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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

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

55 replies

NoCauseRebel · 30/07/2019 14:23

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.

OP posts:
AgentProvocateur · 31/07/2019 18:14

I’m the biggest republican here, and I agree the MM threads are disgusting (and usually racist). I’d support a blanket ban.

IrmaFayLear · 31/07/2019 18:20

Sorry if I'm being "faux naive" but why is it wrong to criticise MM? I agree that hounding for silly things such as the baby blanket is crap, and obviously any racism is foul, but some observations on the Vogue issue - well, why not?

I'm sure tongues were wagging about Wallis Simpson over garden fences (old-style social media!) back in the 1930s, so - obviously excepting downright nastiness - what's the difference now?

Justneedaflippingtemporaryname · 31/07/2019 18:20

I think the way the MM threads turn out are really upsetting. For example I read about her guest editing Vogue on here and then when I actually saw Vogue I couldn't believe the description from the MN thread was about what she had actually done. Honestly, the woman could save a drowning newborn and she'd be accused of attention-seeking or trying to prove she's human or something. I would honestly be up for a blanket ban in the same way as MN do for any Madeleine McCann threads. The way MM is treated on here really upsets me as I know it's racist.

BIWI · 31/07/2019 18:21

Because @IrmaFayLear, they're usually racist comments.

Justneedaflippingtemporaryname · 31/07/2019 18:22

I wish MM would just due/ do an injunction. Madeleine McCann's parents obviously have done and it's been successful!

PortiaCastis · 31/07/2019 18:29

Agree OP. Some of the bitching about MM is extremely unpleasant and people post as if they know the woman.
Nasty disgusting and unsavoury is how I'd describe a lot of posts about the Duchess and you can tell who were the mean girls at school

BertrandRussell · 31/07/2019 18:49

“I think probably most people think "hmmmph" about some of the Vogue stuff (eg criticising advertising in a magazine (!?!)”
I think this is an excellent example of the “damned if she does and damned if she doesn’t” thing. She didn’t criticise them advertising- she just eXplained why it’s still in the magazine. If she hadn’t she would have been accused of endorsing the products.....

IrmaFayLear · 01/08/2019 08:04

You can't just "due/do" (sic) an injunction - and the Madeleine McCann issue is quite different. The thing is MM is in a prominent position and has had a few public "celebrity" moments since her arrival on the Prince Harry scene. You would really think it appropriate that people could not comment on her baby shower? And, furthermore, a reporting embargo would mean that there would be limited publicity for the Sussex's charity endeavours.

I honestly believe that they have made a few missteps. Look how popular they were at the time of the wedding: crowds in the streets of Windsor, supportive press, etc. I think they began slightly to grate, and that starts off a few negative observations, which then can unfortunately spiral into a great deal of "anti" stuff, including comments ranging from the unfortunate to the vile.

But I do think there is an underlying sense (from people in real life as well as on social media) of the Sussexes being "a bit full of themselves".

Greysparkles · 01/08/2019 08:13

If we were to ban MM threads for being a bit mean then we'd also have to ban others about celebrity's too, yes? The Donald trump threads? Katie price threads? Nigel garage thread's? Or is everyone else fair game?

iVampire · 01/08/2019 08:17

Good idea to move all threads about her (and all the royals) to the topic - irrespective of where OP started it.

NoMoreCents · 01/08/2019 08:19

I'm not racist, I feel Kate and the rest of the RF also warrant criticism.

What are they actually DOING for the British public? F all.

SouthWestmom · 01/08/2019 08:44

Every time I read about Meghan being attention seeking I remember It's a Royal Knockout - she's got a way to go yet 😂

Seriously though I don't understand how people can feel so strongly. I just see a woman who got married, had a baby and is living a life of massive privilege. It's easy not to read about her if it upsets you.

Equatoria · 01/08/2019 09:21

I don't think Meghan should be immune to criticism. Obviously racist comments should be removed, but that's all. I don't see anything wrong with discussion of her public actions, same as anyone else.

BertrandRussell · 01/08/2019 09:28

“I don't think Meghan should be immune to criticism.”
I don’t think she should be either.
And I am on record as saying that they should all be first against the wall when the revolution comes.

But the DofS gets insane amounts of wholly unfair criticism for things that everyone else in the family does. Or things that are spun by the media or even frankly made up.

IrmaFayLear · 01/08/2019 09:50

I agree that focusing on some old (new?) baby blanket is just seeking to find fault. It's a minor transgression in the quest to be ethical.

But some of the criticism is I think, not exactly warranted , but reasonably "really?" I get the feeling the Sussexes have surrounded themselves with supporters, and there always needs to be the small boy who shouts, "The King is in the altogether!"

BertrandRussell · 01/08/2019 10:23

“But some of the criticism is I think, not exactly warranted , but reasonably "really?"

I would say that about the entire royal family! But I honestly don’t think think that the DofS has had any more “really??” moments than any of the others.

hellsbells99 · 01/08/2019 11:10

So you start a thread about MM to say you want to ban threads about MM 😂

Samcro · 01/08/2019 11:17

this thread proves how nasty people are about her.
gleeful in their hate.

IrmaFayLear · 01/08/2019 11:44

Gleeful? Bizarre.

I am not even very interested; the Queen is ok (probably because we know nothing about her!) and a bit of pageantry from time to time is a nice spectacle, but anything else passes me by. But I still don't understand why it's not ok to remark that the baby shower was a bit OTT and probably ill considered. Plenty of people criticised Princess Eugenie about her big wedding and carriage parade when she is only a minor royal and of minor importance.

BertrandRussell · 01/08/2019 11:47

“But I still don't understand why it's not ok to remark that the baby shower was a bit OTT and probably ill considered.“
It is OK. What is not OK is saying that she/the tax payer paid for it or that she/the tax payer paid for a private jet to go to it.

RubberTreePlant · 01/08/2019 11:56

It would be ridiculous to put a blanket ban on discussion of a public figure.

RubberTreePlant · 01/08/2019 11:57

It is OK.

Not according to OP, it isn't.

BertrandRussell · 01/08/2019 12:03

I don’t think she said no criticism, did she? Just no hatred.....

MauritiusNext · 01/08/2019 12:04

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