel are inappropriate.

Last time I looked, 1 post had gone. I did contact them to ask why they didn't think certain posts were inappropriate but no response.

There are posts on that thread along the lines of: I would never have sex with a MTF trans person, dick or no dick because the thought makes me ill and I'd never have sex with a FTM trans person because the thought makes me ill. and people think that that is ok? Seriously?

And given the amount of posts the OP has started on the subject it is very clear that they are a gf wanting to get a rise out of people.

If you see a post you consider transphobic it may help if you engage and explain why you find it to be transphobic. and you’ll be told that you’re uneducated, don’t care about the rights of women and that if you don’t like the number of trans posts here you should just not read them or better still, perhaps find another site to post on.

If you see a post you consider transphobic it may help if you engage and explain why you find it to be transphobic

I think a thread with people saying that they find the idea of having a relationship with a trans person fills them with physical revulsion is something that MN may feel crosses a line. I have no doubt that those people are expressing their true thoughts. It's not transphobic to have those thoughts. But what good does a thread of such thoughts do? It's not going to change anyone's point of view.

Any thread where people express unpopular opinions is quickly closed down. MNHQ always say that there is an issue with those threads and 'they are not in the spirit of MN"

So if it's not ok to express unpopular opinions about any other group on MN, why is it seemingly ok to have people repeatedly express their view on the physical repulsion they feel about having a relationship with a trans person?

There are three choices: (1) you can read but not post in a thread and report posts you feel to be transphobic. (2) You can opt not to read and let others do the reporting. (3) Finally, you can participate in the thread in a constructive way as way of having a debate about the issue.

If you report a post and it isn't deleted MN have looked at it and decided it doesn't violate their talk guidelines. That happens.

So if it's not ok to express unpopular opinions about any other group on MN

I'm autistic and I can assure you that there are lots of sneery posts about autism. They are rarely if ever deleted. And, yes, I report them.

If you report a post and it isn't deleted MN have looked at it and decided it doesn't violate their talk guidelines. That happens

So MNHQ are ok with a thread of people saying that the idea of having sex with trans people fills them with physical revulsion?

I am surprised at that - especially when they delete other threads where people express their true opinions.

Yetanother, I get it - you want posts you find offensive to be deleted and you're cross when they're not.

But you don't get to call the shots - MNHQ do - and if you don't get the results you want, you just have to lump it, the way the rest of us do.

So MNHQ are ok with a thread of people saying that the idea of having sex with trans people fills them with physical revulsion?

You need to ask that question of MNHQ, not me. I don't make the rules.

I'm autistic and I can assure you that there are lots of sneery posts about autism

I thought MNHQ were pretty good at such threads. I would guess they would delete posts saying that the idea of having sex with someone who is autistic fills them with physical revulsion.

But you don't get to call the shots - MNHQ do - and if you don't get the results you want, you just have to lump it, the way the rest of us do

There have been plenty of threads on Site Stuff asking MNHQ to clarify their guidelines - on ageism, disableism, SEN etc.

This is what site stuff is for - to ask MNHQ questions.

MNHQ have already given you an answer.

You need to ask that question of MNHQ, not me. I don't make the rules

And that's why this thread is in Site Stuff.

I don't think it is ok to have a thread filled with people saying how repulsed they are. That's not in the spirit of the site, and it's not a constructive thread. On that particular thread (which I have now read), there is some useful discussion on what sexuality means, whether lesbianism is a valid sexuality and whether there is pressure on lesbians (and bisexual women?) to accept people as sexual partners that their preference would exclude. But I agree that there are too many unpleasant posts which means that the useful discussion gets lost.

MNHQ have already given you an answer

I am intrigued as to their thinking on that thread.

The problem is that there is often not consistency on these things. And deletion will often depend on who is on duty when the report is made.

Let’s not pretend that sometimes posts which are offensive about any topic aren’t left to stand sometimes whereas at others they are removed.

There’s already been one poster saying that if reports are made at night then a slow response is to be expected. Way to go to let people know when the best time is to be offensive and get away with it.

And if a thread about not wanting to live next door to older people can be removed for “not being in the spirit of the site” then I fail to see why a thread about the disgust felt about having sex with a trans person “with or without dick,” as some of the posts proclaim could possibly be seen as less offensive and worthy of being left.

People know already. It's not a big secret, which is why there is a Night Watch section!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_night_watch

But by all means blame me for a rise in transphobic hate overnight, if it helps.

And if a thread about not wanting to live next door to older people can be removed for “not being in the spirit of the site” then I fail to see why a thread about the disgust felt about having sex with a trans person “with or without dick,” as some of the posts proclaim could possibly be seen as less offensive and worthy of being left

There does seem to be double standards.

There was a thread not too long ago where plenty of people said they'd be repulsed by the idea of having a relationship with a Tory/right-winger. Not exactly a nice sentiment, but they're entitled to feel how they feel. If I don't like it, I don't have to keep reading it.

I agree, @ChaosNeverRains, that particular thread is not in the spirit of the site. I am surprised that MNHQ didn't at least comment on the thread to point that out and to remind people of the rules.

Not exactly a nice sentiment, but they're entitled to feel how they feel. If I don't like it, I don't have to keep reading it

True - so why does MNHQ delete other threads about how people feel about things?

Surely that means anything can be said because that's how people feel.

I am surprised that MNHQ didn't at least comment on the thread to point that out and to remind people of the rules

A simple ahem and Peace and Love would do.