Discrimination on Mumsnet

[PIPinghell]

Dear MNHQ

I would like to ask you about the benefits bashing threads that pop up on Mumsnet on a regular basis. Obviously, I believe in free speech etc., but I feel these threads are discriminatory and stereotype a certain group of people.

Comb through any of these threads and you will find the same themes. Accusations of benefits claimants being feckless scroungers who spend their money on booze, fags, big TVs, Sky etc. Accusations that disabled people “fake it” so that they can nab a “free car” and so on.

Threads which stereotype, marginalise and “other” people should not be tolerated (and usually aren’t, as far as I can tell) and IMHO this should include the benefits bashing threads.

I would be grateful for your thoughts.

Peace and love.

PIPinghell

I think it's better to report the individual threads or posts rather than starting a new thread about them.

my experience of mumsnet is that it is generally very supportive of people on benefits: typically people are very helpful in advising disabled and ill people on how to get through pip and ESA assessment interviews, and how to ensure they are getting all they are entitled to when it's clear they can't get money except via benefits.

yes you will see an occasional poster asking why they can't get a job if it's not clear why someone should be supported by the tax payer. that's not discrimination. in the absence of a disability or carer status which are incompatible with earning (and plenty of people with such issues are entirely capable of earning anyway) it's a fair question.

TalaxuArmiuna this isn't a TAAT or a particular post, but about the way benefits claimants are talked about in general at times on Mumsnet. I have been a member for many years on and off and have seen so many of these threads. I do think MNHQ needs to be a bit more aware, it shouldn't always be down to posters to police the site. As someone upthread said, MNHQ do seem to ignore some kinds of discrimination on the site whilst (rightly) clamping down on others.

I do think MNHQ needs to be a bit more aware, it shouldn't always be down to posters to police the site.

But this site is massive.

There's no way HQ can sit and read every post on every thread. The only possible way is for members to report.

It's social commentary unfortunately.
There are Benefit Scroungers and Benefit Cheats.
No genuine clients just opportunist grabbers and fraudsters.

Benefit and Social housing threads always get my dander up.

Worra, yes, you're right , but if there are regular reports about these type of threads, maybe MNHQ could at least post something to say they won't be tolerated. Possibly I am asking too much. Maybe the answer for me is to just not come on Mumsnet any longer, so I won't see the bloody horrible threads!

I do think MNHQ needs to be a bit more aware, it shouldn't always be down to posters to police the site.

This is the only way that posters/posts will be policed. MN isn't a moderated site, and there are far, far too many posts for them to be able to read them all! It does, therefore, come down to all of us to report when we see anything that is against Talk Guidelines.

Benefit and Social housing threads always get my dander up.

I've always wondered what a dander is and how it gets up!

ooh mine's massive!
I get carried away though and get deleted