Qui tacet consentire videture... I want it to be understood by MNHQ and by guests to this site that my silence on the subject of the recent speculative threads does NOT condone their existence.

[Aitch]

Aitch.

Spot on, Anchovy, with the 'grief tourism'.

And actually there's rather a lot in the news that we do not, IMO, discuss. Just anything that brings out the 'oooohyesIfeelsoterriblebecauseI'mamummyandthatmeansIamsosensitive' brigade

i'm not seeing the hypocrisy, tbh. not really. but i do think that people getting exercised about 'hypocrisy' tends to be the point at which they are wilfully missing the wider point and trying to pick a fight.

well i condone free speech - and offnsive posts can be deleted - you are condoning the tightening of free speech rules - you fucking nutters

found that offensive?

report it
DUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

oh yeah - and i dont post of them.

as the speculation doesn;t interest me

the only thing that interests me - is supposedly intelligent people suppoting censorship

who is supporting censorship here?

Jas

I do get what you mean LL.

Like I say, I see nothing wrong in posting on news threads - for the sake of discussing news. When it got a bit vile and distasteful (as it did) I withdraw from it. But I didnt feel the need to sign up like a reformed character or something on this thread.

It's a bit surplus to requirements imo. The thread title itself is a contradiction ie A thread about being silent isnt being silent - its making comment. No offence to Aitch - am talking about others who have commented on the thread and have stated that whilst signing up to this one.

As I said, not trying to start a row, just you dont know where you are with certain posters - sometimes it seems a bit two-faced.

you are

Nope, they can post what they like. Mntwoers has made that clear.

I just want people to realise that I think what hthey are doing is vile.

my free speech

tha t post rocked binkle { high five}

i too think its vile

use your free speech mb [high five]

I don't support censorship, I just don't want to be associated with the type of ghoulishness that those threads promote.
The old maxim of 'I may not agree with what you say but I will fight to the death for your right to say it' applies here.
I just don't agree with it and rather than piling in to say I don't agree and flame the fires, I find this thread a good compromise.

Because although possibly idle, morbid and/or gratuitous, I don't believe many of the posts were intended to hurt , offend or upset anyone. Even if they did, people who posted - some of them - are feeling a bit shocked and/or ashamed that it has provoked this sort of reaction as they never meant any harm. That's why they're signing here. They hate the idea that they've done something to upset people and want to be part of MN and on friendly terms with everyone.
It isn't always clearcut what is going to offend and there were grades of posting on that thread...some slightly obscene perhaps, but many only mildly gossipy etc.
People aren't being vicious deliberately.

(haven't looked at it again today so might be wrong)

I am not sure where i stand on this, i have been on the threads but have only been speaking about the news & have been for the McCann's because i believe in innocent until proven guilty.

I have in no way at all speculated about Madeleine & what "may" have happened to her that is just plain sick.

Sorry if i have offended by adding to the threads but i read them & feel a "need" to stick up for 2 people who are innocent so far.

well what does "not condone their existance mean"

i take it to mean that the preference be that they be removes - as the message was to MN towers - they are asking MN towers to censor

THAT is how it reads to me.

and if people have the free speech right to shout 'Fire' in a crowded cinema, I've the right to call them wankers.

But I don't, cos on MN there are rules that prevent personal attacks. But trust me on this one, cisty, there were people on there so bloody dense you'd have to use a chisel to make an impression.

OP, thank you, this way of signing in makes me a merrierberry

all it is saying is, 'You can spout this shite, but just becaise I don't fucking argue the toss with you, because you dont fucking listen anyway, it doesn't mean I agree with you'

and if there wasn't a ban on personal attacks I'd probably throw in a wanker and well

can't censor just cos peoples iz thick.

'But I don't, cos on MN there are rules that prevent personal attacks. But trust me on this one, cisty, there were people on there so bloody dense you'd have to use a chisel to make an impression. '

Too right, MB [remembers last night . . . ]

This debate on MumsNet is a microcosmic version of the debate in UK as a whole re the McCann story. The media has been like the objectionable threads: endlessly speculating, filling airwaves, cyberspace, printspace with speculative drivel and pointless images of a couple getting on and off a plane. And in response very many people have objected to a real incident having been entirely replaced by a media simulacrum of it. It seems very much like a reductio ad absurdum of reality TV.
We oughtn't to give consent to it on Mumsnet -- or in the world outside Mumsnet.

Everyone seems so angry this weekend. I just wish it would stop. Not this thread in particular but loads of them.

what carm said.
custy, MNHQ have made it perfectly clear what their position is re. censorship. what i did not want to let stand was the gleeful 'see, we were right!' attitude without at least letting the posters know that there were many people who were not fighting with them but nevertheless found their behaviour distasteful. that's all. i defend their right to say it, but i think they are ghouls all the same. and i wanted to see if there were more like me, that's all. that's not an argument for censorship, you are wrong.

you don't have to be 'clevr' to have compassion.

you can ve smart and a raging sicko.

the people want the 'right' to talk shite'

It would seem that on MN, they can.

Just like the BNF can walk down your street, ot mine. Bet you shout wanker tho, just like I do.

Cant shout wanker on MN, this is what we can do insted.

If you don't want to, fine. But it has made me feel a lot better.