MN hq, can we not just have a blanket ban on threads about Megan Markle?

[NoCauseRebel]

I realise that people are going to say freedom of speech and all that, but the reality is that every single thread about MM descends into hate speech from about three posts in.

You wouldn’t tolerate it against a mn user, and in fact some years ago talk of Gina Ford was banned because she threatened legal action against the site. So why is it ok to direct that kind of consistent hatred at an individual who happens to be in the public eye?

Some have suggested having a particular MM topic, but that would just become a hate corner.

Totally, totally agree OP. It is absolutely disgusting.

There is already a blanket ban on threads. Do an advanced search; you won't find one. If someone starts one, it is soon deleted. We are not allowed to discuss Meghan!

I don't think you can legitimately ban threads wrt a person whose chosen to be in the public eye.

That said I fully agree that MM seems to attract some very unpleasant posts.

I don't personally mind people discussing what she does or what she wears in a factual way but the relentless attacks on her personality/supposed motivations (especially given from people who've never even spoken to her) seem both unnecessary and unkind.

There’s a huge difference though between “discussing” someone and actively starting threads to attack their looks/personality/what you perceive them to be like etc.

The last thread for instance was a thread deliberately started to bash her and it’s not the first of its type.

When people are saying things like “why did Megan sit in the royal box/why is megan not doing enough for x/y cause/megan’s Obviously had the baby six months ago, in fact she probably never had a baby and they’ve borrowed that one just for the pics/how dare Megan not want to be in the press and the list goes on, it is very obvious that this one person in particular has become a public target. And there’s a difference between being a public target and a public figure.

or just shove them in the royal topic.
please

Yes I agree it's not appropriate to start threads that are quite obviously a vehicle for a pile in.

However, again I don't think you can ban people from talking about her.

It sets a dangerous precedent.

Posters here have said some pretty awful things about Boris Johnson and Donald Trump. Should threads about them also be banned?

The best course of action is to keep an eye on the threads and report inappropriate threads/posts.

Posters will eventually get the message as threads/posts are zapped that are deliberately goady/hateful.

It’s only really since last week that obvious Meghan-bashing threads are deleted quickly

Perhaps you are new to MN!

I'm all for MNHQ moderation and I'm glad when they delete nasty posts but I think it would be odd to ban MM threads outright. MM is annoying person and does things to put herself in the public profile. I can't think I ever post about her though as I'm not interested in her.

If I worked for MNHQ I think I'd end up banning lots of posters. Anyone who was racist would be shown the door and told to never come back.

'MM is annoying person and does things to put herself in the public profile'

Do you know her personally? You are illustrating the op's point successfully.

“MM is annoying person and does things to put herself in the public profile.”
Can you begin to justify this statement?

Perhaps all threads about the Royal family shouid be moved to the Royal Family topic (irrespective who f where they were originally started.

That way, those (of any opinion, not just royalists) who want to chat about them can do so. But the more obvious aggression of AIBU (and increasingly 'chat') might not follow

heronontoast. I find plenty of people I don’t know personally annoying. I could name some of them but it’s a pretty long list. You are very lucky if you don’t find anyone that you don’t personally know annoying.

BertrandRussell. I don’t think my statement is hard to justify. 🙂 I’ve checked and I definitely find MM irritating and I think being a guest editor of Vogue is a perfect example of her trying to put herself in the public eye.

Yeah right, because she's totes the first Royal to be a guest editor not

Prince Charles was the earliest?? (Or at least the most senior) and Duke of Sussex and Duchess of Cambs have done similar, have they not? Possibly others too

“I think being a guest editor of Vogue is a perfect example of her trying to put herself in the public eye.”

Yep-because she really needed to do something to put herself in the public eye.......

Hahaha that didn't take long... some posters here are dripping hate and no amount of denying can hide it. I have been on MN for about 10 years and seen a lot - but the MM hate is really really ugly.

People go on about the Feminist boards but I think the anti MM threads are the ones that show MN in the worst possible light.

MythicalBiologicalFennel
Hahaha that didn't take long... some posters here are dripping hate and no amount of denying can hide it.

One poster said MM and Harry are a ‘right pair’ and I’ve said I find MM annoying. I’m not sure I’d count that as “dripping hate”. 😂😂😂

Why don't MN just ban those who are clearly on a mission/expressing their racist views?

Along with all those who post with faux ignorance on the golliwog threads?

i am surprised the latest one is still standing. normally such awful goady threads about mums are zapped.

Hi there all,

Thanks for raising your concerns. We do very much try to avoid blanket bans on topics, and particularly with someone who is a public figure. However, we have noticed an undercurrent of dog-whistle racism on the threads, and we do regularly receive reports about it.

We're going to be experimenting with our moderation to see what helps these threads stay on track and what doesn't and as always, we'll take anything down that's not in the spirit.

We hope this goes some way to explaining our view wrt Meghan Markle threads, but do let us know if you have any questions.

I think you should adopt the 'three strikes and you're out' approach - tag a poster as OTW when they make their first racist post, and then when they make their third (the previous ones having been deleted, of course) they get banned. A bit like the way you're dealing with stuff on the feminism boards.

But there are countless threads saying various celebrities/politicians are annoying. I don't think one person - particularly one so high profile - should get a free pass.

I think probably most people think "hmmmph" about some of the Vogue stuff (eg criticising advertising in a magazine (!?!) and the Paris fashion shows).

Making an individual - a royal individual - above any criticism seems to be harking back to the days of treason !