To ask for a one strike and out policy in regards to racism.

[TeddyIsaHe]

With what is going on at the moment I feel it’s high time MNHQ take an actual stance on racism. It’s not enough to delete posts, or let threads run because other’s are standing up for BAME people.

MNHQ need to stamp out the dog whistle, indoctrinated and blatant racism on this site. So if a poster is deleted for a racist post that’s it.

You’re either anti-racist or you’re not. Allowing frankly disgusting members to continue posting after a slap on the wrist is bizarre and unacceptable.

The problem with a blanket ban is you end up being afraid to make any kind of post about any person of colour, because you'll be accused of racism and banned. But you will be able to continue making posts about white people.

I have a blog, mainly political but also "this day in history stuff". With everything going on, I decided to do an audit on the demogeoagic of the people I criticise. I criticise white people around 80%, and people of colour around 20%, yet every time I do, there are accusations of racism and the "you're only saying that because they're black" rather than focussing in the actual thing they did. But no one cares when it's about a white person.

I really do not think I am racist, but there are interesting political and historical things to discuss in which people of colour have done something questionable, and well as many many cases of white people doing something questionable. You should be able to discuss both without being accused of racism.

Of course, many people do use a flimsy excuse to write thread after thread about a person or colour because they are racist, but you could end up deleting everyone trying to weed those people out.

Yes. Quite disappointed in MMHQ’s passive and silent support of racism actually.

I am also disappointed at MNHQ’s stance in that it also allows posts displaying prejudice or racism - although that term is dependent on the definition decided by the ones with the loudest voice.

I have repeatedly read ‘white views don’t matter’ ‘whitesplaining’ ‘I don’t want white opinions’ and that ilk.

People are trying to say that they have experienced racism or have mentioned other atrocities of the past and have been shouted down.

I got silenced by the OP and also by you, sadly, for being inflammatory (I believe decided by the OP) but those ambiguous, and as alluded to by the OP, deliberately Provocative/clickbaity titles and posts are allowed to stand.

Everyone matters. But for that opinion I was silenced, people were told not to engage with me and I was told to leave the thread.

And here’s me thinking that oppression and silencing would not ever be a problem on here. Is it not bad enough in ‘real life’?

BLM is important. Necessary. But not to the exclusion of all others. And not to their feelings.

I’ve reported this. It was not actioned.

So racism is not ok (but only applicable if you are black). And racism doesn’t exist if you aren’t black. But that is prejudice instead.

So I ask respectfully, why are prejudiced posts (as defined by others but not by me - I think it racist) allowed to stand?

Thank you for listening.

The real problem is that many MN users seem to think everyone else here is white and then act shocked when their ignorant comments are pulled up.

Because in real life when they chat about these issues in their fully white social or family circle, no one blinks an eye.

Do you get to decide what is and what isn't racist op?

@Tianalia Where have I said that I get to decide? Stop being goady for the sake of it.

YES @missyoumuch. You’ve pretty much hit the nail on the head

Missyoumuch is spot on.

I'm not sure if people change their minds or change their behaviour when they are told that something is racist but I'd like to think that a few do.

I’m all for it but then I would like it for all all posters giving offensive sweeping generalisations eg the vast majority of police are racist and happily ignore brutality is one I read this morning.

The problem with the Meghan Markle example is that accusations of racism are always, always used to shut down any criticism of her as a person.

MNHQ silence on the matter is speaking volumes.

I think overt and obvious racism and other prejudices should have sanctions, but I also believe that sunlight can be the best disinfectant.

I've faced my own prejudices on here and seen othe POVs that have made me reflect on mine. There was an excellent thread on here when Martin McGuinness died my initial reaction was good ridance to bad rubbish, but then the thread developed into a wider discussion about the Troubles and life in Ireland under English rule. This really opened my eyes to people's real life experiences which I wouldn't have had if the thread had been removed, or if I hadn't have been allowed to participate. I certainly wouldn't have had the same discussion in my own social circle.

It would be nice to think that people can use these discussions to open their minds and learn from others, so I think sometimes these discussions need to be had even if they are very difficult.

From my experience I think MN has always had an issue with race, from what I've seen recently many people are learning but some people will never change and I'd be happy to not have to read their bullshit.

Are all Leave voters to be barred there were many many posts saying if you voted Leave you were racist? Obviously all Tory voters too as they voted for Boris and he's a well known racist (according to loads of threads)? Racism is easy to spot afterall it's everyone who disagrees with the OP isn't it? I see no problems do you?

See @InfiniteSheldon this is what I'm talking about this. I think having your own POV but coming to things with an open mind is necessary. Talking with people to gain new understanding or express your own feelings rather than talking at someone and gaining nothing.

Otherwise what's the point of these sites?

Still waiting for any sort of reply or actual stance on dealing with racism MNHQ!

It doesn’t go away if your ignore it.

MNHQ are excellent at dealing with racism once reported its dealt with straight away what exactly do you want? Personal authority to police as you see fit?

Thanks very much for starting this thread, @TeddyIsaHe - and apologies for the delay in responding.

As there are currently several other threads which are asking similar questions, could we please direct you over to this one Effective measures against threads that encourage racism and misogyny where Justine has this afternoon posted a statement about our current moderation approach.

Please feel free to join in on that thread as it's probably easiest if the issues are all raised on the one thread. Many thanks.

@JoMumsnet That’s great, and does answer a lot of questions. However any chance it could be pinned somewhere? Obviously I had no idea about it as it’s hidden in a thread, so I’m assuming plenty of users also won’t see it.

@TheHighestSardine

I remember a thread a couple of months ago where the OP was asking why they'd been accused of being racist. It was use of words that had meanings OP wasn't aware of, and was horribly embarrassed by.

The thread turned into an absolute shitshow after that (both people not RTFT and others being provocative jerks) and I think got deleted.

But yes, unwitting racism when someone hadn't kept up with the changing language.

I remember similar occasions. One was regarding a hairstyle similar to but not plaits, and the OP was taken to task for cultural appropriation - when she and others tried to explain that it was a word in common usage they were then called racists. Despite the word having been used in the English language for both hair and a type of plaited woven haberdashery for centuries (and still is), they were told it was no longer acceptable to be used by white people for anything hair-related.

Who does one side with there? Who is going to moderate and decide who is in the right on a thread like that?

I don't know about MN posters but we should definitely apply it to politicians.

Boris Johnson called black people 'picaninny', this didn't end his career, he got an 80 seat majority afterwards and got to be PM.

@KenDodd

I don't know about MN posters but we should definitely apply it to politicians.

Boris Johnson called black people 'picaninny', this didn't end his career, he got an 80 seat majority afterwards and got to be PM.

Did he really? Good grief.

@grassyhillocks

Are you not from the UK?
Boris Johnson said loads of stuff, all widely publicised. Despite this Tory party members voted for him to be leader of the Tory party and the electorate sent him to number 10.

On Saturday I hailed out my ex partners, bosses Gf for being an absolute racist twat
She has never worked a day in a her life and lives On a £3m farm
She didn't like it obvs 🙄

Didn't give a flying crap

Felt so good 😊

[quote KenDodd]**@grassyhillocks

Are you not from the UK?
Boris Johnson said loads of stuff, all widely publicised. Despite this Tory party members voted for him to be leader of the Tory party and the electorate sent him to number 10.[/quote]
Yes, I'm from the UK - that one particular comment of his had clearly escaped my attention, hence my surprise.