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.

id like to add my name also

I am asking you if you think this is the right way to respond?

Yes I am doing what the Guardian is doing because, let's face it, those are the posts that stand out. Those are the posts the media pick up on.

I've said I think we should let MNHQ deal with it. I don't intend to contribute to any of the threads as I feel it would be a waste of time.
I also don't think we should just allow posters air time for their abhorrent views on what is a parenting site and not a news forum.
How we sort that one out I don't know. But this is not my website, so I'll leave it to the experts and trust their judgement. Kind of.

I'm glad you agree with me rhubarb. I hope the mumsnet team think about adding a disclaimer, statement, link to this discussion whatever, just to show how many people here are keeping away from open discussion on the McM threads. That hopefully will deter things spilling over into any perceived bullying.

Or perhaps they could be redirected to The Guardian website?

people yesterday, told me that just having a silent protest was pointless, because it wouldn't change the ghoulish posters, if I'm right you were one of these people (I'll stand to be corrected , or even sit}

I'm assuming that the people who are 'regestering their distaste' are following on from some of Justines comments on the issue....or are they? I'm rather behind developments as I'cve sent post of the evening planning lesson and tutring a mates dd.

Justine's comment was that it was better to argue back if you didn't like the comments

The phrase 'tyranny of the majority' springs to mind about now. What gets written in the Guardian is really pretty much irrelevant (half the people who read that will mix up Mumsnet with Netmums in their minds anyway - ie that large category of people who are Not Parents). As Justine pointed out earlier, just because some people find a posting or a thread upsetting or distasteful (as opposed to legally actionable) is no reason for it to be prohibited. You won't die of being offended, and just about everything is going to offend or upset somebody. SO just farking well deal with it and stop whining, the lot of you.

I agree with the general thrust of this thread - and in particular Marina's 'bolding' of MNHQ near the beginning - but now I just don't know what to think I think there is some misplaced anger.

I am as annoyed with MNHQ as I am with the OTT speculative posters tbh.

(and just for hte record, Blu and Marina are 2 posters who unbeknownst to them made me decide to join MN. Rhubarb and Aitch are 2 typical posters who make me want to stay)

Sorry - have just had a mini row with ds so no doubt things have moved on!

Well, someone needs to stick up for Rhubs here, and that someone is me.

I am also confused by this REGISTERING MY DISTASTE bollock-fest. I signed up, agreed, but I thought it meant total silence on speculative threads.

This new development would appear to be breaking news. Whilst I'm not chomping at the bit to make a comment, I see no reason at all why some poor bint can't start a thread on it without being jumped on.

am we whining - goodness, it used to be called having a discussion.

You are right Rhubarb - I shouldn't have signed up here and then posted on the other thread last night.

I was tired, had 1 glass of wine too many and was just completely exasperated. And then Haychee came along, and set me off again.

I have deliberately not posted on the Michael Barrymore thread, however, because I feel it is following the same path. (Have avoided reading it since the first few posts as well.)

Good letter Justine. Hope it gets to the Guardian in time and printed.

mb, I sat on the fence as I am doing now as I can see both sides.

I objected to the McCann case taking up nearly all of the active convos. But I stated that I didn't contribute to those threads anymore. Not to register any kind of protest, but simply because I didn't want to. A silent protest is pointless - who would notice? Objecting is fine, but then most objections get ignored. Registering your distaste is pointless as you are just bumping the thread and people can't help themselves by adding little comments that others are then not allowed to answer.

There is no solution I fear. Other than to leave it until this time next week when the scandal will be the formula advert on telly.

It is the utter, utter insistence of a few dim Sky News devotees that I find repellent.

It is VERY not Mumsnet.

Every day it is picking over the the same morsels "Oooh how did they murder her and hide her body?"

What purpose does it serve? It isn't because they are interested in current affairs, I haven't seen them picking apart the military objectives of the US surge in Iraq.

The comments about Robert Murat were unbelievable "Oooh he's such a bastard, I knew it was him from the beginning, I hope he rots in hell"

What purpose does it serve? It is four months of gory excitement at the story of a murdered child.

But by not objecting in some way your feeling cannot be regestered.

Imagine that the BNF were walking through your street campaining. They have a legal right to do that. You can't stop them. they have the right.

Would you just let them walk and do nothing, or would you shout and at least let them know that you disagreed with them and their ideas?

Welcome to the strange world of humanity mp.

what has happened?
I thought that by signing our name here we were saying that even though we don't read/post on the other threads, doesn't mean we don't care about the poor girl in question. And that would be the extent of our involvment.
I am the first to admit I am not very smart about these things, but it seems sad that what was [to my mind] a good idea has turned into another argument.

It just isn't very humane

Would I fight their insults with more insults though?

Yes of course you should object. If you want to. But you can't stop them from voicing their opinions by creating a blockade from which, every now and then, someone from your side crosses to throw out an insult and then hides behind the blockade again, not allowing the BNP to answer the insult.

I don't have the answer. I don't claim to. I just find the actions that some are taking to be just as annoying and just as insulting.

sis

I think there is a division between those who feel that they are somehow entitled to direct the 'feel' of this place (over and above simply posting on threads), and those who feel that MN isn't theirs to direct. I love MN and spend a lot of time here, but it's not my site any more than it is KoolKrazyKazza's, or whatever her name was.

Apologies if 'entitled to direct' seems a bit snide - couldn't think of a better way to express it.

But Rhubarb, if they sat there for four months wouldn't you get a little annoyed

particularly if your throat was sore from all the shouting

Lord!
What is going on? - I dont which bandwagon I find more distasteful.
I completely get the spirit that this thread was started in but it does not seem to be carrying.
I'm so sick of seeing the 'freaks', 'wierdos' etc insults being badied about in the name of moral superiority.
Some wise person said on another thread that it seems some of the people opposed to the Madeleine McCann threads are getting just as much enjoyment from posting their views as the ghoulish speculators are from posting theirs. I agree with that.
This is all so sad and frustrating to see.

Message withdrawn

Agree with JV.

mb, are you asking what I personally would do? I would give them cups of tea and win them over with my charm

Honestly though, I do not believe you can fight insults with insults.

That's all.